Greening the Waves: Experimental and Chemometric Approaches in Spectroscopic Methods for Organic Pollutant Determination in Natural Waters

Abstract

This review paper provides a comprehensive exploration of innovative strategies to enhance the sustainability and efficacy of water quality monitoring. The global prevalence of organic pollutants in natural waters poses significant environmental challenges, necessitating the development of analytical methods that are not only sensitive and accurate but also environmentally friendly. The concept of Green Analytical Chemistry (GAC) serves as the foundation for this review, focusing specifically on experimental and chemometric approaches within the realm of spectroscopic methods. The introductory section establishes the urgency of adopting green methodologies and outlines the limitations of conventional techniques for organic pollutant determination. Subsequently, the review delves into recent experimental innovations in spectroscopic methods, including UV-Vis, FTIR, and fluorescence. These advancements not only improve the precision of detection but also align with the principles of green chemistry by minimizing resource consumption and waste generation. A significant portion of the review is dedicated to exploring the role of chemometric approaches in enhancing the reliability and interpretability of spectroscopic data. Various tools, such as multivariate analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and partial least squares (PLS), are scrutinized for their ability to extract meaningful information, leading to more robust determinations of organic pollutants in natural waters. Case studies and applications are presented to illustrate successful implementations of the discussed experimental and chemometric approaches in real-world scenarios. These examples showcase the versatility and adaptability of the proposed methods across diverse environmental settings, providing tangible evidence of their efficacy in water quality monitoring. The review concludes with a forward-looking perspective, discussing ongoing research directions, emerging trends, and potential challenges in the field. The integration of artificial intelligence and big data into chemometric analyses is highlighted as a promising avenue for future development, emphasizing the role of these technologies in shaping the landscape of sustainable water quality analysis. Thus, "Greening the Waves" aims to consolidate knowledge on experimental and chemometric strategies in spectroscopic methods, offering a roadmap for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to adopt more environmentally conscious approaches in the critical task of organic pollutant determination in natural waters.