Quantitative aspects of electrolysis in electromembrane extractions of acidic and basic analytes

Electrolysis is omnipresent in all electrochemical processes including electromembrane extraction (EME). The effects of electrolysis on quantitative aspects of EME were comprehensively evaluated for a set of acidic (substituted phenols) and basic (basic drugs) analytes. EMEs were carried out across supported liquid membranes formed by 1-ethyl-2-nitrobenzene at standard EME conditions, i.e., acidic analytes were extracted from alkaline into alkaline solutions and basic analytes were extracted from acidic into acidic solutions. Electric potential applied across the EME systems was 50 V and extraction recoveries of analytes as well as pH values of donor and acceptor solutions were determined after each EME. It has been proven that electrolysis plays a more significant role than has ever been thought before in EME. Electrolytically produced H⁺ and OH^– ions had a significant effect on pH values of acceptor solutions and variations of up to 8.5 pH units were obtained at standard EME conditions. pH values of donor solutions were affected only negligibly due to their significantly higher volumes. The observed variations in pH values of acceptor solutions had fatal consequences on quantitative EME results of weak and medium strong acidic/basic analytes. A direct relation was observed between the decrease in extraction recoveries of the analytes, their pK_a values and the acceptor solution pH values. Acceptor solutions consisting of high concentrations of weak bases or acids were thus proposed as suitable EME operational solutions since they efficiently eliminated the electrolytically induced pH variations, offered stable EME performances and were easily compatible with subsequent analytical methods.     

Electromembrane extraction of polar basic drugs from plasma with pure bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphite as supported liquid membrane

Electromembrane extraction (EME) of polar basic drugs from human plasma was investigated for the first time using pure bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphite (DEHPi) as the supported liquid membrane (SLM). The polar basic drugs metaraminol, benzamidine, sotalol, phenylpropanolamine, ephedrine, and trimethoprim were selected as model analytes, and were extracted from 300 μL of human plasma, through 10 μL of DEHPi as SLM, and into 100 μL of 10 mM formic acid as acceptor solution. The extraction potential across the SLM was 100 V, and extractions were performed for 20 min. After EME, the acceptor solutions were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). In contrast to other SLMs reported for polar basic drugs in the literature, the SLM of DEHPi was highly stable in contact with plasma, and the system-current across the SLM was easily kept below 50 μA. Thus, electrolysis in the sample and acceptor solution was kept at an acceptable level with no detrimental consequences. For the polar model analytes, representing a log P range from −0.40 to 1.32, recoveries in the range 25–91% were obtained from human plasma. Strong hydrogen bonding and dipole interactions were probably responsible for efficient transfer of the model analytes into the SLM, and this is the first report on efficient EME of highly polar analytes without using any ionic carrier in the SLM.     

Effects of selected operational parameters on efficacy and selectivity of electromembrane extraction. Chlorophenols as model analytes

Effects of organic solvent type, pH value, and composition of donor/acceptor solution on the efficacy of electromembrane extraction (EME) were examined. For the first time, a comprehensive quantitative study, based also on measurements of electric charge passed through the EME system, was carried out, which demonstrates that apart from the pH value, also the nature of counter‐ions in donor and acceptor solution plays a significant role in the electrically induced transfer of charged analytes across supported liquid membranes (SLMs). The EME transfer of model analytes correlated well with electrophoretic mobilities of inorganic cations, which were added to acceptor solutions during their alkalization with alkali metal hydroxides, and were highest for counter‐cations with highest mobilities. Up to a 53‐fold improvement of extraction efficiency was achieved for EMEs using optimized composition of donor (alkalized with KOH to pH 7) and acceptor (10 mM CsOH, pH 12) solutions. Six chlorophenols (CPs) were selected as model analytes due to the wide range of pH values that are required for their ionization and due to their high environmental relevance; quantitative measurements were carried out by CE with UV detection. Extraction recoveries of the six CPs ranged between 14 and 25% for 5 min EMEs at 150 V and 750 rpm across SLMs impregnated with 1‐ethyl‐2‐nitrobenzene. Calibration curves were strictly linear (r² ≥ 0.999) in 0.01–10 μg/mL range, repeatability values of peak areas were between 0.7 and 5.6% and LODs for standard solutions and environmental samples were better than 5 ng/mL.     

