Sample preparation preconcentration

Recently, SPE cartridges and disks have been widely and successfully used in preconcentration processes [1-3]. They reduce solvent usage, disposal costs, and extraction time for sample preparation and obtain large enrichment factors. 

Theoretical and applied aspects of microwave heating, as well as the advantages of its application are discussed for the individual analytical processes and also for the sample preparation procedures. Special attention is paid to the various preconcentration techniques, in part, sorption and extraction. Improvement of microwave-assisted solution preconcentration is shown on the example of separation of noble metals from matrix components by complexing sorbents. Advantages of microwave-assisted extraction and principles of choice of appropriate solvent are considered for the extraction of organic contaminants from solutions and solid samples by alcohols and room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). 

The performance of microwave-assisted decomposition of most difficult samples of organic and inorganic natures in combination with the microwave-assisted solution preconcentration is illustrated by sample preparation of carbon-containing matrices followed by atomic spectroscopy determination of noble metals. Microwave-assisted extraction of most dangerous contaminants, in particular, pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, from soils have been developed and successfully used in combination with polarization fluoroimmunoassay (FPIA) and fluorescence detection. 

Many process mixtures, notably fermentations, require sample preconcentration, microdialysis, microfiltration, or ultrafiltration prior to analysis. A capillary mixer has been used as a sample preparation and enrichment technique in microchromatography of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water.8 Microdialysis to remove protein has been coupled to reversed phase chromatography to follow the pharmacokinetics of the metabolism of acetaminophen into acetaminophen-4-O-sulfate and acetaminophen-4-O-glucu-ronide.9 On-line ultrafiltration was used in a process monitor for Aspergillus niger fermentation.10... 

Table 4.25 lists the main characteristics of headspace sampling. In HS-GC sample preparation is very often limited to placing a sample in a vial. Sample extraction, clean-up and preconcentration are not necessary. Elimination of solvents in preparing samples for GC has several benefits ... 

Analyte dilution sacrifices sensitivity. Matrix matching can only be applied for simple matrices, but is clearly not applicable for complex matrices of varying composition. Accurate correction for matrix effect is possible only if the IS is chosen with a mass number as close as possible to that of the analyte elements). Standard addition of a known amount of the element(s) of interest is a safe method for samples of unknown composition and thus unknown matrix effect. Chemical separations avoid spectral interference and allow preconcentration of the analyte elements. Sampling and sample preparation have recently been reviewed [4]. 

Integration of sample preparation and chromatography by on-line coupling aims at reduction of analysis time. It is apparent from Section 7.1 that these hyphenated techniques are not yet contributing heavily to the overall efficiency of polymer/additive analysis in industry. On-line SFE-SFC requires considerable method development, and MAE-HPLC is off-line. Enhancement of sensitivity for trace analysis requires appropriate sample preparation and preconcentration schemes, as well as improved detection systems. 

Kato K. et al., 2005. Determination of 16 phthalate metabolites in urine using automated sample preparation and onhne preconcentration/high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Chem 77 2985. 

TRXF was used to determine the trace elements in samples of lecithin, insulin, procaine, and tryptophan in an attempt to develop elemental fingerprints that could be used to determine the origin of the sample [80]. It was reported that through the use of matrix-independent sample preparation and an internal standard, one could use TXRF to facilitate characterization of the samples without the need for extensive pretreatment. In another work, a study was made of the capability of TXRF for the determination of trace elements in pharmaceutical substances with and without preconcentration [81]. 

Namiesnik et al. [33] have reviewed the analysis of soils and sediments for organic contaminants. They discuss methods of sample preparation and isolation-preconcentration prior to instrumental determination. Compound classes discussed include volatile organic compounds, polychlorobiphenyls, polyaromatic compounds, pesticides and polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorodibenzofurans. 

Flow injection analysis is based on the injection of a liquid sample into a continuously flowing liquid carrier stream, where it is usually made to react to give reaction products that may be detected. FIA offers the possibility in an on-line manifold of sample handling including separation, preconcentration, masking and color reaction, and even microwave dissolution, all of which can be readily automated. The most common advantages of FIA include reduced manpower cost of laboratory operations, increased sample throughput, improved precision of results, reduced sample volumes, and the elimination of many interferences. Fully automated flow injection analysers are based on spectrophotometric detection but are readily adapted as sample preparation units for atomic spectrometric techniques. Flow injection as a sample introduction technique has been discussed previously, whereas here its full potential is briefly surveyed. In addition to a few books on FIA [168,169], several critical reviews of FIA methods for FAAS, GF AAS, and ICP-AES methods have been published [170,171]. 

One drawback of capillary electrophoresis is the state of the capillary wall. Often, constituents of the buffer or analyte are absorbed on the sin-face, causing not only an irreproducible shift of EOF, but even the possibility of questionable binding isotherms. A lot of effort has gone into overcoming this problem. Capillaries with coated inner walls are now commercially available and capillary electrophoresis on chips of different materials is also under development now. Not only do these chips represent a miniaturized form of capillary electrophoresis, but this technique also enables the incorporation of such sample preparation steps as preconcentration and even PCR and immobilization of immunoreagents. It is not difficult to anticipate a very exciting development in this field, one with a high commercial impact. 

The determination of volatile elemental species in biological or environmental samples, such as body fluids, tissues, soils, plants or water, generally requires a careful preconcentration and clean-up procedure in order to separate the analytes from matrix material. Several existing sample preparation procedures and applied measurement techniques (especially GC-ICP-MS in combination with... 

Analytes can be separated from complex matrices by sample preparation techniques that include liquid extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, and solid-phase extraction. Dilute ionic analytes can be preconcentrated by adsorption onto an ion-exchange resin. Nonionic analytes can be concentrated by solid-phase extraction. Derivatization transforms the analyte into a more easily detected or separated form. 

The combination of preconcentration by electrodeposition with stripping by voltammetry is probably the most sensitive electroanalytical method in common use today. Consequently, this popular technique is discussed in more detail in Chapter 24. Preconcentration of material by an electrode reaction has been used in sample preparation for atomic absorption, neutron activation, x-ray fluorescence, microprobe, and several other spectroscopic techniques. 

As stated by Manz, the pTAS was envisioned as a new concept for chemical sensing, needed since sensors at that time were not providing the best results in terms of selectivity and lifetime. Initially, the main reason for miniaturisation was to enhance the analytical performance of the device rather than to reduce its size. However, it was also recognised that a small scale presented the advantage of a smaller consumption of sample and reagents. Moreover, the total chemical analysis system scheme could provide an integration of several laboratory procedures such as sample preparation, filtration, preconcentration,... 

---