Actually, there is a range of articles about quantification of phenolics/antioxidant activity and methanol is widely used for this purpose because of its good polarity and performance to allow diffusion of plant metabolites. But, with the introduction of green chemistry (Microwave Hydrodiffusion and Gravity, Pressure Drop, etc.) methanol seems to be left. How would you justify the use of methanol against these new green methods?
Hello Andrés,
Changing an analytical method may be expensive:
- New instrumentation
- Validation of the new extraction procedure
- Maybe method development if, for example, other matrix constituents appear in the green-chemistry-extract that interfere with the previously used HPLC method
Thus, you would not replace an established methanol extraction by green-chemistry for a singular measurement, but rather for a very frequently used routine method.
Another argument might apply if the method is supposed to be used by all the world like, for example, a method for the International Pharmacopoeia. In such a case, the method should be based on instruments and materials that are available worldwide.
Actually, green extraction methods (like Microwave Hydrodiffusion and Gravity) are validated but their application is just beginning. Thank you very much.
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