METHOD AND DEVICE TO EXTRACT AN ANALYTE FROM A SAMPLE WITH GAS ASSISTANCE

摘要

A method of extracting an analyte from a sample is described. The sample is added to a sample container. A liquid solvent and a gas are added into the sample container. The addition of the gas is controlled to establish an elevated pressure within the sample container. The liquid solvent is heated to an elevated temperature that is below the boiling temperature of the liquid solvent at the elevated pressure. A type of gas is used that does not transition to a supercritical fluid at the elevated temperature and pressure used in the extraction process. The analyte can dissolve from the solid sample into the liquid solvent. Next, at least a portion of the liquid solvent containing the dissolved analyte can be removed from the sample container for subsequent analysis.

主权项

1. An apparatus configured to extract an analyte from a first sample, the apparatus comprising:
a compressed gas source configured to supply a gas at a superatmospheric pressure; a liquid solvent pump configured to transport a liquid solvent; a fluid junction including a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, where the first inlet and second inlet are both fluidically connected to the outlet, the first inlet also being in fluidic communication with the compressed gas source, the second inlet also being in fluidic communication with the liquid solvent pump, the outlet also being configured to flow a mixture of the gas and the liquid solvent at the same time; a first sample container configured to contain the first sample, an inlet of the first sample container being fluidically connected to the outlet of the fluid junction, the first sample container also being configured to allow the gas and the liquid solvent to flow from an inlet to an outlet of the first sample container; and a heating source configured to heat the liquid solvent to an elevated temperature T, in which T is below the boiling temperature of the liquid solvent at the superatmospheric pressure P, and in which either P or T is maintained below the critical point of the gas, in which the superatmospheric pressure P is not greater than about 100 pounds per square inch relative to an ambient pressure, in which the heating of the liquid solvent is at a temperature T ranging from about 30° C. to about 300° C., in which the gas does not transition to a supercritical fluid or a liquid state at the superatmospheric pressure P and the temperature T.