Using Ultrasound to Assist Various Steps of the Analytical Process

USING ULTRASOUND TO ASSIST VARIOUS STEPS OF THE ANALYTICAL PROCESS 

Although the use of ultrasound to assist sample preparation has so far been limited in relation to its potential [39,40], few analytical chemists are unaware that US can help, improve, aoeelerate or automate the preliminary steps of the analytical process — particularly those preoeding sampling (e.gf. cleaning the lab material or degassing solvents). Ultrasound has also found a variety of uses in the detection step ranging from 

Therefore, analytical chemists can exploit ultrasound as soon as they start developing a method for purposes such as expediting and (or) improving the performance of the different steps to be carried out. This book therefore focuses on the ways the analytical chemists can use US energy in order to facilitate an educated choice relying on an appropriate knowledge of the potential impact of US on each step of the analytical process. 

With this aim in view, the chapters that follow this exposition of principles of US, the ways they are implemented in the various types of devices available, and their advantages and restrictions, are structured as follows Part I (Chapters 2-8) is devoted to US and sample preparation and Part II (Chapters 9 and 10) deals with US and detection. 

Specifically, Chapter 2 discusses the concept of sample preparation and its implications. Ways of minimizing or avoiding the main problems posed by solid and liquid samples with the aid of US applied in the typical scenarios for two analytical chemical works viz. discrete and continuous systems) are proposed. Also, the use of US prior to sample preparation is discussed before dealing with specific sample preparation methods suited to the physical state of the sample and the treatment it required for presentation to continuous separation equipment (whether a chromatograph or a capillary electrophoresis module) or directly to the detector for monitoring, detection, characterization and (or) quantification. 

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