Strategies for interfacing solid-phase microextraction with liquid chromatography

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) techniques are equally applicable to both volatile and non-volatile analytes, but the progress in applications to gas-phase separations has outpaced that of liquid-phase separations. The interfacing of SPME to gas chromatographic equipment has been straight-forward, requiring little modification of existing equipment. The requirement of solvent desorption for non-volatile or thermally labile analytes has, however, proven challenging for interfacing SPME with liquid-phase separations. Numerous options to achieve this have been described in the literature over the past decade, with applications in several different areas of analysis. To date, no single strategy or interface device design has proven optimal. During method development analysts must select the most appropriate interfacing technique among the options available. Out of these options three general strategies have emerged: (1) use of a manual injection interface tee; (2) in-tube SPME; and (3) off-line desorption followed by conventional liquid injection. In addition, there has been interest in coupling SPME directly to electrospray ionisation and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation (MALDI) for mass spectrometry. Several examples of each of these strategies are reviewed here, and an overview of their use and application is presented.     

On-fibre solid-phase microextraction coupled to conventional liquid chromatography versus in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled to capillary liquid chromatography for the screening analysis of triazines in water samples

This paper compares the advantages and disadvantages of two different configurations for the extraction of triazines from water samples: (1) on-fibre solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to conventional liquid chromatography (LC); and (2) in-tube SPME coupled to capillary LC. In-tube SPME has been effected either with a packed column or with an open capillary column. A critical evaluation of the main parameters affecting the performance of each method has been carried out in order to select the most suitable approach according to the requirements of the analysis. In the on-fibre SPME configuration the fibre coating was polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-divinylbenzene (DVB). The limits of detection (LODs) obtained with this approach under the optimized extraction and desorption conditions were between 25 and 125 microg/L. The in-tube SPME approach with a C18 packed column (35 mm x 0.5 mm I.D., 5 microm particle size) connected to a switching micro-valve provided the best sensitivity; under such configuration the LODs were between 0.025 and 0.5 microg/L. The in-tube SPME approach with an open capillary column coated with PDMS (30 cm x 0.25 mm I.D., 0.25 microm of thickness coating) connected to the injection valve provided LODs between 0.1 and 0.5 microg/L. In all configurations UV detection at 230 nm was used. Atrazine, simazine, propazine, ametryn, prometryn and terbutryn were selected as model compounds.     

Fully automated in-tube solid-phase microextraction for liquid samples coupled to gas chromatography

An online device is described in which analytes are extracted from a liquid sample by means of in-tube solid-phase microextraction (in-tube SPME), pulse released by rapid heating, and transferred to a gas chromatograph in a fully automated way. Switching of the sample and gas flows as well as the heating of the extraction tube and the valves is controlled by a remote computer system. Results obtained for river water and for aqueous standard solutions of phenanthrene are presented and are compared to the performance of standard SPME.     

Monolithic silica column for in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography

In-tube solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has successfully been coupled to capillary LC, and further an automated in-tube SPME system has been developed using a commercially available HPLC auto-sampler. However, an open tubular capillary column with a thick film of polymer (stationary phase) is unfavorable because the ratio of the surface area of coating layer contacted with sample solution to the volume of the capillary column is insufficient for mass transfer. A highly efficient SPME column is. therefore, required. We introduced a C18-bonded monolithic capillary column that was used for in-tube SPME. The column consisted of continuous porous silica having a double-pore structure. Both the through-pore and the meso-pore were optimized for in-tube SPME, and the optimized capillary column was connected to an HPLC injection valve for characterization. The results demonstrated that the pre-concentration efficiency is excellent compared with the conventional in-tube SPME. The novel method for both introduction and concentration of the samples was effective. satisfactory and suitable for use in the SPME medium.     

Temperature-response polymer coating for in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography

The silica nanoparticle (SiO₂ NP)-deposited capillary fabricated by liquid phase deposition (LPD) was bonded by 3-(triethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate and then modified with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) by polymerization. The resulting PNIPAAm modified SiO₂ NP-deposited capillary was applied to in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography (in-tube SPME-HPLC). To investigate the extraction performance of the prepared capillary, diethylstilbestrol (DES) with moderate polarity was selected as the model analyte. Results demonstrate that PNIPAAm modified SiO₂ NP-deposited capillary exhibited obvious temperature responsive character. Finally, the PNIPAAm modified SiO₂ NP-deposited capillary was applied to the analysis of three synthetical estrogens from milk samples. The detection limit of the method was found to be in the range 1.2-2.2 ng/g, and recovery was 71.7-98.9% with relative standard deviations in the range of 2.8-12.6%.     

