Supercritical fluid extraction matrices

Saponification—Liquid-hquid extraction Soxhlet extraction Ultrasound-assisted extraction Microwave-assisted extraction Pressurized liquid extraction Supercritical fluid extraction Matrix solid-phase dispersion... 

Removing an analyte from a matrix using supercritical fluid extraction (SEE) requires knowledge about the solubiUty of the solute, the rate of transfer of the solute from the soHd to the solvent phase, and interaction of the solvent phase with the matrix (36). These factors collectively control the effectiveness of the SEE process, if not of the extraction process in general. The range of samples for which SEE has been appHed continues to broaden. Apphcations have been in the environment, food, and polymers (37). 

The coupling of supercritical fluid extraction (SEE) with gas chromatography (SEE-GC) provides an excellent example of the application of multidimensional chromatography principles to a sample preparation method. In SEE, the analytical matrix is packed into an extraction vessel and a supercritical fluid, usually carbon dioxide, is passed through it. The analyte matrix may be viewed as the stationary phase, while the supercritical fluid can be viewed as the mobile phase. In order to obtain an effective extraction, the solubility of the analyte in the supercritical fluid mobile phase must be considered, along with its affinity to the matrix stationary phase. The effluent from the extraction is then collected and transferred to a gas chromatograph. In his comprehensive text, Taylor provides an excellent description of the principles and applications of SEE (44), while Pawliszyn presents a description of the supercritical fluid as the mobile phase in his development of a kinetic model for the extraction process (45). 

Supercritical fluid extraction can be performed in a static system with the attainment of a steady-state equilibrium or in a continuous leaching mode (dynamic mode) for which equilibrium is unlikely to be obtained (257,260). In most instances the dynamic approach has been preferred, although the selection of the method probably depends just as much on the properties of the matrix as those of the analyte. The potential for saturation of a component with limited solubility in a static solvent pool may hinder complete recovery of the analyte. In a dynamic system, the analyte is continuously exposed to a fresh stream of solvent, increasing the rate of extraction from the matrix. In a static systea... 

To date most of the work which has been done with supercritical fluid extraction has concentrated on the extraction of analytes from solid matrices or liquids supported on an inert solid carrier matrix. The extraction of aqueous matrices presents particular problems [276-278]. The co-extraction of water causes problems with restrictor plugging, column deterioration, and phase separation if a nonpolar solvent is used for sample collection. Also, carbon dioxide isay have limited extraction efficiency for many water soluble compounds. 

Principles and Characteristics Supercritical fluid extraction uses the principles of traditional LSE. Recently SFE has become a much studied means of analytical sample preparation, particularly for the removal of analytes of interest from solid matrices prior to chromatography. SFE has also been evaluated for its potential for extraction of in-polymer additives. In SFE three interrelated factors, solubility, diffusion and matrix, influence recovery. For successful extraction, the solute must be sufficiently soluble in the SCF. The timescale for diffusion/transport depends on the shape and dimensions of the matrix particles. Mass transfer from the polymer surface to the SCF extractant is very fast because of the high diffusivity in SCFs and the layer of stagnant SCF around the solid particles is very thin. Therefore, the rate-limiting step in SFE is either... 

Applications The majority of SFE applications involves the extraction of dry solid matrices. Supercritical fluid extraction has demonstrated great utility for the extraction of organic analytes from a wide variety of solid matrices. The combination of fast extractions and easy solvent evaporation has resulted in numerous applications for SFE. Important areas of analytical SFE are environmental analysis (41 %), food analysis (38 %) and polymer characterisation (11%) [292], Determination of additives in polymers is considered attractive by SFE because (i) the SCF can more quickly permeate throughout the polymer matrix compared to conventional solvents, resulting in a rapid extraction (ii) the polymer matrix is (generally) not soluble in SCFs, so that polymer dissolution and subsequent precipitation are not necessary and (iii) organic solvents are not required, or are used only in very small quantities, reducing preparation time and disposal costs [359]. 

