Solid-phase microextraction variables

The fabrication of imprinted monolithic solid-phase microextraction fibres has been developed for the selective extraction and preconcentration of diacetylmorphine and its structural analogues, triazines, bisphenol A, anaesthetics, and antibiotics followed by GC or HPLC analysis [156,163,179,196,197]. In addition, the on-line coupling of the imprinted monolith as a preconcentration column with a conventional analytical column has been proposed for the enrichment and cleanup of environmental and food samples [163]. However, at present, the capacity of the imprinted fibres and thus the degree of recovery of analytes are very variable and obviously need some improvement. For example, the recoveries of triazines after SPME with an imprinted monolith prepared by in situ polymerisation of MAA as... 

Solid-phase microextraction is controlled by diffusion rates and partition effects. In typical quantitative analyses, for this technique to be reproducible, the extraction process should continue until the partitioning events reach equilibrium and all variables affecting the partitioning must be controlled. For a two-phase system, the extraction is dependent on the analyte s partition coefficient and the volumes of the solid phase and the water. In the headspace technique, equilibrium must be reached between all three phases the water, the vapor, and the solid phase. 

The sample introduction system must be capable of introducing a known and variable volume of sample solution reproducibly into the pressurized mobile phase as a sharp plug without adversely affecting the efficiency of the column. The superiority of valve injection has been adequately demonstrated for this purpose and is now universally used in virtually all modern instruments for both manual and automated sample introduction systems [1,2,7,31,32]. Earlier approaches using septum-equipped injectors have passed into disuse for a several reasons, such as limited pressure capability, poor resealability, contamination of the mobile phase, disruption of the column packing, etc., but mainly because they were awkward and inconvenient to use compared with valves. For dilute sample solutions volume overload restricts the maximum sample volume that can be introduced onto the column without a dramatic loss of performance. On-column or precolumn sample focusing mechanisms can be exploited as a trace enrichment technique to enhance sample detectability. Solid-phase extraction and in-column solid-phase microextraction provide a convenient mechanism for isolation, concentration and matrix simplification that are easily interfaced to a liquid chromatograph for fully or semi-automated analysis of complex samples (section 5.3.2). 

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) involves extraction onto a thin fiber and the technique has become more prevalent recently and additionally provides a preconcentration of analytes prior to analysis. The fibers used in the technique can be coated with a range of stationary phases and a nonpolar phase such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is typically used for the extraction of derivatized organotin species. An equilibrium is established between the sample extract solution (or the headspace above the solution) and the stationary phase coating the fiber. The analytes are then typically desorbed from the fiber for analysis, for example, using thermal desorption during GC analysis. The technique allows rapid and solvent-free extraction of the analytes. Very good extraction has been achieved for water samples however, the technique has been shown to be more variable with more complex matrices. 

Variables Affecting Solid-Phase Microextraction Headspace Analysis of Orange Juice Volatiles... 

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