Acoustically levitated droplets — a new tool for micro and trace analysis

First experiences with the technique of acoustical levitation of droplets in the field of analytical and atmospheric chemistry are reported. Acoustical levitation enables the contactless handling of solid and liquid microsamples. This avoids adsorption of analyte at and desorption of contaminants from container walls especially for liquid samples. Common experiments of sample preparation procedures were conducted in levitated drops like liquid/liquid extractions, solvent exchange, and analyte enrichment by evaporation of the solvent. A first approach was made to use acoustical levitation for the simulation of atmospheric chemistry situations. Received: 10 October 1996 / Revised: 25 October 1996 / Accepted: 25 October 1996