Just-Dip-It (Potentiometric Ion-Selective Electrode): An Innovative Way of Greening Analytical Chemistry

Abstract

“Green analytical chemistry” (GAC) is a vital area towards the concept of sustainability. As a consequence of the widespread application of HPLC in drug-related analytical investigations and the resulting contamination of the environment with organic solvents questions have been raised about the toxicity/greenness of HPLC in the ecosystem. Traditional analytical separation technologies yield approximately 50 mL of waste per analytical data point. To this end, the pharmaceutical community continues to search for greener opportunities to markedly reduce the amount of organic waste produced and move from conventional offline separation based methodologies to greener in-line alternatives. In this contribution, we’re adopting a “Just-Dip-It” approach with the ultimate goal of advancing and exploiting the potentiometric sensors to their most effective use in different disciplines of drug development. The unique abilities of these ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) for in-line measurements is the key driver for adoption of GAC principles to improve environmental friendliness of the analytical methods. For a meaningful comparison, this work compares the organic waste resulting from ISEs versus HPLC for degradation kinetics monitoring of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with respect to the 12 principles of GAC. Ipratropium bromide (IP) was chosen as a hydrolyzable anticholinergic drug, and its degradation kinetics were monitored by the two techniques. The first in-line strategy is attained by dipping a highly integrated IP membrane sensor for continuous monitoring of the hydrolysis kinetics of IP by tracing the emf decline over the time scale. The second off-line strategy utilizes a separation-based chromatographic HPLC method via discontinuous tracking the decrease of IP peak area spectroscopically at 220 nm over time. The advantages and shortcomings of each strategy considering GAC principles are highlighted. The merits of these benign real-time analyzers (ISEs) that can deliver equivalent analytical results as HPLC while significantly reducing solvent consumption/waste generation are described. Finally, an applicable strategy for expansion of the Just-Dip-It approach to different disciplines of drug-related analytical investigations is addressed.

The Use of an Acylhydrazone-Based Metal-Organic Framework in Solid-Contact Potassium-Selective Electrode for Water Analysis

“…Due to the use of several different electrodes sensitized for different analytes, it is possible to perform a multicomponent analysis at the same time in a very quick and easy way [7][8][9][10]. Moreover, the energy consumption in potentiometric measurements is much lower in comparison with other modern instrumental techniques [11]. The classical electrodes with inner filling solution are characterized by particularly good metrological parameters, fast response, and stability of measured potential.…”

Design of Copper Microfabricated Potentiometric Sensor for in‐line Monitoring of Neostigmine Degradation Kinetics

“…The electrochemical sensors are characterized by being eco‐friendly, energy saving in addition to their compatibility with microfabrication tools [4]. They could be effectively used as benign real time analyzers that follow the green analytical chemistry requirements [5]. This can be attributed to the minimal sample pretreatment, low solvent consumption and waste generation.…”

A Reliable Electrochemical Sensor Based on Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles for Over‐the‐counter Allergy Medication Abuse Sensing in Biological Fluids

“…Ion selective electrodes (ISEs) are characterized by reliability, simplicity, economic assembly, energy and time saving [26,27]. Moreover, this ecofriendly approach has opened the way for greener analytical chemistry tools, making it superior over traditional off-line separation techniques in drug-related analytical studies [28].…”