Kinetic methods, advantages automation

It is even more difficult to predict the future of kinetic methods. There is scope here for considerable development and they have many advantages they can be used for difficult mixtures, they are well suited for automation and kinetics is an integral part of every course in chemistry, so its principles are well understood. However, as yet, these methods have not become as widespread as one might expect.1... 

The reactions used in kinetic methods fall into two categories catalyzed or uncatalyzed. As noted earlier, catalyzed reactions are the most widely used because of their superior sensitivity and selectivity. Uncatalyzed reactions are used to advantage when high-speed, automated measurements are required or when the sensitivity of the detection method is great. ... 

Substrate concentration is obtained using a method based on kinetics by measuring the reaction rate. To reduce the time required per assay, the requirement for the quantitative conversion of substrate is abandoned. Since kinetic methods are less susceptible to interference than the endpoint method, they are advantageous for automated methods of enzymatic analysis. 

Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) is a relatively recent advance in sample preparation for trace environmental analysis. This techiuque uses conventional solvents at elevated pressures and temperatures to extract solid samples quickly. The process takes advantage of the increased analyte solubilities at temperatures well above the boiling points of common solvents. Under these conditions, the kinetic processes for the desorption of analytes from the matrix are accelerated. Currently a commercial unit is available in which automated extractions can be carried out on 24 samples sequentially (Richter et al., 1995, 1996). This technique offers some significant advantages over SEE and MAP. SEE uses supercritical CO2, which is a nonpolar fluid, whereas MAP requires the presence of a polar solvent that couples with microwave to promote heating. By comparison, ASE uses the same solvent as traditional Soxhlet extractions, which means a (firect transfer of methodology is feasible without any of the restrictions or limitations of the two other methods. Method development time is therefore shortened. 

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