Sample preparation future trends

Another current trend that is well underway is the use of more specific analytical instrumentation that allows less extensive sample preparation. The development of mass spectrometric techniques, particularly tandem MS linked to a HPLC or flow injection system, has allowed the specific and sensitive analysis of simple extracts of biological samples (68,70-72). A similar HPLC with UV detection would require significantly more extensive sample preparation effort and, importantly, more method development time. Currently, the bulk of the HPLC-MS efforts have been applied to the analysis of drugs and metabolites in biological samples. Kristiansen et al. (73) have also applied flow-injection tandem mass spectrometry to measure sulfonamide antibiotics in meat and blood using a very simple ethyl acetate extraction step. This important technique will surely find many more applications in the future. 

Future trends in the separation area will include translation of all these methods to microchip format, which promises to lead the next revolution in chemical analysis. MEKC and isotachophoresis, a CE separation technique in a discontinuous buffer system, have already been adapted to microchips and applied to assay herbicides, biogenic amines, and ions. Micro-channels on a chip-like structure are likely to be exploited more frequently in CE after further development of nanotechnology because it results in extremely rapid separations that consume only picoliter sample volumes and introduce the possibility of merging sample preparation and analysis in a single device. 

Agazzi A and Pirola C (2000) Fundamentals, methods and future trends of environmental microwave sample preparation. Microchemical Journal 67 337-341. 

Oliveira, E., (2003), Sample preparation for atomic spectroscopy evolution and future trends Braz. Chem. Soc., 14,1-17. 

What are the trends in LIMS evaluation The current systems mainly support sample management and are related to analytical laboratories. Future systems have to be enhanced with functions for planning and managing projects. Laboratories in the fields of research and development as well as in preparative chemistry are less well supported. In newer developments LIMSs are acquiring the character of organization information systems with interfaces to other internal and external information systems. Current LIMSs collect, process, print, and manage information, but they do not learn . Plausibility is checked only on a numerical basis without analytical experience. A possible trend is in the direction of expert systems, but such systems may prove too expensive. 

---