Coupling solid-phase microextraction and high-performance liquid chromatography for direct and sensitive determination of halogenated fungicides in wine

A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) for the analysis of six organochlorine fungicides (nuarimol, triadimenol, triadimefon, folpet, vinclozolin and penconazole) in wine was developed. For this purpose, polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene-coated fibers were utilized and all factors affecting throughput, precision, and accuracy of the SPME method were investigated and optimized. These factors include: matrix influence, extraction and desorption time, percentage of ethanol, pH, salt effect and desorption mode. The performed analytical procedure showed detectability ranging from 4 to 27 microg l(-1) and precision from 2.4 to 14.2% (as intra-day relative standard deviation, RSD) and 4.7-25.7% (as inter-day RSD) depending on the fungicide. The results demonstrate the suitability of the SPME-HPLC-DAD method to analyze these organochlorine fungicides in red wine.     

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water by solid-phase microextraction and liquid chromatography.

This study describes the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with fluorescence detection (FLD). Because individual PAHs are generally present in water only at trace levels, a sensitive and accurate determination technique is essential. The separation and detection of five PAHs were run completely within 25 min by the HPLC/FLD system with an analytical C18 column, a fluorescence detection, and acetonitrile-water gradient elution. Calibration graphs were linear with very good correlation coefficients (r > 0.9998), and the detection limits were in the range of 2-6 ng/l for five PAHs. Solid phase microextraction (SPME) was performed for sample pretreatment prior to HPLC-FLD determination, and the governing parameters were investigated. Compared to conventional methods, SPME has high recovery, saves considerable time, and reduces solvents waste. The extraction efficiencies of five PAHs were above 88% and the extraction times were 35 min in one pretreatment procedure. One particular discovery is that 1.5 M sodium monochloroactate (ClCH2COONa) can improve the extraction yield of PAH compounds more than other inorganic salts. The SPME-HPLC-FLD technique provides a relatively simple, convenient, practical procedure, which was here successfully applied to determine five PAHs in water from authentic water samples.     

Determination of hydroxyaromatic compounds in water by solid-phase microextraction coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the analysis of hydroxyaromatic compounds is described. Three kinds of fibers [50 microns carbowax-templated resin (CW-TPR), 60 microns polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene (PDMS-DVB) and 85 microns polyacrylate (PA) fibers] were evaluated. CW-TPR and PDMS-DVB were selected for further study. The parameters of the desorption procedure (such as desorption mode, the composition of the solvent for desorption and the duration of fiber soaking) were studied and optimized. The effect of the structure and physical properties of analytes, carryover, duration of absorption, temperature of absorption, pH and ionic strength of samples were also investigated. The method was applied to environmental samples (lake water) using a simple calibration curve.     

Determination of diphenylether herbicides in water samples by solid-phase microextraction coupled to liquid chromatography

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to LC for the analysis of five diphenylether herbicides (aclonifen, bifenox, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, oxyfluorfen, and lactofen) is described. Various parameters of extraction of analytes onto the fiber (such as type of fiber, extraction time and temperature, pH, impact of salt and organic solute) and desorption from the fiber in the desorption chamber prior to separation (such as type and composition of desorption solvent, desorption mode, soaking time, and flush-out time) were studied and optimized. Four commercially available SPME fibers were studied. PDMS/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB, 60 microm) and carbowax/ templated resin (CW/TPR, 50 microm) fibers were selected due to better extraction efficiencies. Repeatability (RSD, < 7%), correlation coefficient (> 0.994), and detection limit (0.33-1.74 and 0.22-1.94 ng/mL, respectively, for PDMS/DVB and CW/TPR) were investigated. Relative recovery (81-104% for PDMS/DVB and 83-100% for CW/TPR fiber) values have also been calculated. The developed method was successfully applied to the analysis of river water and water collected from a vegetable garden.     

Development of an improved heated interface for coupling solid-phase microextraction to high-performance liquid chromatography

The aim of the study described in this report has been the development and the evaluation of a new improved interface to be operated under continuous heating, for on-line coupling solid-phase microextraction (SPME) to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Heating is desirable to increase desorption rate and decrease carryover. The results obtained have been compared with that obtained by off-line desorption and online desorption without heating. The SPME-HPLC interface described here has an inner volume of 60 microL, fixation for infinite points and a novel leak less sealing system. When the heating system was used, the area values were almost 10-fold higher than that obtained using the off-line mode. The obtained chromatograms showed an increasing of the area and height of chromatographic peaks and proved the excellent performance and reproducibility of the interface developed in this work.     