Exhaustive extraction of peptides by electromembrane extraction

This fundamental work illustrates for the first time the possibility of exhaustive extraction of peptides using electromembrane extraction (EME) under low system-current conditions (<50 μA). Bradykinin acetate, angiotensin II antipeptide, angiotensin II acetate, neurotensin, angiotensin I trifluoroacetate, and leu-enkephalin were extracted from 600 μL of 25 mM phosphate buffer (pH 3.5), through a supported liquid membrane (SLM) containing di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phosphate (DEHP) dissolved in an organic solvent, and into 600 μL of an acidified aqueous acceptor solution using a thin flat membrane-based EME device. Mass transfer of peptides across the SLM was enhanced by complex formation with the negatively charged DEHP. The composition of the SLM and the extraction voltage were important factors influencing recoveries and current with the EME system. 1-nonanol diluted with 2-decanone (1:1 v/v) containing 15% (v/v) DEHP was selected as a suitable SLM for exhaustive extraction of peptides under low system-current conditions. Interestingly, increasing the SLM volume from 5 to 10 μL was found to be beneficial for stable and efficient EME. The pH of the sample strongly affected the EME process, and pH 3.5 was found to be optimal. The EME efficiency was also dependent on the acceptor solution composition, and the extraction time was found to be an important element for exhaustive extraction. When EME was carried out for 25 min with an extraction voltage of 15 V, the system-current across the SLM was less than 50 μA, and extraction recoveries for the model peptides were in the range of 77–94%, with RSD values less than 10%.     

Carrier-mediated extraction of bipyridilium herbicides across the hydrophobic liquid membrane

Supported liquid membrane (SLM) method for preconcentration and enrichment of the two bipyridilium herbicides, namely diquat and paraquat, from environmental water samples has been developed. The permanently charged cationic herbicides were extracted from a flowing aqueous solution to a stagnant acidic acceptor solution across a liquid membrane containing 40% (v/v) di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid dissolved in di-n-hexyl ether. The mass transfer of analytes is driven by the counter-coupled transport of hydrogen ions from the acceptor to the donor phase. The efficiency of the extraction process depends on the donor solution pH, the amount of the mobile carrier added to the liquid membrane and the concentration of the counter ion in the acceptor solution. The applicability of the method for extraction of these quaternary ammonium herbicides from environmental waters was also investigated by spiking analyte sample solutions in river water. With 24 h sample enrichment concentrations of diquat and paraquat down to ca. 10 ng/L could be detected in environmental waters.     

Developments in hollow fiber based liquid-phase microextraction: principles and applications

Hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) offers an efficient alternative to classical techniques for sample preparation and preconcentration. Features include high selectivity, good enrichment factors, and improved possibilities for automation. HP-LPME relies on the extraction of target analytes from aqueous samples into a supported liquid membrane (SLM) sustained in the pores of the wall of a porous hollow fiber, and then into an acceptor phase (that can be aqueous or organic) in the lumen of the hollow fiber. After extraction, the acceptor solution is directly subjected to a chemical analysis. HP-LPME can be performed in either the 2- or 3-phases mode. In the 2-phase mode, the organic solvent is present both in the porous wall and inside the lumen of the hollow fiber. In the 3-phase mode, the acceptor phase can be aqueous and this results in a conventional 3-phase system compatible with HPLC or capillary electrophoresis. Alternatively, the acceptor solution is organic and this represents a 3-phase extraction system with two immiscible organic solvents that is compatible with all common analytical instruments. In HP-LPME methods based on the use of SLMs, the mass transfer occurs by passive diffusion, and high extraction yields as well as efficient extraction kinetics are obtained by applying a pH gradient. In addition, active transport can be performed by using carrier or applying an electrical potential across the SLM. Due to high analyte preconcentration, excellent sample clean-up, and low consumption of organic solvent, HF-LPME has a large application potential in areas such as drug analysis and environmental monitoring. This review focuses on the fundamentals of extraction principles, technical implementations, and future trends in HF-LPME.

