Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction in Trace Metal Analysis
Summary
Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) has emerged as a powerful sample-preparation technique for the preconcentration and rapid isolation of trace metals from complex matrices. In a typical DLLME procedure, a small volume of an extraction solvent and a disperser solvent are injected into an aqueous sample to form a fine emulsion. Metal ions, often converted into neutral complexes via chelating agents, partition into the extraction solvent droplets. Following a brief mixing period, phase separation occurs—by centrifugation or solidification—allowing collection of the enriched extract. Key advantages include minimal solvent consumption, high enrichment factors, rapid extraction kinetics and compatibility with a range of detection methods such as flame or electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry. Advances in green chemistry, ligand design and integration with on-line chemical vapor generation have further extended the applicability of DLLME to multielement analysis in environmental, food and pharmaceutical samples.
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Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction in Trace Metal Analysis publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction in trace metal analysis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME): A rapid sample-preparation method in which an extraction solvent and a disperser solvent are co-injected into an aqueous sample to form a fine emulsion, enabling efficient partitioning of analytes into microdroplets of extraction phase.
Deep eutectic solvent (DES): A green solvent composed of a hydrogen-bond donor and acceptor that forms a eutectic mixture with melting point lower than individual components, often used in DLLME for enhanced solvation of metal complexes.
Chemical vapor generation (CVG): A technique in which target elements are converted into volatile species (hydrides or vapours) prior to introduction into spectrometric detectors, improving sensitivity and reducing interferences.
Enrichment factor: The ratio of analyte concentration in the extraction phase to its initial concentration in the sample, indicating the degree of preconcentration achieved by the microextraction process.
References
- Synergistic combination of natural deep eutectic solvent and chemical vapor generation for trace determination of As, Cd, Hg and Pb in drug samples by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Advances in Sample Preparation (2023).
- Determination of copper(II) by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after its perconcentration by a highly selective and environmentally friendly dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction technique. Journal of Analytical Science and Technology (2019).
- Microextraction procedures for preconcentration of Fe (III) in water and food samples prior to colorimetric detection: a comparative study. Journal of the Iranian Chemical Society (2022).
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