Solid-phase microextraction

In recent years, much attention in analytical chemistry has been paid to sa mple preparation techniques, especially those which minimise the consumptio n of organic solvents. One of the most promising of these, solid-phase micr oextraction (SPME), is presented in both its theoretical and practical aspe cts. Conditions which affect its performance are assessed, as are the probl ems which may arise from its use. Finally, some typical applications are li sted, highlighting the method's sensitivity and precision, and the range of samples where SPME can be used successfully. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.