SFE has been used extensively in the analysis of solid polymers. Supercritical fluid extraction of liquid samples is undertaken less widely because dissolution or entrainment of the matrix can occur. As illustrated elsewhere SFE has also been applied for the analysis of liquid poly(alkylene glycol) (PAG) lubricants and sorbitan ester formulations [370]. The analysis of PAG additives (antioxidants, biocides and anticorrosion, antiwear and antifoaming agents) is hindered by the presence of the low molecular weight PAG matrix (liquid) and therefore a method for the selective separation of additives from PAG is required. The PAG... 

Principles and Characteristics In an attempt to develop a unified sample preparation system for extraction of various matrix/analyte combinations Ashraf-Khorassani et al. [498] have described a hybrid supercritical fluid extraction/enhanced solvent extraction (SFE/ESE ) system to remove both polar and nonpolar analytes from various matrices. The idea is that a single instrument that can perform extractions via pure C02 solvent, and all gradients thereof affords... 

Snyder JL, Grob RL, McNally ME, OostdykTS.The effect of instrumental parameters and soil matrix on the recovery of organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides from soils using supercritical fluid extraction. J. Chromatogr. Sci. 1993 31 183-191. 

S.B. Hawthorne, C.B. Grabanski, E. Martin and D.J. Miller, Comparison of Soxhlet extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, supercritical fluid extraction and subcritical water extraction for environmental solids recovery, selectivity and effects on sample matrix. J. Chromatogr.A 892 (2000) 421 133. 

Ideally, the pollutants to be determined should be removed from the matrix as completely as possible with a minimum amount of the other non-target components. This type of selectivity was certainly anticipated from supercritical fluid extraction. However, trace organic pollutants cover a wide range of polarity, volatility, and molecular size, making selective extraction very difficult to achieve. Currently the most popular extraction methods are Soxhlet [191,400, 402-404], blending [189, 408, 409, 411-455], liquid column extraction and ultrasonic extraction [456], and more recently supercritical fluid extraction [386,456-463]. 

Supercritical fluids were soon found to be highly efficient extraction media, chiefly because of their high solvating power, their low viscosities (intermediate between a gas and a liquid), and their low surface tensions that enable their penetration deep into the extraction matrix. Supercritical fluid extraction (SEE) used in isolation is generally not selective enough to separate specific solutes from the matrix without further cleanup or resolution from coextracted species prior to qualitative and quantitative analysis. Consequently, for analytical applications, SFE is usually used in combination with chromatographic techniques to improve the overall selectivity in the isolation of specific solutes. The combined use of SFE with chromatographic techniques is quite recent. 

Application of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) for selective isolation of organophosphorus pesticides from a real-world matrix (wheat flour) (Kim et al., 1998). 

Tire aqueous or organic extract obtained at this point may be a very dilute solution containing interfering compounds and making it difficult to determine trace level concentrations of the analyte(s) of interest. To reduce interferences and concentrate the analyte(s), the primary sample extract is furiher subjected to various types of sample cleanup procedures such as conventional liquid-liquid partitioning, solid-phase extraction, matrix solid-phase dispersion, online trace enrichment, liquid chromatography, online dialysis and subsequent trace enrichment, and supercritical fluid extraction. In most cases some of Urese procedures are used in combination to obtain highly purified extracts. 

Starting with a description of the analytical challenge in Chapter 19, the third part, which is devoted to analytical attitudes, proceeds with a detailed description in Chapter 20 of modern sample preparation procedures including solid-phase extraction, matrix solid-phase dispersion, use of restricted-access media, supercritical fluid extraction, and immunoaffinity cleanup. Flexible derivatization techniques including fluorescence, ultraviolet-visible, enzymatic, and photochemical derivatization procedures are presented in Chapter 21. 

