## 4 Concluding Remarks and Future Trends  
This review offers a comprehensive discussion of the trends in the preparation and application of GBMs, providing an extensive overview of the literature from 2018 to May 2024. As demonstrated, GBMs, including GO and rGO, boost modification possibilities owing to their unique physicochemical properties. Notably, the presence of functional oxygen groups renders them ideal starting materials for developing novel and enhanced sorbent phases. Novel graphene-based sorbents encompass modifications with silica derivatives, ionic liquids, magnetic materials, molecularly imprinted polymers, biomaterials, and deep eutectic solvents. Sorbent materials obtained through these synthesis approaches hold significant promise for different applications. Furthermore, leveraging graphene's unique physicochemical properties, such as its high surface area and \(\pi\)-\(\pi\) interactions, in combination with these anchored materials, introduces distinct advantages over traditional sorbent materials, thereby enhancing the utility of these sorbents. While synthesizing graphene-based sorbents offers limitless possibilities, the continued reliance on non-green synthesis methods remains a significant drawback. Most reported methods still involve large solvent volumes, generating substantial chemical residues, posing environmental harm, and compromising human safety. Another critical challenge in graphene-based synthesis is the tendency of 2D structures, such as GO, to form irregular aggregations or self-stacks. Such a drawback directly impacts the specific surface area, consequently affecting the adsorption capability of these materials. To overcome this limitation, it is crucial to suggest using anchoring materials capable of effectively infiltrating between graphene layers to mitigate the aggregation effect. As demonstrated in this study, various materials have been reported in the literature, such as CS, ILs, DESs solvents, and silica derivatives. These materials are primarily applied to mitigate the aggregation drawback of graphene-based materials in microextraction protocols. Incorporating these materials also shows promise for increasing the specific surface area of graphene-based materials and enhancing their recognition capacity. Moreover, some critical green aspects of GBMs primarily hinge on three main points: (I) biodegradability, (II) reusability, and (III) potential for automation in application methods. Regarding the first aspect, there is a recent trend toward fabricating biodegradable sorbents, representing an eco-friendly concern, especially when these phases are discarded after their useful lifetime. The synthesis of graphene-biosorbents has predominantly centered on utilizing CS, CDs, and DESs as anchoring materials to graphene phases. Besides enhancing environmental consciousness, applying these materials has also bolstered the physicochemical properties of GBMs, opening up new horizons for their application. On the other hand, there is a pressing need to explore new materials, such as agarose, alginate, and cellulose, in synthesizing graphene-biosorbents. Introducing new graphene biosorbents can expand the scope of graphene towards greener analytical approaches, paving the way for novel advancements in the scientific field of sample preparation. Furthermore, regarding item II, the reusability of the sorbent is crucial for ensuring sustainability. Although the most common protocols for synthesizing GBMs typically involve large volumes of organic solvents and, in some cases, toxic reagents, exploring greener methodologies for obtaining these materials--such as deriving them from biomass or growing graphene from living organisms--appears to be an excellent initiative. Additionally, since miniaturized sample preparation techniques use small amounts of sorbent, investigating their recycling rates is advantageous whenever possible. This reduces the need for repeated syntheses, minimizes waste generation, and enhances the method's sustainability.