Microextraction Tech

by Dr. Abuzar Kabir, International Forensic Research Institute, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA Fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE), the most recent member of the sorptive microextraction family, has innovatively incorporated both solid phase microextraction (SPME) and solid phase extraction (SPE) techniques into a single technology platform. FPSE utilizes permeable natural/synthetic fabrics e.g., cotton, polyester, fiber glass supports to chemically bind sol-gel hybrid inorganic-inorganic sorbents. A 5 cm2unit of coated fabric (2.5 cm x 2.0 cm) is typically used as the extraction media which can be inserted directly into the sample container. Extraction of the analytes is generally expedited by using a magnetic stir bar to diffuse the analyts into the sample matrix so that rapid mass transfer from the sample matrix to the extraction medium takes place.Once the mass transfer equilibrium between the FPSE media and...

I have already arrived home after an interesting meeting in Madeira island regarding the HCV project dedicated to the study and characterization of human cancer volatome. The identification of biomarkers in several biological specimens is really essential since it will allow the development of analytical platforms for early detection of cancer or to study the disease progression. In this context, microextraction techniques can be used in two different scenarios. On the one hand, they can be used in the preliminary research to isolate potential candidates as biomarkers from several samples including urine or breath. On the other hand, once selected the appropriate candidates, microextraction techniques can be used to design screening and/or confirmation analytical methodologies for real-world tests. The HCV project involves research groups form different countries. The consortium includess researchers from the Madeira University at Portugal, the National Centre for Cell Science ...

by Prof. Dr. Pablo Richter, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Chile. The modern trends in analytical chemistry promote efficiency and green technology in sample preparation. In this context, our research team developed a new technique in 2009 that is capable of extracting pollutants from liquid samples on a rotating PTFE disk with one surface coated with an extraction phase [1]. The disk has embedded a miniature magnetic rod, which allows rotation. We have termed this procedure rotating-disk sorptive extraction (RDSE). RDSE is currently available in two configurations. In the classic version (Figure 1), the extraction phase is a polymeric film adhered to one side of the PTFE disk (configuration 1). In this configuration, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), nylon and octadecyl (C18) have been used as the sorptive material for the extraction of low-polarity analytes (Log Kow between 3 and 7) [1-12]. However...

We recommend the following articles that deal with different aspects related to sample preparation. 1. Development of combined salt- and air-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction as a novel sample preparation technique. Air assisted liquid-liquid microextraction is an interesting technique that uses air to assist the dispersion of the extractant solvent into the sample. It is usually performed by adding a small volume of extractant to the sample, the resulting mixture being sucked several times by a glass syringe. The process generates an efficient dispersion of the solvent and a final centrifugation is required to recover the acceptor phase for its final analysis. In this article, the authors face up the phases separation using a gas stream to break the emulsion and to recover a low volume of organic solvent (typically 10 µL). This proposal has been evaluated for the determination of β-naphtol, naphthalene and anthracene in water and wastewater. This article merits attention a...

We all are familiar with stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) and dispersive methodologies in this context. The advantages of both techniques are also well known and a deep research is being carried out to characterize new sorbent phases which improve the efficiency and open up the application field of these microextraction techniques. Research teams from the University of Valencia at Spain and Ioannina at Greece have joined their deep knowledge in dispersive techniques to bring us a very elegant combination of stir bar sorptive dispersive microextraction mediated by magnetic nanoparticles (SBSEDµE) (1). The main advantage of the proposed methodology is clear as it permits the use of a wider variety of sorbent phases while maintaining the advantages of agitation and simplicity of sorbent recovery provided by the magnetic element. The sorbent is either coated on the stir bar or dispersed in the sample matrix depending on the stirring speed. The general procedure is sh...

I am a regular reader of this blog, which I find relevant and interesting, so I am pleased to have this opportunity to introduce the Anatune blog to a wider audience and encourage more people to read it. Anatune is a company based in Cambridge, UK and we specialise in the automation of GC-MS sample preparation and injection. We provide upgrades to existing instruments, but best of all, we like to deliver complete, integrated systems where the sample preparation works seamlessly with GC-MS. We are very proud of both our laboratory and our team of applications chemists; we regard our lab as the heart and soul of our business. We do a lot of interesting work, most of it relevant to current problems that analysts are faced with, and we like to share what we are doing. We also like to hear opinions from other people outside the company. We have a great interest in micro-extraction in all of its forms, because we believe this is where the future lies. Manual sample preparation...