Dear Colleagues,

Elemental characterization of various matrices, such as food, industrial, environmental, or biological samples, using spectrometric techniques, such as ICP OES, ICP MS, FAAS, and ETAAS, arouses a constant research interest, particularly because of the possibility to evaluate the quality and safety of these materials and their suitability for direct applications. Multi-element analysis of samples, especially those of a complex composition, is not an easy task, and causes a permanent necessity to develop and use valid methods that guaranty reliable and dependable results. One of the most important and demanding steps in the analytical process is sample preparation before measurements, depending on the composition of the sample matrix, the type and concentration of analytes, and the detection technique used for the quantification of these analytes. In a traditional approach, samples are decomposed by wet acidic digestion procedures in the presence of concentrated oxidizing acids; however, followed the idea of simplifying the analytical proceeding, alternative methodologies at the stage of sample preparation that fit in with the principles of “green chemistry” are also currently being developed. In view of this, this Special Issue is addressed to all analytical chemists dealing with the determination of major, minor, and trace elements is various samples using spectrometric techniques, with special attention to the development and validation of new methods of element analysis. Scientific areas to be covered by this Special Issue may include (but are not limited to) the following topics:

i) multi-element analysis of samples with different matrices, including food, environmental, industrial, or biological materials;
ii) speciation and/or fractionation of elements;
iii) sample preparation procedures before spectrometric measurements;
iv) method validation, verification, and application.

Prof. Dr. Pawel Pohl
Dr. Anna Szymczycha-Madeja
Dr. Maja Welna
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• samples
• sample preparation
• multi-element analysis
• spectrometric techniques
• analytical characteristic
• validation
• application