| abstract |
A device for carrying out solid phase microextraction is a fiber contained in a syringe. The fiber can be solid or hollow. The syringe has a barrel and a plunger slidable within the barrel, the plunger having a handle extending from one end of the barrel. A hollow needle extends from an end of the barrel opposite to the plunger. The fiber is contained in the needle. When the plunger is depressed, the fiber extends beyond a free end of the needle and when the plunger is in a withdrawn position, the fiber is located within the needle. The syringe protects the fiber from damage. When it is desired to analyze a sample in a bottle having a septum, the needle is inserted through the septum and the plunger is depressed so that the fiber will extend into the sample. After one or two minutes, the plunger is moved to the withdrawn position so that the fiber will return to the needle and the syringe is withdrawn from the sample bottle. The syringe is then inserted through a septum in a gas injection port of a gas chromatograph. The plunger is again depressed so that the fiber will extend into the gas chromatograph and an analysis of the components on the fiber is carried out. Then, the plunger is moved to the withdrawn and the syringe is withdrawn from the injection port. Previously, samples were analyzed using liquid-liquid extraction or using cartridges. Both of these methods are relatively expensive and time consuming. Both of these methods also require the use of solvents which can be difficult and expensive to dispose of. |