Influence of temperature on mass transfer in an incomplete trapping supported liquid membrane extraction of triazole fungicides

The influence of temperature in a supported liquid membrane (SLM) extraction of triazole fungicides was investigated. The mass transfer parameters such as diffusion coefficient, flux and apparent viscosity were determined at temperatures ranging from 5 to 40°C. Increase in temperature led to an increase in diffusion coefficient and flux with a flowing acceptor solution. The apparent viscosity also decreased with an increase in temperature. However, the increase in mass transfer parameters did not result in an overall increase in extraction efficiency with a stagnant or circulation acceptor phase. Stripping of the analytes from the membrane into the acceptor phase as well as the configuration of the extraction unit could have limited the influence of temperature on mass transfer. The partition coefficient of analytes from the acceptor solution to the membrane, K_A, was found to be much higher than that from the donor solution to the membrane K_D, thus triazole compounds preferred to remain in the membrane even with an increased extraction temperature.     

Micro-electromembrane extraction using multiple free liquid membranes and acceptor solutions – Towards selective extractions of analytes based on their acid-base strength

This work investigated selective micro-electromembrane extractions (μ-EMEs) of the colored indicators metanil yellow and congo red (visual proof-of-principle) and the small drug substances nortriptyline, papaverine, mianserin, and citalopram (model analytes) based on their acid-base strength. With two free liquid membranes (FLMs), the target analytes were extracted from aqueous donor solution, across FLM 1 (1-pentanol, 1-ethyl-2-nitrobenzene (ENB) or 4-nitrocumene (4-NC)), into aqueous acceptor solution 1, further across FLM 2 (1-pentanol, ENB or 4-NC), and finally into aqueous acceptor solution 2. All phases had volumes between 1.0 and 1.5 μL and extractions were promoted by 200–300 V d.c. applied across the five-phase μ-EME system formed in a perfluoroalkoxy capillary tubing. The anode was located in acceptor solution 2 and the cathode was located in donor solution for μ-EMEs of acidic analytes, and locations of the electrodes were vice versa for μ-EMEs of basic analytes. After μ-EME, donor solution and acceptor solution 1 and 2 were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The model analytes migrated efficiently in the proposed μ-EME system, their migration behavior was controlled by pH in aqueous solutions and their selective fractionation into acceptor solution 1 and 2 was demonstrated based on their acid-base strength. Under optimal conditions, acceptor solution 2 contained 60% nortriptyline (pK_a = 10.5) and less than 1% papaverine (pK_a = 6.0) and acceptor solution 1 contained 17% nortriptyline and 27% papaverine after 15 min of μ-EME. The five-phase μ-EME system was also compatible with human plasma samples. Work is in progress to further increase the fractionation capability, and to implement the concept into microfluidic platforms.     

Simulation of flux during electro-membrane extraction based on the Nernst-Planck equation

The present work has for the first time described and verified a theoretical model of the analytical extraction process electro-membrane extraction (EME), where target analytes are extracted from an aqueous sample, through a thin layer of 2-nitrophenyl octylether immobilized as a supported liquid membrane (SLM) in the pores in the wall of a porous hollow fibre, and into an acceptor solution present inside the lumen of the hollow fibre by the application of an electrical potential difference. The mathematical model was based on the Nernst-Planck equation, and described the flux over the SLM. The model demonstrated that the magnitude of the electrical potential difference, the ion balance of the system, and the absolute temperature influenced the flux of analyte across the SLM. These conclusions were verified by experimental data with five basic drugs. The flux was strongly dependent of the potential difference over the SLM, and increased potential difference resulted in an increase in the flux. The ion balance, defined as the sum of ions in the donor solution divided by the sum of ions in the acceptor solution, was shown to influence the flux, and high ionic concentration in the acceptor solution relative to the sample solution was advantageous for high flux. Different temperatures also led to changes in the flux in the EME system.     

Electro membrane extraction of biological anions with ion chromatographic analysis

A simple and sensitive single step electro membrane extraction (EME) procedure was demonstrated for biological organic anions with determination by ion chromatography (IC). Nitrite, adipate, oxalate, iodide, fumarate, thiocyanate and perchlorate were extracted from aqueous donor solutions, across a supported liquid membrane (SLM) consisting of methanol impregnated in the walls of a porous polypropylene membrane bag and into an alkaline aqueous acceptor solution in the lumen of the propylene envelope by the application of potential of 12 V applied across the SLM. The acceptor solution was analyzed by IC. Parameters affecting the extraction performance such as type of SLM, extraction time, pH of the donor and acceptor solution, and extraction voltage were studied. The most favorable EME conditions were methanol as the SLM, extraction time of 5 min, pH of acceptor and sample solutions of 12 and 4, respectively, and a voltage of 12 V. Portable 12 V batteries were used in the study. Under these optimized conditions, all anions had enrichment factors ranging from 3.6 to 36.2 with relative standard deviations (n = 3) of between 6.6 and 17.5%. Good linearity ranging from 0.1 to 10 μg mL⁻¹ with coefficients of correlation (r) of between 0.9981 and 0.9996 were obtained. The limits of detection of the EME-IC method were from 0.01 to 0.14 μg mL⁻¹. The developed methodology was applied to amniotic fluid samples to evaluate the feasibility of the method for real applications.     

