Editors: M. Valcárcel, S. Cárdenas, R. Lucena

Analytical Microextraction Techniques

eBook: US $99 Special Offer (PDF + Printed Copy): US $207
Printed Copy: US $157
Library License: US $396
ISBN: 978-1-68108-380-3 (Print)
ISBN: 978-1-68108-379-7 (Online)
Year of Publication: 2016
DOI: 10.2174/97816810837971170101

Introduction

Sample treatment has been the focus of intensive research in the last 20 years since it still remains a bottleneck in precise analytical procedures. The low concentration of the target analytes, the large amount of potential interfering agents and the incompatibility of the sample matrix with the instrumental techniques are the main reasons for these bottlenecks. In most of these methods, sample treatment is an unavoidable step and it has a clear influence on the quality (sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy) of the final analytical results.

While the usefulness of microextraction techniques has been established, their complete acceptance in analytical laboratories (including official methods of analysis) depends on their successful automation and integration with conventional analytical instrumentation.

Analytical Microextraction Techniques presents comprehensive information about several analytical methods that are useful in the laboratory. These include: sorptive microextraction, solid and liquid phase microextraction, packed sorbent microextraction, miniaturized dispersive solid-phase extraction, thin film and nanoparticle based techniques, and membrane-based techniques.

This is a vital reference on microextraction and sample preparation techniques for applied chemistry students, analytical chemists and laboratory technicians.

Foreword

Sample preparation involving extraction is normally required prior to analysis by chromatography, electrophoresis, or mass spectrometry. The main purposes of the sample preparation are to clean-up the sample, to make it compatible with the analytical instrumentation, and to enrich the analytes of interest. Sample clean-up is intended to remove major matrix components from the sample, which can interfere with the analyte detection or which can reduce the performance of the analytical instrumentation. Enrichment of the analytes is intended to improve the trace level detectability.

Most sample preparation in routine laboratories today is performed with classical extraction techniques, like solid-phase extraction or liquid-liquid extraction. However, in the scientific literature, a large number of research papers have been published on the development of microextraction techniques. The difference between the classical extraction techniques and the microextraction techniques is the mass / volume of the extraction phase, which has been substantially down-scaled in the latter.

The field of microextraction was essentially initiated in 1990 by Professor Janusz Pawliszyn and his co-workers by the introduction of solid-phase microextraction (SPME). In the years after this, a large number of scientific papers related to SPME emerged, SPME became commercially available, and several other microextraction techniques different from SPME were introduced. In general, a main driving force for all the activities in the field of microextraction has been to reduce the consumption of hazardous organic solvents and other materials required for sample preparation (green chemistry). In addition, the development of different microextraction techniques has been motivated by reduced sample volumes, reduced extraction times, improved analyte enrichments, improved sample clean-up, and improved compatibility with analytical instrumentation.

Definitely microextraction techniques will replace traditional methods in the future, but this will take time. Meanwhile, a lot of progress takes place, and microextraction is currently a very active field of research within analytical chemistry. New techniques and methods based on these are continuously being developed. Some of them are based solid-phase extraction principles, and includes solid-phase microextraction, stir bar sorptive extraction, microextraction by packed sorbent, dispersive micro-solid phase extraction, magnetic solid phase extraction, and thin film extraction. Others are based on liquid-liquid extraction principles, like single-drop microextraction, membrane-based microextraction, hollow-fibre microextraction and dispersive liquid-phase microextraction. In addition to all this, new materials are also entering the field of microextraction, like nanoparticles, ionic liquids and novel solid gels. All this you can read about in this e-book, which is a very comprehensive guide to the most important developments of analytical microextraction techniques. Enjoy the reading!

Stig Pedersen-Bjergaard
School of Pharmacy
University of Oslo
Norway


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