Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion Techniques in Analytical Chemistry

Matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) has emerged as a versatile sample-preparation strategy that unites homogenisation, extraction and clean-up in a single step. In its classical form, a solid or semi-solid sample is blended with a suitable sorbent—ranging from silica-based phases to carbon nanomaterials—and the mixture is packed or retained in a small cartridge. The sorbent disrupts the sample matrix and simultaneously binds target analytes, which are subsequently eluted with a chosen solvent. Over the past decade, innovation has focused on miniaturisation (micro- and mini-MSPD), automation (on-line and in-line coupling with chromatography), and the development of tailored sorbents—such as molecularly imprinted polymers, graphene derivatives and magnetic nanoparticles—to enhance selectivity and throughput. Parallel advances in green chemistry have introduced ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents and other neoteric liquids as both dispersants and eluents, reducing organic-solvent consumption and improving safety. MSPD has demonstrated broad applicability in environmental monitoring, food safety, pharmaceutical quality control and natural-product analysis, often in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography or electrochemical detection. These developments have transformed MSPD into a rapid, user-friendly and environmentally conscious approach for trace-level determination of organic and inorganic analytes.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated that nano-engineered sorbents can dramatically improve extraction efficiency and sensitivity in MSPD microextraction. One investigation employed graphene nanoplatelets as both dispersing agent and sorbent for phenolic acids in plant preparations. By optimising parameters such as sorbent-to-sample ratio, grinding time and choice of elution solvent, the method achieved nanogram-level detection limits, high recoveries and reduced solvent usage. This work underlines the potential of two-dimensional carbon materials to provide a high surface area, π–π interactions and rapid mass transfer, leading to accelerated extraction kinetics and enhanced reproducibility. Such innovations point towards fully automated, miniaturised MSPD platforms that can be integrated with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography or electrochemical detectors for fast, high-throughput analysis of bioactive compounds.

Research from all publishers

A recent review of neoteric solvents highlighted ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents as promising green eluents and adjuvants in MSPD. These solvents facilitate selective extraction of polar and non-polar analytes and can be incorporated into the sorbent mixture to improve matrix disruption and analyte desorption. Another study introduced an effervescence-assisted MSPD protocol for rapid HPLC-UV determination of organic acids in herbal rhizomes. By combining a bicarbonate-acid effervescent system with conventional sorbents, the method achieved complete extraction in under three minutes and maintained high accuracy while eliminating external agitation. A further investigation explored natural deep eutectic solvent-based MSPD to isolate and stabilise polyphenols from plant material. Optimisation of eutectic composition, vortex time and adsorbent ratio led to enhanced phenolic yields and improved storage stability, demonstrating how solvent design and process parameters can be fine-tuned for targeted applications in natural-product analysis.

Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion Techniques in Analytical Chemistry publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in matrix solid-phase dispersion techniques in analytical chemistry across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion (MSPD): A sample-preparation technique in which a solid or semi-solid sample is blended with a sorbent to disrupt the matrix and bind analytes, allowing simultaneous extraction and clean-up.

Sorbent: A solid material—such as silica C18, molecularly imprinted polymer or graphene derivative—used to capture target analytes during MSPD.

Microextraction: A miniaturised form of sample preparation that reduces sample and solvent volumes, often applied in MSPD to increase throughput and sensitivity.

Ionic Liquid (IL): A salt in liquid form below 100 °C, used as a green extraction solvent due to negligible vapour pressure and tunable solvation properties.

Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES): A mixture of hydrogen-bond donor and acceptor components that forms a liquid at room temperature, offering biodegradable and low-toxicity alternatives to conventional solvents.

Neoteric Solvent: An umbrella term for novel green solvents—including ILs and DESs—employed to reduce environmental impact in sample-preparation protocols.

References

1. Graphene nanoplatelets based matrix solid-phase dispersion microextraction for phenolic acids by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Scientific Reports (2017).
2. Rapid Determination of Three Organic Acids in Polygonum Vivipari Rhizoma via One Marker by HPLC‐UV at Equal Absorption Wavelength and Effervescence‐Assisted Matrix Solid‐Phase Dispersion. International Journal of Analytical Chemistry (2023).
3. Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Matrix Solid Phase Dispersion (MSPD) Extraction for Determination of Bioactive Compounds from Sandy Everlasting (Helichrysum arenarium L.): A Case of Stability Study. Plants (2022).
4. Neoteric solvents: Applications in matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction. Journal of Chromatography Open (2024).