Automated preconcentration and analysis of organic compounds by on-line hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction–high performance liquid chromatography

The present work describes the first automated instrument, based on on-line hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME)–high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), for the preconcentration and determination of organic compounds in various matrices. Using an automated syringe pump for loading the supported liquid membrane and acceptor solvents, a platform lift for moving the sample vial, a sampling loop for on-line injection of the extract to HPLC, along with an electronic board with an AVR microcontroller for storage of data and instrument programs, a sample preparation-HPLC method was developed that allowed sample extraction and extract injection to be carried out completely automatically. Pyridine and pyridine derivatives were chosen for the development and for testing the applicability of the automated instrument. The limits of detection (3 times the S/N) ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 μg L−1. Effective preconcentration of the analytes was also achieved (preconcentration factors of between 40 and 220). The main advantages of the method developed are minimum sample manipulation, full automation, suitable extraction time, low solvent consumption, and ease of use. The applicability of the on-line automated HF-LPME/HPLC–UV instrument was validated for quantitative extraction and determination of pyridines in cigarette smoke.

► Automated on-line hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction was introduced.
► Pyridine and pyridine derivatives were chosen for testing applicability of instrument.
► Preconcentration factors between 40 and 220 for pyridine derivatives were obtained.
► The HF-LPME/HPLC–UV was validated for determination of pyridines in cigarette smoke.
► Using six parallel extraction units sample throughput of instrument will be increased.