Porous Membrane Bag Sonication for Direct Analyte Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sample preparation methods for extracting analytes from solid samples are often cumbersome, requiring digestion or dissolution in solvents and involving multiple steps, including adsorption and desorption, which can be time-consuming and environmentally unfriendly, especially when using hazardous organic solvents and selective adsorbents.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the direct extraction of analytes from solid samples using a porous membrane bag where the solid sample is packed, and sonication is applied with an organic solvent to extract analytes without the need for adsorption or digestion, allowing for direct injection into analytical instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If classical liquid-liquid extraction or solid phase extraction is used, then extraction recovery is improved, but solvent consumption and environmental impact worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous membrane as the extraction medium, which allows analytes to pass through while retaining the solid sample matrix. This porous structure enables efficient extraction without requiring large volumes of organic solvents, thus improving extraction recovery while reducing solvent consumption and environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a thin porous membrane (referred to as a 'bag') that encapsulates the solid sample. This flexible thin film structure provides a large surface area for extraction while minimizing solvent requirements, allowing analytes to diffuse through the membrane into the extraction solvent without needing excessive amounts of hazardous chemicals.
2Reliability
If solid phase extraction with selective adsorbents is used, then analyte retention is improved, but device complexity and synthesis requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential function of retention by using a simple porous membrane structure without requiring complex selective adsorbents. The membrane's porosity provides sufficient retention capability for the application, eliminating the need for elaborate adsorbent synthesis and reducing device complexity while maintaining adequate analyte retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the key parameter from chemical selectivity (requiring synthesized adsorbents) to physical porosity (using simple membrane structure). By controlling the pore size and structure of the membrane rather than relying on chemical functional groups, the method achieves analyte retention without complex adsorbent synthesis.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple extraction steps including adsorption and desorption are used, then extraction efficiency is improved, but processing time worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the extraction process into a single step where analytes directly pass through the porous membrane into the extraction solvent. This combines what would traditionally be separate adsorption and desorption steps into one simultaneous process, maintaining extraction efficiency while significantly reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent skips the intermediate adsorption step by using a porous membrane that allows direct passage of analytes from the solid sample into the extraction solvent. This rushing through the extraction process in a single step eliminates time-consuming sequential operations while maintaining extraction efficiency through the membrane's permeable structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach simplifies the extraction process, reduces environmental impact, and achieves high recovery rates of analytes, as demonstrated by the successful extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soil samples with minimal sample preparation and no need for filtration or centrifugation.
Implementation Method 1
The porous membrane bag has an average pore size in a range of 50-150 nm
Implementation Method 2
extracting an analyte from the solid sample to produce an extract within the organic solvent
Implementation Method 3
This method involves sonicating the solid sample and an organic solvent in a vial
Data Source
AI summary
A method for extracting an analyte from a solid sample is described. The sample is sealed in a porous membrane bag, which is sonicated in an organic solvent. An extract of the analyte forms in the bag and diffuses into the organic solvent. The organic solvent containing the extract may then be concentrated and analyzed for an analyte with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The method does not the use of a solid sorbent material, and does not require a step of centrifuging or filtering.