Microextraction by packed sorbent
Encyclopedia
Microextraction by packed sorbent or MEPS is a miniaturised solid phase extraction
technique for the purification and concentration of plasma
, water, and other samples prior to analysis
by techniques such as gas chromatography or high performance liquid chromatography
. It should not be confused with SPME as SPME uses a different technique to purify and concentrate samples. MEPS performs the same function as SPE
, namely the purification or speciation of samples, but with some significant differences:
MEPS works with much smaller samples (as small as 10µL) compared to full scale SPE
which typically uses millilitres of sample. This also helps save time.
MEPS can be fully automated using an autosampler – the sample processing, extraction and injection steps are performed on-line using the same syringe. Automating SPE
usually requires additional dedicated equipment.
Solid phase extraction
Solid-phase extraction is a separation process by which compounds that are dissolved or suspended in a liquid mixture are separated from other compounds in the mixture according to their physical and chemical properties. Analytical laboratories use solid phase extraction to concentrate and purify...
technique for the purification and concentration of plasma
Blood plasma
Blood plasma is the straw-colored liquid component of blood in which the blood cells in whole blood are normally suspended. It makes up about 55% of the total blood volume. It is the intravascular fluid part of extracellular fluid...
, water, and other samples prior to analysis
Analysis
Analysis is the process of breaking a complex topic or substance into smaller parts to gain a better understanding of it. The technique has been applied in the study of mathematics and logic since before Aristotle , though analysis as a formal concept is a relatively recent development.The word is...
by techniques such as gas chromatography or high performance liquid chromatography
High performance liquid chromatography
High-performance liquid chromatography , HPLC, is a chromatographic technique that can separate a mixture of compounds and is used in biochemistry and analytical chemistry to identify, quantify and purify the individual components of the mixture.HPLC typically utilizes different types of stationary...
. It should not be confused with SPME as SPME uses a different technique to purify and concentrate samples. MEPS performs the same function as SPE
Solid phase extraction
Solid-phase extraction is a separation process by which compounds that are dissolved or suspended in a liquid mixture are separated from other compounds in the mixture according to their physical and chemical properties. Analytical laboratories use solid phase extraction to concentrate and purify...
, namely the purification or speciation of samples, but with some significant differences:
MEPS works with much smaller samples (as small as 10µL) compared to full scale SPE
Solid phase extraction
Solid-phase extraction is a separation process by which compounds that are dissolved or suspended in a liquid mixture are separated from other compounds in the mixture according to their physical and chemical properties. Analytical laboratories use solid phase extraction to concentrate and purify...
which typically uses millilitres of sample. This also helps save time.
MEPS can be fully automated using an autosampler – the sample processing, extraction and injection steps are performed on-line using the same syringe. Automating SPE
Solid phase extraction
Solid-phase extraction is a separation process by which compounds that are dissolved or suspended in a liquid mixture are separated from other compounds in the mixture according to their physical and chemical properties. Analytical laboratories use solid phase extraction to concentrate and purify...
usually requires additional dedicated equipment.