Hollow fiber membrane solvent microextraction

King S, Meyer JS, and Andrews ARJ. Screening method for polycychc aromatic hydrocarbons in soil using hollow fiber membrane solvent microextraction. J. Chromatogr. A 2002 982 201-208. 

The mode of extraction for PAHs is highly dependent on the matrix. For solid-based matrices such as food samples, sediments, soil, marine organisms, etc. extraction methods such as Soxhlet extraction with nonpolar solvent [35 6], hollow fiber membrane solvent microextraction (HFMSME) [10], pressimzed hquid extraction (PLE) [37,38], sonication extraction [3], microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) [3], supercritical fluid extraction, (SEE) [39], accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) [40], cold extraction [41], soxtec extraction [42], microwave-assisted alkaline saponification (MAAS) [43], dynamic microwave-assisted extraction (DMAE) [44], add-induced cloud point extraction (ACPE) [45], methanolic saponification extraction (MSE) [7], etc. are employed. Of all these, Soxhlet extraction is the most common for solid samples and has achieved excellent extraction with high-level recovery but its setback is the high consmnption of solvent and time associated with it. 

In the past decade, several novel solvent-based microextraction techniques have been developed and applied to environmental and biological analysis. Notable approaches are single-drop microextraction,147 small volume extraction in levitated drops,148 flow injection extraction,149 150 and microporous membrane- or supported liquid membrane-based two- or three-phase microextraction.125 151-153 The two- and three-phase microextraction techniques utilizing supported liquid membranes deposited in the pores of hollow fiber membranes are the most explored for analytes of wide ranging polarities in biomatrices. This discussion will be limited to these protocols. 

In liquid-phase microextraction (LPME), a liquid membrane is used to enrich and isolate analytes from a complex sample. The liquid membrane, which is immiscible with water and the sample matrix, is immobilized in the pores of a porous hollow fiber. Such a liquid membrane is referred to as a supported liquid membrane (S LM). Immobilization of the SLM is achieved by simply dipping the hollow fiber in an organic solvent allowing the pores to be filled. Figure 9.11 shows a schematic representation of LPME. 

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