Direct sample injection, solid phase

Methods of analysis by direct injection in the column of sample were proposed (Lea et al., 1979 Nagel et al., 1979 Ong and Nagel, 1978 Wulf and Nagel, 1976 Roggero et al., 1989 Lamuela-Raventos and Waterhouse, 1994), but usually, prior to analysis, the different classes of compounds are fractionated on absorbent polymers such as polyamide, Sephadex LH20 or C18. The stationary phase C18 is also used for concentration and purification of the sample by solid phase extraction (SPE) prior to analysis. 

Figure 11.19 SPME-CE analysis of urine samples (a) blank urine (a) directly injected and extracted for (b) 5 (c) 10 and (d) 30 min (b) Urine spiked with barbiturates, extracted for (e) 30 and (f, g) 5 min. Peak identification is as follows 1, pentobaitibal 2, butabarbital 3, secobarbital 4, amobarbital 5, aprobarbital 6, mephobarbital 7, butalbital 8, thiopental. Concenti ations used are 0.15-1.0 ppm (e, f) and 0.05-0.3 ppm (g). Reprinted from Analytical Chemistry, 69, S. Li and S. G. Weber, Determination of barbiturates by solid-phase microexti action and capillary electrophoresis, pp. 1217-1222, copyright 1997, with permission from the American Chemical Society.

There are basically three methods of liquid sampling in GC direct sampling, solid-phase extraction and liquid extraction. The traditional method of treating liquid samples prior to GC injection is liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), but several alternative methods, which reduce or eliminate the use of solvents, are preferred nowadays, such as static and dynamic headspace (DHS) for volatile compounds and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) for semivolatiles. The method chosen depends on concentration and nature of the substances of interest that are present in the liquid. Direct sampling is used when the substances to be assayed are major components of the liquid. The other two extraction procedures are used when the pertinent solutes are present in very low concentration. Modem automated on-line SPE-GC-MS is configured either for at-column conditions or rapid large-volume injection (RLVI). 

Principles and Characteristics As mentioned already (Section 3.5.2) solid-phase microextraction involves the use of a micro-fibre which is exposed to the analyte(s) for a prespecified time. GC-MS is an ideal detector after SPME extraction/injection for both qualitative and quantitative analysis. For SPME-GC analysis, the fibre is forced into the chromatography capillary injector, where the entire extraction is desorbed. A high linear flow-rate of the carrier gas along the fibre is essential to ensure complete desorption of the analytes. Because no solvent is injected, and the analytes are rapidly desorbed on to the column, minimum detection limits are improved and resolution is maintained. Online coupling of conventional fibre-based SPME coupled with GC is now becoming routine. Automated SPME takes the sample directly from bottle to gas chromatograph. Split/splitless, on-column and PTV injection are compatible with SPME. SPME can also be used very effectively for sample introduction to fast GC systems, provided that a dedicated injector is used for this purpose [69,70],... 

GC injection port) may well be. This was clearly demonstrated by a comparison between cryotrapping/direct injection, cryotrapping/SPME, and solid-phase (Tenax-GC) extraction for sampling of odorous sulfur compounds [71], Thermally labile compounds are likely to break down in the GC injection port/column/transfer line. Instead of SPME-GC, the recently developed SPME-HPLC [72] might be more applicable to analysis of such thermally unstable compounds. 

Other techniques to improve throughput are instrumentation based and may involve multiple HPLC systems. The simplest method involves the automated use of solid phase extraction cartridges for sample cleanup followed by direct injection into the mass spectrometer [114], Coupling of multiple HPLC systems to one mass spectrometer allows one column to equilibrate and separate while another column to flow into the mass spectrometer. Multiple HPLC systems may be configured such that the mass spectrometer is only exposed to each serial HPLC eluent as the analyte of interest is eluted [115,116]. Although multiple H P LC-based methods may increase throughput, they also typically decrease sensitivity and may confound data workup and interpretation. 

Section II covers the latest trends in reducing sample preparation time, including direct sample infusion/injection and on-line solid phase extraction (SPE). In Section III, we focus on newer trends in stationary phases and how these phases hope to offer different selectivities compared to current CIS-based phases. Section IV briefly provides a few observations on how new detectors are increasing the versatility of HPLC. Finally, in Section V we examine monolithic columns, small particles packed in short columns, high-temperature LC, ultra high-pressure LC, and parallel injection techniques. 

Direct injection of blood serum (102) or sample extracts with little or no cleanup (53) is possible, which makes HPLC procedures comparable in speed with other rapid tests With increased use of solid-phase absorption in cleanup, automation of procedures is feasible TLC is also a useful and inexpensive technique and quantitative TLC methods have been described (30,63) The following chapter describes practical application of various procedures in a drug residue monitoring program ... 

This particular fractionation step may be optional. Some samples can be directly injected after filtration (step 2) without solid-phase extraction. This technique, however, will improve the resolution of many of the HPLC polyphenolic peaks and will allow their analysis and identification. 

The sample preparation techniques described in the Basic and Alternate Protocols require 1 to 3 hr prior to sample injection into the HPLC. No additional time for sample cleanup is necessary if the sample is directly injected into the HPLC column without solid-phase extraction. 

Solvent extraction in combination with TD-GC-FID gives the opportunity to concentrate the extract directly on the adsorbent tube (solid phase extraction) by injection of the sample extract and purge off the solvent with for example, helium. Methanol extracts of house dust can be concentrated on adsorbent tubes by injecting up to 50 jllI and analyze the tubes by TD-GC (Kofoed-Sorensen and Clausen, 2004). 

Samples rarely come in a form that can be injected directly into the instrument some form of sample preparation usually is required. Sample preparation includes any manipulation of the sample prior to analysis, including techniques such as weighing, dilution, concentration, filtration, centrifugation, and liquid- or solid-phase extraction. Sample preparation can be performed either on-line or off-line, but it is usually performed offline. Off-line preparation can be time-consuming and tedious, and the more steps that are required, the more susceptible the analytical method is to operator error and irreproducibility. 

These semi-preparative methods are useful where identification is required but for quantitative and comparative analytical purposes much more rapid sampling techniques, such as automated headspace and solid phase microextraction (SPME), may be preferred. Both of these techniques give similar results for most volatiles. In the former, the vapour above a heated sample is removed by a syringe or gas flushing and injected onto a GC column, either directly or after trapping on a suitable absorbent and thermal desorption. In SPME, the vapour is absorbed on to a suitable bonded medium on a special needle and then injected into the gas chromatogram. 

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