Quantitative coupling of supercritical fluid extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography by means of a...

Supercritical fluid extraction was coupled on-line with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). An open-tubular column with a 95% methyl-5% phenyl stationary phase was utilized as an interface between the two systems. This phase allowed for good analyte focusing onto the packed analytical column and exhibited low reactivity. Due to the non-polar nature of this phase there was a low tendency for analytes to be prematurely rinsed off the interface by condensed modifier. Using this approach, it was possible to transfer the extracted analytes quantitatively to the HPLC column in the presence of as much as 10% (v/v) methanol. By placing a 10 m guard column at the head of the interface, the same could be accomplished with ethanol as the modifier: allowing the extraction to be conducted entirely with non-toxic fluids. The method also allowed the use of very practical extraction parameters in terms of amount extracted, extraction flow-rate, extraction vessel volume, and extraction time.