Semi-micro solid-phase extraction of organic compounds from aqueous and biological samples

A technique is described for performing solid-phase extractions on a semi-micro scale. Thin membrane disks 4 mm in diameter containing lightly sulfonated polystyrene or Silicalite particles are placed in the hub of a syringe needle. Aqueous samples (1-6 ml) are passed through the membrane disks and extracted compounds are subsequently eluted with 20-50 microliters of an organic solvent. Unlike solid-phase micro extraction (SPME) which uses a coated fiber, the present method is essentially a total extraction technique. Recoveries > 90% were generally obtained for a wide variety of test compounds. The same test compounds in human urine, albumin and human serum samples can be extracted without any pretreatment other than addition of a suitable surfactant. A "double-pass" technique was developed for convenient field sampling.