Hollow fiber-based liquid–liquid–liquid micro-extraction with osmosis: I. Theoretical simulation and verification

Osmosis in hollow fiber-based liquid–liquid–liquid micro-extraction (HF-LLLME) was validated and utilized to improve enrichment factor of extraction in this study. When donor phase (sample solution) with higher ion strength than acceptor phase (extraction phase) was used, osmosis was established from acceptor phase, through organic membrane to donor phase. The mass flux expression of analytes across the organic membrane was established based on the convective-diffusive kinetic model, and the kinetic process for HF-LLLME with osmosis was simulated. Simulation results indicated that osmosis from acceptor phase to donor phase can increase enrichment factor of HF-LLLME, accelerate extraction process, and even result in the distribution ratio of analytes between donor and acceptor phase exceeding their partition coefficient. This phenomenon was verified by the experimental data of extraction with six organic acids and four organic bases as the model analytes.

► Osmosis in HF-LLLME was validated and exploited for the first time.
► Convective-diffusive kinetic model was used to simulate the extraction process.
► The extraction system could break through the equilibrium limit with osmosis.
► The simulation of extraction process was verified by the experimental data.