Kinetic calibration for automated headspace liquid-phase microextraction

The kinetics of the absorption and desorption of analytes for headspace liquid-phase micoextraction (HS-LPME) were studied. It was found that the desorption of analytes from the extraction phase into the sample matrix is isotropic to the absorption of the analytes from the sample matrix into the extraction phase under the same conditions. This therefore allows for the calibration of absorption using desorption. Calibration was accomplished by exposing the extraction phase, which contained a standard, to the sample matrix. The information from the desorption of the standard, such as time constant a, could be directly used to estimate the concentration of the target analyte in the sample matrix. This new kinetic calibration method for headspace LPME was successfully used to correct the matrix effects in the BTEX analysis of an orange juice sample. In this study, the headspace LPME techniques were successfully fully automated, for both static and dynamic methods, with the CTC CombiPal autosampler. All operations of headspace LPME, including sample transfer and agitation, filling of extraction solvent, exposing the solvent in the headspace, withdrawing the solvent to syringe and introducing the extraction phase into injector, were autoperformed by the CTC autosampler. The fully automated headspace LPME technique is more convenient and improved the precision and sensitivity of the method. This automated dynamic headspace LPME technique can be also used to obtain the distribution coefficient between the sample matrix (aqueous or another solution) and the extraction phase (1-octanol or another solvent). The distribution coefficient between 1-octanol and orange juice, at 25 degrees C, was obtained with this technique.