Microextraction across supported liquid membranes forced by pH gradients and electrical fields

The present work has for the first time compared extraction of basic analytes across a supported liquid membrane (SLM) based on (1) passive diffusion in a pH gradient sustained over the SLM and (2) electrokinetic migration in an electrical field sustained over the SLM. For the passive diffusion experiments, performed as liquid-phase microextraction (LPME), five basic drugs were extracted under strong agitation from alkaline samples (10mM NaOH), through 2-nitrophenyl octylether immobilized in the pores of a porous hollow fibre of polypropylene (SLM), and into 25 microl of 10mM HCl as the acceptor solution. The experiments based on electrokinetic migration, performed as electro membrane isolation (EMI), were conducted under strong agitation from acidic samples (10mM HCl), through the same SLM as in LPME, and into 25 microl of 10mM HCl as the acceptor solution. Whereas LPME relied on diffusion and to some extent also convection as the principal mechanisms of mass transfer, mass transfer in EMI also included a strong contribution from electrokinetic migration. Thus, extraction kinetics was improved by a factor between 6 and 17 utilizing EMI instead of LPME. This major difference in terms of speed was especially pronounced from small sample volumes (150 microl), and suggest that EMI may be a very interesting future concept for miniaturized sample preparation. In addition to improved extraction kinetics, extraction rates were strongly compound dependent in EMI, opening the possibility to control the extraction selectivity by the extraction time.     

Stability and efficiency of supported liquid membranes in electromembrane extraction—a link to solvent properties

The current work presents a large systematic screening of 61 possible organic solvents used as supported liquid membranes (SLM) in electromembrane extraction (EME). For each organic solvent, recovery, current across the SLM, and stability considerations have been investigated and correlated to relevant solvent properties through partial least square regression analysis. The five unpolar basic drugs pethidine, haloperidol, methadone, nortriptyline, and loperamide were used as model analytes. Efficient EME solvents were found to have a low water solubility (<0.5 g L^?1) and belonged to cluster 2 of a Kamlet–and–Taft-based solvent classification system (high dipole moments and proton acceptor properties). These parameters were especially found in nitroaromatic compounds and ketones. Small molecules with low log P value and high water solubility were unsuitable, as they tended to give unstable extractions, caused by a high current across the SLM. This was often combined with substantial solvent-related interferences and the generation of an electroosmotic flow across the SLM, with resulting acceptor solution expansion. Large molecules with a high log P value were classified as inefficient. For these solvents, no current was measured across the SLM and no analytes were extracted. This is the first time systematic knowledge on the SLM in EME has been gathered and investigated, and the presented results could be highly beneficial for future development and optimization of EME.     

Influence of temperature on mass transfer in an incomplete trapping single hollow fibre supported liquid membrane extraction of triazole fungicides

The influence of temperature in a single hollow fibre supported liquid membrane extraction of triazole fungicides with a stagnant acceptor phase was investigated. The mass transfer parameters such as diffusion coefficient, flux and apparent viscosity were determined at temperature ranging from 278 K to 313 K. Increase in temperature led to an increase in diffusion coefficient and flux. The apparent viscosity also decreased with an increase in temperature. The degree of trapping in the acceptor phase influenced the mass transfer at higher temperature. At lower temperature, the transport of analytes from the donor solution through the donor-membrane interface and through the membrane mainly affected the transport of triazole fungicides. The effect of temperature in a single hollow fibre SLM extraction technique is therefore more pronounced where transport is donor controlled and/or membrane controlled. The partition coefficient of analytes from the acceptor solution to the membrane, K_A was found to be much higher than that of from the donor solution to the membrane K_D, thus least trapped triazole fungicides preferred to remain in the membrane even with an increased extraction temperature.     

