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Analytical processes involving sample preparation, separation, and quantifying analytes in complex mixtures are indispensable in modern-day analysis. Each step is crucial to enriching correct and informative results. Therefore, sample preparation is the critical factor that determines both the accuracy and the time consumption of a sample analysis process. Recently, several promising sample preparation approaches have been made available with environmentally friendly technologies with high performance. As a result of its many advantages, solid-phase extraction (SPE) is practiced in many different fields in addition to the traditional methods. The SPE is an alternative method to liquid–liquid extraction (LLE), which eliminates several disadvantages, including many organic solvents, a lengthy operation time and numerous steps, potential sources of error, and high costs. SPE advanced sorbent technology reorients with various functions depending on the structure of extraction sorbents, including reversed-phase, normal-phase, cation exchange, anion exchange, and mixed-mode. In addition, the commercial SPE systems are disposable. Still, with the continual developments, the restricted access materials (RAM) and molecular imprinted polymers (MIP) are fabricated to be active reusable extraction cartridges. This review will discuss all the theoretical and practical principles of the SPE techniques, focusing on packing materials, different forms, and performing factors in recent and future advances. The information about novel methodological and instrumental solutions in relation to different variants of SPE techniques, solid-phase microextraction (SPME), in-tube solid-phase microextraction (IT-SPME), and magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) is presented. The integration of SPE with analytical chromatographic techniques such as LC and GC is also indicated. Furthermore, the applications of these techniques are discussed in detail along with their advantages in analyzing pharmaceuticals, biological samples, natural compounds, pesticides, and environmental pollutants, as well as foods and beverages. Graphical abstract

Methyl-capped poly(ethylene oxide) moieties were chemically bonded to silica gel using an amine-reactive modification reagent and evaluated as the stationary phase for ion chromatography. In this work, primary amino groups of an aminopropylsilica packing material were reacted with methyl-PEO(12)-NHS ester (succinimidyl-{[N-methyl]-dodecaethyleneglycol} ester) in phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) at room temperature. The prepared poly(ethylene oxide)-bonded stationary was evaluated for the separation of inorganic anions, and the retention behavior of inorganic anions on the prepared stationary phase was examined. The elution order of the investigated anions was the same as that observed in common ion chromatography. Both cations and anions of the eluent affected the retention of the analyte anions. Ion exchange was involved for the retention of analyte anions, although the present stationary phase does not possess any discrete ion-exchange sites. The stationary phase was applied to the separation of trace anions contained in tap water and a rock salt.

A rapid, selective and sensitive analytical method for the simultaneous determination of 16 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in human plasma was carried out using Oasis HLB solid-phase extraction (SPE), followed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization operated in the negative ion mode. The recoveries of NSAIDs from human plasma by SPE were greater than 76.7%. The use of a short column packed with small particles enabled rapid and simultaneous determination within 7 min. The detection limits for the NSAIDs were 0.01-0.9 mug/ml using the selected ion monitoring mode.

Fe(III) and Fe(II) ions were separated and determined via in-column and post-column reactions with salicylic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline by microcolumn ion chromatography with UV-Vis detection. The separation could be achieved on a silica microcolumn using an aqueous ethanol solution of salicylic acid as eluent. The effluent from the column was then mixed with aqueous ethanol solution of 1,10-phenanthroline and detected at 518 nm. Fe(III) ion was detected as the complex with salicylic acid, whereas Fe(II) ion was detected as the complex with 1,10-phenanthroline. The detection limits with 0.25 mL injection volume at S/N = 3 were 0.21 and 0.10 mg L -1 for Fe(III) and Fe(II), respectively. Increasing the injection volume of sample, e.g., 5.1 mL, improved the sensitivity; the detection limits at S/N = 3 were 12 and 9.2 mg L -1 for Fe(III) and Fe(II), respectively. The present system was applied to the determination of iron in a local well water sample.