PIPETTE PASTEUR EXTRACTION - A FAST, CONVENIENT, EXHAUSTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY METHOD FOR THE EXTRACTION OF SOLID SAMPLES

A simple and fast (similar to 5 min) method has been set up to extract small soil samples (similar to 300 mg) by elution of a small volume o f methylene chloride (2 000 mu l) on a modified Pasteur pipette. Paste ur pipette extraction thus allows us to minimize sample losses by evap oration, degradation, contamination, and experimental handling. Moreov er, shake and ultrasonic extractions were found to give lower extract yields, amounting respectively to 1.8 and 1.9 mg.g(-1) dry weight, tha n pipette Pasteur extraction (3.0 mg.g(-1)). This method may be applie d to extract the soluble organic matter of any kind of solid sample su ch as sedimentary rocks, coals aerosols, food and biological substance s; prior molecular analyses such as gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.