Electromembrane extraction of peptides

Rapid extraction of eight different peptides using electromembrane extraction (EME) was demonstrated for the first time. During an extraction time of 5 min, the model peptides migrated from a 500 microL aqueous acidic sample solution, through a thin supported liquid membrane (SLM) of an organic liquid sustained in the pores in the wall of a porous hollow fiber, and into a 25 microL aqueous acidic acceptor solution present inside the lumen of the hollow fiber. The driving force of the extraction was a 50 V potential sustained across the SLM, with the positive electrode in the sample and the negative electrode in the acceptor solution. The nature and the composition of the SLM were highly important for the EME process, and a mixture of 1-octanol and 15% di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate was found to work properly. Using 1mM HCl as background electrolyte in the sample and 100 mM HCl in the acceptor solution, and agitation at 1050 rpm, enrichment up to 11 times was achieved. Recoveries were found to be dependent on the structure of the peptide, indicating that the polarity and the number of ionized groups were important parameters affecting the extraction efficiency. The experimental findings suggested that electromembrane extraction of peptides is possible and may be a valuable tool for future extraction of peptides.     

Fine‐tuning of electromembrane extraction selectivity using 18‐crown‐6 ethers as supported liquid membrane modifiers

Selectivity of electromembrane extractions (EMEs) was fine‐tuned by modifications of supported liquid membrane (SLM) composition using additions of various 18‐crown‐6 ethers into 1‐ethyl‐2‐nitrobenzene. Gradually increased transfer of K⁺, the cation that perfectly fits the cavity of 18‐crown‐6 ethers, was observed for EMEs across SLMs modified with increasing concentrations of 18‐crown‐6 ethers. A SLM containing 1% w/v of dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 in 1‐ethyl‐2‐nitrobenzene exhibited excellent selectivity for EMEs of K⁺. The established host–guest interactions between crown ether cavities in the SLM and potassium ions in donor solution ensured their almost exhaustive transfer into acceptor solution (extraction recovery ～92%) within 30 min of EME at 50 V. Other inorganic cations were not transferred across the SLM (Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺) or were transferred negligibly (NH₄⁺, Na⁺; extraction recovery < 2%) and had only subtle effect on EMEs of K⁺. The high selectivity of the tailor‐made SLM holds a great promise for future applications in EMEs since the range of similar selective modifiers is very broad and may be applied in various fields of analytical chemistry.     

Electro‐driven extraction of inorganic anions from water samples and water miscible organic solvents and analysis by ion chromatography

A simple electromembrane extraction (EME) procedure combined with ion chromatography (IC) was developed to quantify inorganic anions in different pure water samples and water miscible organic solvents. The parameters affecting extraction performance, such as supported liquid membrane (SLM) solvent, extraction time, pH of donor and acceptor solutions, and extraction voltage were optimized. The optimized EME conditions were as follows: 1‐heptanol was used as the SLM solvent, the extraction time was 10 min, pHs of the acceptor and donor solutions were 10 and 7, respectively, and the extraction voltage was 15 V. The mobile phase used for IC was a combination of 1.8 mM sodium carbonate and 1.7 mM sodium bicarbonate. Under these optimized conditions, all anions had enrichment factors ranging from 67 to 117 with RSDs between 7.3 and 13.5% (n = 5). Good linearity values ranging from 2 to 1200 ng/mL with coefficients of determination (R²) between 0.987 and 0.999 were obtained. The LODs of the EME‐IC method ranged from 0.6 to 7.5 ng/mL. The developed method was applied to different samples to evaluate the feasibility of the method for real applications.     

Extraction of glyphosate by a supported liquid membrane technique

The possible application of the supported liquid membrane (SLM) technique for the extraction of glyphosate is presented. For the extraction of this compound the SLM system has been applied with utilisation of Aliquat 336 as a cationic carrier incorporated into the membrane phase. The extraction efficiency of glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] is dependent on the donor phase pH, carrier concentration in the organic phase and NaCl concentration in the acceptor phase. The optimal extraction conditions are: donor phase pH>11, acceptor phase of 2 M NaCl solution and the organic phase composed of 20% (w/w) Aliquot 336 solution in di-hexyl ether. Counter-coupled transport of chloride anions from the acceptor phase to the donor phase is a driving force of the mass transfer in this system.     

