Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

Fabrication of a Dipole-assisted Solid Phase Extraction Microchip for Trace Metal Analysis in Water Samples
Published on: August 7, 2016
On-line liquid phase micro-extraction based on drop-in-plug sequential injection lab-at-valve platform for metal
Constantina Mitani1, Aristidis N Anthemidis
1Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece.
A new automated liquid phase micro-extraction technique using a lab-at-valve (LAV) platform simplifies trace metal analysis. This method efficiently determines lead in water samples with high preconcentration and low detection limits.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Traditional methods for trace metal determination often require complex procedures and large sample volumes.
- Developing efficient and automated preconcentration techniques is crucial for accurate metal analysis in various matrices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel automatic on-line liquid phase micro-extraction method for metal preconcentration and determination.
- To demonstrate the effectiveness of a lab-at-valve (LAV) scheme coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) for trace lead analysis.
Main Methods:
- A drop-in-plug sequential injection lab-at-valve (LAV) platform was utilized for on-line micro-extraction.
- A flow-through micro-extraction chamber was integrated with a selection valve.
- Lead was complexed with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) and extracted into a chloroform plug.
Main Results:
- The method achieved a high preconcentration factor of 125 for 10 mL sample volume.
- A low detection limit of 1.8 μg L⁻¹ was obtained for lead.
- Excellent precision was observed, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.9% at 50.0 μg L⁻¹ lead.
Conclusions:
- The proposed automated LAV micro-extraction method is efficient for trace lead determination in environmental and biological water samples.
- The system offers high preconcentration ratios and good performance characteristics, making it suitable for routine analysis.
- The method was successfully validated using certified reference materials and applied to real-world water and urine samples.
Related Concept Videos
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography: Elution Process
Gas Chromatography: Sample Injection Systems
Two primary injection methods are used...
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography: Types of Detectors
Extraction: Advanced Methods

