Solid phase microextraction as a tool for trace element speciation

Applications of solid phase microextraction (SPME) for trace element specia tion are reviewed. Because of the relative novelty of the technique in the inorganic analytical field, the first part of this review provides a short overview of the principles of SPME operation; the second part describes typ ical SPME applications to elemental speciation, Volatile organometallic com pounds can be collected by SPME from the sample headspace or liquid phase, directly or after derivatization. The usual separation method for the colle cted volatile species is gas chromatography. Non-volatile analyte species c an be collected from the sample liquid phase and separated by liquid chroma tography or capillary electrophoresis. Currently, most SPME applications in the inorganic field comprise analyte ethylation and headspace extraction f ollowed by gas chromatographic separation of tin, lead and mercury species. The use of SPME for the study of equilibria in complex systems is also dis cussed and future roles of solid phase microextraction in the inorganic ana lytical field are raised. Crown copyright (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.