Cobalt

Cobalt is an essential element for biological systems and, at the same time, a metal of growing environmental, toxicological, and technological interest. Its role in the structure of vitamin B₁₂ links it directly to fundamental metabolic processes, while its use in batteries, electronic materials, and industrial applications has increased its scientific relevance in recent decades.This book provides a comprehensive overview of cobalt from an interdisciplinary perspective that combines chemistry, biochemistry, nutrition, toxicology, and modern analytical chemistry. It explores aspects related to bioavailability, bioaccessibility, chemical speciation, toxicity mechanisms, and analytical methodologies applied to biological, food, and environmental matrices.The book also includes fluorescent methodologies, nanosensors, and approaches compatible with green analytical chemistry, incorporating original contributions developed by the authors' research group.