Extraction of fat by supercritical carbon dioxide was investigated as an important option for minimizing the expanded use of frequently flammable and carcinogenic solvents in food analysis. Unfortunately, the presence of moisture in foods has an adverse effect on the quantitative extraction of fat by supercritical fluid extraction (SEE). Hence, samples have to be lyophilized first. The total fat content of freeze-dried meat and oilseed samples was found to be comparable to values derived from Soxhlet-extracted samples (26). Besides, only small amounts of residual lipids could be recovered by an additional extraction of the SFE-extracted matrix by the Bligh and Dyer solvent extraction procedure. As far as the minor constituents are concerned, it was found that the extraction recovery ranged from 99% for PC to 88% for PA. Hence, Snyder et al. concluded that SFE can be used as a rapid, automated method to obtain total fat, including total phospholipids, from foods (26). 

Extraction In order to extract the toxin from the matrix, solvents or mixtures of solvents (methylene chloride, bicarbonate solution, methanol-water, chloroform-water) are used. Two main types of apparatus are commonly used the mechanical shaker (Ultra-Turrax homogenizer, multi-Wrist, magnetic stirrer) or High-Speed Waring Blenders. Other, rarely used extraction procedures are Soxhlet-type extractors and, more recently, supercritical fluid extraction. The time of extraction ranges from a few minutes (3 - 5) to 1 hour, depending on the procedure employed. 

MSPD matrix soild-phase dispersion SFE supercritical fluid extraction. 

Environmental applications of SFE appear to be the most widespread in the literature. A typical example is the comparison of extraction efficiency for 2,3,7,8 -tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) from sediment samples using supercritical fluid extraction and five individual mobile phases with Soxhlet extraction was made (101). The mobile phases, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, pure and modified with 2% methanol as well as sulfur hexafluoride were examined. Pure nitrous oxide, modified carbon dioxide and modified nitrous oxide systems gave the recoveries in the acceptable range of 80 to 100%. Carbon dioxide and sulfur hexafluoride showed recoveries of less than 50% under identical conditions. Classical Soxhlet recoveries by comparison illustrated the poorest precision with average extraction efficiencies of less than 65%. Mobile phase choice, still as yet a major question in the science of supercritical fluid extraction, seems to be dependent upon several factors polarity of the solute of interest, stearic interactions, as well as those between the matrix and the mobile phase. Physical parameters of the solute of interest, as suggested by King, must also be considered. Presently, the science behind the extraction of analytes of interest from complex matrices is not completely understood. 

In this paper, the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of organic compounds from sand spiked with 36 nitroaromatic compounds, 19 haloethers, and 42 organochlorine pesticides, and from a standard reference material certified for 13 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), dibenzofuran, and pentachlorophenol was examined using a two- and a four-vessel extractor. Although the results achieved by SFE for the sand and the standard reference soil samples were very encouraging, previous data obtained in our laboratory on the standard reference soil and a few other standard reference marine sediments were less favorable. It was therefore decided that an investigation of seven variables for their influence on the analyte recoveries from the standard soil sample would be useful. Two tests were conducted in which these variables were investigated. In Test 1, the seven variables selected were pressure, temperature, moisture content, cell volume, sample size, extraction time, and modifier volume. In Test 2, the seven variables were pressure, temperature, volume of toluene added to the matrix, volume of solvent in the collection vessel,... 

Kumar, R. Sivaraman, N. Srinivasan, T.G. VasudevaRao, RR. Studies on the supercritical fluid extraction of uranium from tissue matrix, Radiochim. Acta 90 (2002) 141-145. 

Kumar, R Pal, A. Saxena, M.K. Ramakumar, K.L. Supercritical fluid extraction of thorium from tissue paper matrix employing organophosphorous reagents, Radiochim. Acta 95 (2007) 701-708. 

R. M. Smith and M. D. Burford, Optimization of supercritical fluid extraction of volatile constituents from a model plant matrix , 7. Chromatogr. 600 175-181 (1992). 

In general, supercritical fluid extractions can be performed in either an on-line extraction mode or an off-line extraction mode. Off-line supercritical fluid extraction is the most common mode and involves extracting the analytes from the matrix and collecting them in either a sorbent trap or a collection solvent [11]. Following the collection step, the analytes are determined on a separate instrument (for example, on a chromatograph or an infrared spectrometer). In the on-line supercritical fluid extraction experiment, the outlet of the supercritical fluid extraction system is connected to a second analytical... 

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