Method development procedures for the analysis of complex industrial chemicals and UVCBs in support of ecotoxicology studies

SETAC Europe 2026 -- Many industrial chemicals often present challenges when developing analytical methods due to their varied and complex composition. The successful development of suitable analytical methods requires overcoming several obstacles related to the nature of the test item. Initially, understanding the nature of the test item is particularly important as method development for a single representative component leads to a more focused analytical approach, compared to the less specific techniques usually required for complex chemical mixtures. Developing methods based on single representative components is the preferred route, rather than analyzing unknown analytes in complex mixtures such as UVCBs, as the diverse range of chemical properties of the components can present numerous problems with method performance and achieving the required limit of quantitation. However, as UVCBs require effective safety testing, analytical methods that meet the needs of the supported studies are of increasing importance.