Electro membrane isolation of nerve agent degradation products across a supported liquid membrane followed by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection

In the present study, electro membrane isolation (EMI) of four nerve agent degradation products has been successfully explored. In the procedure, a polypropylene sheet membrane folded into an envelope with an open end with its wall pores impregnated with 1-octanol was employed as the artificial supported liquid membrane (SLM). The envelope containing the extractant or aqueous acceptor phase (at pH 6.8) was immersed in the sample or donor phase (also aqueous at a pH of 6.8) for extraction. This ensured that the target analytes were fully ionized. A voltage was then applied, with the negative electrode placed in the donor phase with agitation, and the positive electrode in the acceptor phase. The ionized analytes were thus driven to migrate from the donor phase across the SLM to the acceptor phase. The factors influential to extraction: type of organic solvent, voltage, agitation speed, extraction time, pH of the donor and acceptor phase and concentration of humic acids were investigated in detail. After extraction, the acceptor phase was collected and directly injected for capillary electrophoretic (CE) analysis. Combined with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C(4)D), the direct detection of these compounds could be achieved. Moreover, large-volume sample injection was employed to further enhance the sensitivity of this method. Limits of detection (LODs) as low as ng/mL were reached for the studied analytes, with overall LOD enhancements of four orders of magnitude.     

Electromembrane extraction using two separate cells: A new design for simultaneous extraction of acidic and basic compounds

Simultaneous extraction of acidic and basic analytes from a sample is seen to be a challenging task. In this work, a novel and efficient electromembrane extraction (EME) method based on two separate cells was applied to simultaneously extract and preconcentrate two acidic drugs (naproxen and ibuprofen) along with a basic drug (ketamine). Once both cells were filled with the sample solution, basic drug was extracted from one cell with the other cell used to extract acidic drugs. The employed supported liquid membranes for the extraction of acidic and basic drugs were 2‐ethyl hexanol and 1‐octanol, respectively. Under an applied potential of 250 V in the course of the extraction process, acidic, and basic drugs were extracted from a 3.0 mL aqueous sample solution into 25 μL acceptor solutions. The pH values of the donor and acceptor solutions in the cathodic cell were 5.0 and 1.5, respectively, the corresponding values in the anodic cell were, however, 8.0 and 12.5, respectively. The rates of recovery obtained within 20 min of extraction time at a stirring rate of 750 rpm ranged from 45 to 54%. With correlation coefficients ranging from 0.990 to 0.996, the proposed EME technique provided good linearity over a concentration range of 20–1000 ng/mL. The LOD for all drugs was found to be 6.7 ng/mL, while reproducibility ranged from 7 to 12% (n = 5). Finally, applying the proposed method to determine and quantify the drugs in urine and wastewater samples, satisfactory results were achieved.     

Electromembrane extraction of amino acids from body fluids followed by capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection

Electromembrane extraction (EME) proved to be a simple and rapid pretreatment method for analysis of amino acids and related compounds in body fluid samples. Body fluids were acidified to the final concentration of 2.5 M acetic acid and served as donor solutions. Amino acids, present as cations in the donor solutions, migrated through a supported liquid membrane (SLM) composed of 1-ethyl-2-nitrobenzene/bis-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphonic acid (85:15 (v/v)) into the lumen of a porous polypropylene hollow fiber (HF) on application of electric field. The HF was filled with 2.5 M acetic acid serving as the acceptor solution. Matrix components in body fluids were efficiently retained on the SLM and did not interfere with subsequent analysis. Capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection was used for determination of 17 underivatized amino acids in background electrolyte solution consisting of 2.5 M acetic acid. Parameters of EME, such as composition of SLM, pH and composition of donor and acceptor solution, agitation speed, extraction voltage, and extraction time were studied in detail. At optimized conditions, repeatability of migration times and peak areas of 17 amino acids was better than 0.3% and 13%, respectively, calibration curves were linear in a range of two orders of magnitude (r(2)=0.9968-0.9993) and limits of detection ranged from 0.15 to 10 μM. Endogenous concentrations of 12 amino acids were determined in EME treated human serum, plasma, and whole blood. The method was also suitable for simple and rapid pretreatment and determination of elevated concentrations of selected amino acids, which are markers of severe inborn metabolic disorders.