Automated thin-film microextraction coupled to a flow-through cell: somewhere in between passive and active sampling

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science
• Pharmaceutical Analysis

Background:

• Pharmaceuticals, such as ivermectin and iohexol, are prevalent in aqueous solutions.
• Accurate quantification of these compounds is crucial for environmental monitoring and pharmaceutical research.
• Existing extraction methods can be time-consuming and complex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a novel prototype for automated thin-film microextraction (ATDME).
• To establish extraction methodologies for pharmaceuticals with varying polarity, specifically ivermectin and iohexol.
• To investigate the sorption kinetics and thermodynamics of these compounds during extraction.

Main Methods:

• Development of a software-controlled automated thin-film microextraction system.
• Application of C18 and PS-DVB phases for the extraction of non-polar ivermectin and polar iohexol, respectively.
• Utilizing abamectin as an internal standard for quantitative analysis of ivermectin dissipation.

Main Results:

• Achieved up to 96.2% extraction of ivermectin using a C18 phase within 1 hour.
• Attained up to 74.6% extraction of iohexol using a PS-DVB phase within 36 hours.
• Successfully monitored ivermectin dissipation in simulated surface water using the developed method.

Conclusions:

• The prototype enables automated and time-resolved extraction of xenobiotics from water.
• Offers a viable alternative to complex solid-phase extraction in laboratory settings.
• Facilitates automated control of chemical reaction kinetics and environmental monitoring under field conditions.