title: Automated sample treatment by flow techniques prior to liquid-phase separations.
abstract: Sample preparation (SP) is an integral and important part of an analytical process. Lately, SP has been the topic of increased interest in research and development of novel advanced technologies. Major needs in this aspect are miniaturization, automation, and enrichment. Among other methodologies, flow techniques can be conveniently and effectively coupled to liquid-phase separation technologies for on-line sample preparation. This paper reviews the current trends in on-line automated sample preparation by flow-through techniques prior to liquid-phase separations. Strategies and interfaces developed to couple flow techniques with liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry are described. Advantages and limitations of the coupling are discussed. The paper also highlights certain selected applications of these coupled systems.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece. gtheodor@chem.auth.gr <gtheodor@chem.auth.gr>
authors.forename: Georgios A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Theodoridis
authors.forename: Constantinos K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Zacharis
authors.forename: Anastasios N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Voulgaropoulos
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D017022:Flow Injection Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods