Microextraction Tech

The application of ionic liquids (ILs) in the analytical chemistry context has been increased in the last years due to their exceptional chemical and physical properties. The term IL is used to define a broad class of semi-organic salts composed entirely by ions which are liquids in the range of 180-600K. Among all these potential substances, room-temperature ILs (defined as the ILs which present a melting point lower than 100 ºC) are specially interesting due to their easy manipulation at normal experimental conditions. Among the main properties of these special solvents, their negligible vapor pressure, their good thermal stability and good extractability towards a variety of analytes should be highlighted. Since ILs can be obtained as a combination of different cations and anions, the researcher can select the more appropriate IL to solve a given analytical problem. This tunable nature makes them "task-specific" solvents. ILs have been used as solvents in (micro)extr

In the last years, an intensive research has been focused on the development of more sensitive and selective analytical instrumentation. However, the direct analysis of samples is difficult in most of the cases due to the low concentration of the targets, the complexity of the samples and even the incompatibility of the matrix with the instrument. The sample treatment, which is usually unavoidable in the majority of the analytical processes, involves the extraction and preconcentration of the analytes prior to their final instrumental determination. In this context, extraction and microextraction techniques are useful tools for the analysts in their daily work. This blog has different objectives: · To present the main fundaments of (micro)extraction techniques in a simple style to an expert and non-expert audience. · To present the main research advances in the microextraction context. This blog is dedicated to all the people who are fascinated by Analytical Chemistry in general and