MICROEXTRACTION OF VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS USING THE INSIDE NEEDLECAPILLARY ADSORPTION TRAP (INCAT) DEVICE

A novel method of solventless extraction has been developed based on a combination of solid phase micro extraction and purge and trap method s. In this technique, a hollow needle with either a short length of GC capillary column placed inside it, or an internal coating of carbon, is used as the preconcentration device. Sampling may be performed on a mbient air, on solution, or the solution headspace, by passing the gas or liquid through the device either actively with a syringe, or passi vely via diffusion. The VOC are sorbed and concentrated onto either th e carbon layer, or the liquid stationary phase of the capillary column , within the needle. Placing the needle into a heated GC injection por t thermally desorbs the organic compounds directly into the GC without the need for solvent extraction. Results suggest that this procedure provides a rapid and sensitive alternative method to those currently a vailable. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.