Sample Pretreatment and Green Analysis of Organic Compounds in Sediments in Contact with Surface Water: A Review

Sediments that are exposed to surface water might take up organic contaminants from natural sources and humans, thus bringing about environmental pollution and creating a risk to human health. Hence, this gives enough reason to indicate the need for conducting proper analysis of pollutants. The literature on sediment pre-treatment, extraction of contaminants, cleaning, concentration, and instrumental analysis is covered in the review. Conventional and advanced methods include Soxhlet extraction, ultrasonic extraction, pressurized extraction, microwave extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction. These methods may differ in terms of efficiency, solvent requirements, duration, and analytical capabilities. Chromatographic and mass-spectrometric techniques, such as gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass-spectrometric methods, are most commonly used today to determine and identify a range of environmental contaminants. Special emphasis has been placed on solvent-free and green methods, as well as sustainable analytical criteria for monitoring ecological performance. This study provides an in-depth look into sediment pretreatment, extraction procedures used, and analytical methods as well as environmentally friendly analytical methods and potential implications for public health, thereby providing a broader overview than reviews that focus on a specific method of extraction or category of contaminants. Effective sample preparation and recognized analytical methods are key for reliable assessment of organic pollutants contained in sediments. Article History:Received August 28, 2026Revised October 10, 2026Accepted: October 26, 2026Published: November 7, 2026