Automated method for volatile fatty acids determination in anaerobic processes using in-syringe magnetic stirring assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and gas chromatography with flame ionization detector

Lab-in-Syringe, a Useful Technique for the Analysis and Detection of Pollutants of Emerging Concern in Environmental and Food Samples

Lab-in-syringe is a new approach for the integration of various analytical extraction steps inside a syringe. Fully automated dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction is carried out in-syringe using a very simple instrumental setup. Dispersion is achieved by aspiration of the organic phase and then the watery phase into the syringe as rapidly as possible. After aggregation of the solvent droplets, the organic phase is pushed towards the detector allowing a highly sensitive spectrophotometric or fluorimetric detection. This technique is very useful not only for the preconcentration of analyte, but also for the elimination of their interferences. In this work, its application is described using solvents that are lighter and denser than water. The magnetically assisted variant and its coupling to different instruments has been also described with the aim of increasing the resolution of complex samples, especially useful for the determination of emerging contaminants.