SOLID-PHASE MICROEXTRACTION COUPLED TO HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A new interface has been developed to couple the solid phase microextr action (SPME) sampling technique with narrow-bore high-performance liq uid chromatography (HPLC). This interface maintains the advantages of SPME as a fast, solvent-free, portable, and inexpensive sampling techn ique. In addition, it provides possibilities for the analysis of semi- and nonvolatile organic compounds in water, an analysis that is diffi cult to achieve with gas chromatography. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarb ons (PAHs) were selected as test analytes for the system's evaluation. The interface was shown to provide a successful way of coupling SPME with HPLC for the analysis of PAHs.