Comprehensive Analytical Chemistry, 2026 (Scopus)
The inclusion of miniaturized analytical equipment into white analytical chemical techniques is an agent of change in environment-friendly, effective and affordable analytical procedures. This paper discusses how microfluidics, lab-on-chip systems, hand-held spectroscopic tools, open-access hardware all through miniaturization can be related to the ideals of white and green chemistry as carrying less reagents, less waste and can be used in the field in real-time. The paper shows the use in environmental monitoring and point-of-care diagnosing, quality control of pharmaceutical products, and food safety, that have been found to be more sensitive, transportable, and resource-efficient. Moreover, the contribution of open-source hardware and software to a democratization of access to high-quality scientific tools is also discussed, with the focus on innovation and educational consequences. Although the technical barriers, such as standardization, are still in existence, the future approaches to the integration of nanotechnology, AI, or IoT may lead to the extension of the use of such systems to other fields. The essay highlights miniaturized instrumentation as the most critical source of upcoming eco-friendly and decentralized analytical chemistry.