Determination of fluoroquinolones in eggs using in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple, rapid, and sensitive method using in-tube solid-phase microextraction (in-tube SPME) based on poly(methacrylic acid–ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (MAA–EGDMA) monolith coupled to HPLC with fluorescence and UV detection was developed for the determination of five fluoroquinolones (FQs). Ofloxacin (OFL), norfloxacin (NOR), ciprofloxacin (CIP), enrofloxacin (ENRO), and sarafloxacin (SARA) can be enriched and determined in the spiked eggs and albumins. CIP/ENRO in eggs and albumins of ENRO-treated hens were also studied using the proposed method. Only homogenization, dilution, and centrifugation were required before the sample was supplied to the in-tube microextraction, and no organic solvents were consumed in the procedures. Under the optimized extraction conditions, good extraction efficiency for the five FQs was obtained with no matrix interference in the process of extraction and the subsequent chromatographic separation. The detection limits (S/N=3) were found to be 0.1–2.6 ng g⁻¹ and 0.2–2.4 ng g⁻¹ in whole egg and egg albumin, respectively. Good linearity could be achieved over the range 2–500 ng mL⁻¹ for the five FQs with regression coefficients above 0.9995 in both whole egg and albumin. The reproducibility of the method was evaluated at three concentration levels, with the resulting relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 7%. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of ENRO and its primary metabolite CIP in the eggs and albumins of ENRO-treated hens.     

Selective capillary coating materials for in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled to liquid chromatography to determine drugs and biomarkers in biological samples: A review

In-tube solid-phase microextraction (in-tube SPME) coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) successfully determines drugs or biomarkers in biological samples by direct sample injection or by simple sample treatment. This technique uses a capillary column as extraction device. Several capillaries (wall-coated open tubular, sorbent-packed, porous monolithic rods, or fiber-packed) with unique phases have been developed and evaluated, aiming to improve the efficiency and selectivity of the in-tube SPME-LC technique. This review describes new developments and applications occurred in recent years, and discusses future trends with emphasis on new extraction devices and current technology used for the synthesis of selective sorbents for bioanalysis, such as (i) polypyrrole, (ii) restricted-access materials, (iii) immunosorbents, (iv) molecular imprinting polymers, (v) monolithic polymers, and (vi) bi-functional materials.     

Determination of chlorophenols by solid-phase microextraction and liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

A solid-phase microextraction method has been developed for the determination of 19 chlorophenols (CPs) in environmental samples. The analytical procedure involves direct sampling of CPs from water using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and determination by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (LC-ED). Three kinds of fibre [50 microm carbowax-templated resin (CW-TPR), 60 microm polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene (PDMS-DVB) and 85 microm polyacrylate (PA)] were evaluated for the analysis of CPs. Of these fibres, CW-TPR is the most suitable for the determination of CPs in water. Optimal conditions for both desorption and absorption SPME processes, such as composition of the desorption solvent (water-acetonitrile-methanol, 20:30:50) and desorption time (5 min), extraction time (50 min) and temperature (40 degrees C) as well as pH (3.5) and ionic strength (6 g NaCl) were established. The precision of the SPME-LC-ED method gave relative standard deviations (RSDs) of between 4 and 11%. The method was linear over three to four orders of magnitude and the detection limits, from 3 to 8 ng l(-1), were lower than the European Community legislation limits for drinking water. The method was applied to the analysis of CPs in drinking water and wood samples.     

Hybrid organic-inorganic octyl monolithic column for in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled to capillary high-performance liquid chromatography

An octyl-functionalized hybrid silica monolithic column was developed for in-tube solid-phase microextraction (SPME) to perform on-line preconcentration coupled to capillary high-performance liquid chromatography (microHPLC) analysis. A hybrid silica monolithic column functionalized with octyl groups was conveniently synthesized by a two-step acid/base-catalyzed hydrolysis/co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and n-octyltriethoxysilane (C8-TEOS). The size of through-pores as well as the carbon content can be adjusted by changing the ratio of TEOS to C8-TEOS in the polymerization mixture. The extraction characteristics of the monolithic column prepared under optimized fabrication conditions were studied by using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as the analytes. The sample volume that could be injected into the system was increased up to 1mL with simultaneous increase of column efficiency, when hybrid silica monolithic column was used as a precolumn. Good linear calibration curves (R>0.999) were obtained, and the limits of detection (signal-to-noise ratio, S/N=3) for the analytes were found to be between 2.4 and 8.1ng/mL with a UV absorbance detector, which are 299-456 times lower than those obtained without preconcentration. The column-to-column RSD values were 1.3-8.0% for recoveries of PAHs investigated.     

Electrochemically prepared solid-phase microextraction coatings—A review

During the last decade, electrochemically prepared coatings have gained widespread acceptance for solid-phase microextraction (SPME) applications. The current review classified these coatings as electropolymerized conductive polymers (CPs), electrodeposited metal oxides, electrophoretically deposited carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and anodized metals. These electrochemical methods resulted in easily controlled and reproducible SPME coatings with inherent characteristics such as biocompatibility, thermal stability and porous structure. The objective of this review is to provide a concise overview of recent developments in the electrochemically prepared SPME coatings and their analytical applications.     

