Analytical Green Star Area for Sample Preparation (AGSA‐Prep) as a Comprehensive and Practice‐Oriented Metric

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sample preparation is a critical, yet often environmentally burdensome, step in analytical chemistry. While Green Sample Preparation principles aim to mitigate this impact, existing assessment tools such as AGREEprep offer room for improvement in the assessment process. In particular, parameters such as material reusability, operator safety, and analytical performance constraints are not comprehensively considered, often resulting in lower scores for potentially green methods. This article presents AGSA‐Prep (Analytical Green Star Area for Sample Preparation) as a new metric designed to provide a more comprehensive, balanced, and contextualized assessment of sample preparation greenness, seeking to supplement and update valid and currently accepted assessment tools. Building on the AGSA framework, AGSA‐Prep incorporates additional assessment parameters, including reusability, waste management, energy consumption, automation, and operator protection based on personal protective equipment requirements. By simplifying complex scoring equations through categorical scoring systems, AGSA‐Prep improves accessibility for routine use. This paper details the development of AGSA‐Prep and critically compares its criteria with those of AGREEprep, demonstrating how AGSA‐Prep offers a comprehensive assessment, thus guiding the development of greener, safer, and more efficient laboratory practices. The software is available for end‐users at bit.ly/AGSA‐Prep.