Published: Journal of Chromatographic Science, ISSN 0021-9665 Volume 44, Number 6, July 2006, pp.291-307

Analytical Microextraction: Current Status and Future Trends

Janusz Pawliszyn[1], and Stig Pedersen-Bjergaard[2]
[1]Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1 and
[2]School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway

Analytical microextractions, defined as nonexhaustive sample preparation with a very small volume of extracting phase (microliter range or smaller) relative to the sample volume, represent an important development in the field of analytical chemistry. Analytes are extracted by a small volume of a solid or semi-solid polymeric material, as in solid-phase microextraction (SPME), or alternatively by a small volume of a liquid, as in liquid-phase microextraction (LPME). This paper gives an overview of the SPME and LPME techniques and discusses future trends. This includes a discussion of the different extraction formats available, commercial equipment, method transfer from traditional sample preparation methods to microextraction, and performance as well as robustness for the latter type of systems. In addition, the paper contains a unified approach to the understanding of extraction thermodynamics and kinetics applicable to both SPME and LPME.

Reproduction of editorial content of this journal is prohibited without publisher’s permission.