Determination of plastic monomers in water by solid-phase microextraction coupled with liquid chromatography

A method is presented for the determination of 2 major plastic monomers, terephthalic acid and vinyl acetate, which are widely used to manufacture plastics that come in contact with foods. The analytes are extracted from aqueous solution by using solid-phase microextraction, followed by quantitation by liquid chromatography (LC) with UV detection. Multivariate optimization was applied and is described. The optimized method has linear ranges of 5-150 microg/g for terephthalic acid and 7.5-100 microg/g for vinyl acetate. Coefficients of variation at a spiking level of 20 microg/g were 13.6% for terephthalic acid and 3.1% for vinyl acetate; detection and quantitation limits were 0.59 and 1,99 microg/g, respectively, for terephthalic acid and 1.56 and 5.20 microg/g, respectively, for vinyl acetate. The characteristics of both the extraction technique and its coupling with LC are described and discussed.     

Determination of telmisartan in rat tissues by in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled to high performance liquid chromatography

A poly(methacrylic acid-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, MAA-EGDMA) monolithic capillary was used for the direct and on-line extraction of telmisartan from Sprague-Dawley rat tissue (heart, kidney, and liver) homogenates. Under optimized conditions, the tissue homogenates were simply diluted with a mixture of phosphate buffer (pH 2)/ACN (90:8 v/v), and then injected for extraction only after centrifugation and filtration. Coupled to HPLC with fluorescence detection, the method was linear over the range of 1.25-1500 ng/g for telmisartan in heart and kidney, 12.5-15 000 ng/g in liver with correlation coefficients over 0.9992. The detection limits were found to be in the range from 0.24 to 1.8 ng/g. RSDs for intra- and inter-day ranged from 1.2 to 8.1%. The determination of telmisartan in treated rat tissues was achieved by using the proposed method.     

Determination of 1-hydroxypyrene in human urine by acid hydrolysis coupled to solid-phase microextraction and semi-microcolumn liquid chromatography.

This study developed an acid hydrolysis coupled to a solid-phase microextraction method employing a semi-microcolumn liquid chromatography system, instead of enzyme hydrolysis with solid-phase extraction for the pretreatment of human urine samples, to detect urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP). The complete separation and detection of urinary 1-hydroxyprene was performed using a high-performance liquid-chromatography fluorescence detection system with an analytical C(18) semi-microcolumn, 60% (v/v) aqueous acetonitrile elution, and a lambda(ex/em) = 348/388 nm pair detection wavelength. Calibration graphs were linear with very good correlation coefficients (r = 0.9997), and the detection limit was 1.0 ng/L. These important parameters for acid hydrolysis and solid-phase microextraction were investigated. The total recovery was above 83% in acid hydrolysis with solid-phase microextraction. The proposed method provided a relatively simple, convenient, and practical procedure to determine the level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene in biological samples, and was successfully applied to detect the urine of students.     

A critical review in calibration methods for solid-phase microextraction

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) was developed to address the need for rapid sampling and sample preparation, both in the laboratory and on-site. Unlike traditional sample preparation methods, SPME is a non-exhaustive extraction technique in which only a small portion of the target analyte is removed from the sample matrix. Therefore, calibration of SPME for quantitative analysis is very important. In this review, we summarized the proposed SPME calibration methods and the characteristics of these methods were discussed.     

Analysis of triazine in water samples by solid-phase microextraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the determination of triazine is described. Carbowax/templated resin (CW/TPR, 50 μm), polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB, 60 μm), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, 100 μm), and polyacrylate (PA, 85 μm) fibers were evaluated for extraction of the triazines. CW/TPR and PDMS/DVB fibers were selected for further study. Several parameters of the extraction and desorption procedure were studied and optimized (such as types of fibers, desorption mode, desorption time, compositions of solvent for desorption, soaking periods and the flow rate during desorption period, extraction time, temperature, pH, and ionic strength of samples). Both CW/TPR and PDMS/DVB fibers are acceptable; a simple calibration-curve method based on simple aqueous standards can be used. The linearity of this method for analyzing standard solution has been investigated over the range 5-1000 ng mL⁻¹ for both PDMS/DVB and CW/TPR fibers. All the correlation coefficients in the range 5-1000 ng mL⁻¹ were better than 0.995 except Simazine and Atratone by CW/TPR fiber. The R.S.D.s range from 4.4% to 8.8 % (PDMS/DVB fiber) and from 2.4% to 7.2% (CW/TPR fiber). Method-detection limits (MDL) are in the range 1.2-2.6 and 2.8-3.4 ng mL⁻¹ for the two fibers. These methods were applied to the determination of trazines in environmental water samples (lake water).