On-line solvent exchange system: Automation from extraction to analysis

Removal of organic solvent from sample extracts is required before analysis by reversed phase HPLC to preserve chromatographic performance and allow for bigger injection volumes, boosting sensitivity. Herein, an automated on-line extraction evaporation procedure is integrated with HPLC analysis. The evaporation occurs inside a 200 μm microfluidic channel confined by a vapor permeable membrane. A feedback control algorithm regulates evaporation rate keeping the output flow rate constant. The evaporation process across this membrane was firstly characterized with water/solvent mixtures showing organic solvent removal capabilities. This system allowed continuous methanol, ethanol and acetonitrile removal from samples containing up to 80% organic solvent. An evaporative injection procedure was developed demonstrating the use of the device for fully integrated extract reconstitution coupled to HPLC analysis, applied to analysis of the antibiotic chloramphenicol in milk samples. Sample reconstitution and collection was performed in less than 10 min and can be executed simultaneously to HPLC analysis of the previous sample in a routine workflow, thus having minimal impact on the total sample analysis time when run in a sequence.