Solid Phase Extraction Columns for Stable Analytical Standards
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The preparation and handling of analytical standards for toxic compounds like PAHs, PFAS, and others pose risks to analytical workers due to high concentrations and instability in light, oxygen, or solvents, making it challenging to ensure safety and stability during analysis.
Innovation Solution
The use of solid phase extraction media in column formats, such as pipette tip columns or magnetic beads, to adsorb and store standards, allowing for reduced handling of toxic materials, enhanced stability, and automated workflows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high concentration standard solutions are prepared for analytical analysis, then the volume of material needed for spiking into samples is reduced, but worker exposure to toxic materials increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful concentrated standard from liquid solution form and adsorbs it onto solid phase extraction media. This takes the toxic substance out of the liquid phase where it can be easily handled and dispersed, and immobilizes it on a solid support, reducing worker exposure while maintaining the ability to deliver precise quantities to samples
Solution Approach 2:
The solid phase extraction media acts as an intermediary between the concentrated standard and the sample. Instead of directly handling and spiking liquid standard solutions, the media serves as a carrier that can be safely handled and from which the standard is transferred to samples in a controlled manner, reducing direct worker exposure
2Ease of operation
If standards are prepared in liquid solution form, then they can be easily handled and applied, but their stability to light, oxygen, and solvents decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the standard from liquid solution to adsorbed state on solid media. This parameter change fundamentally alters the stability characteristics, making the standard resistant to degradation by light, oxygen, and solvents while maintaining ease of handling through the solid phase format
Solution Approach 2:
The standard is extracted from the unstable liquid solution environment and transferred to a stable adsorbed state on solid phase media. This extraction removes the standard from the chemical environment that causes degradation (solvents, oxygen contact) while preserving its analytical utility
3Duration of action of moving object
If conventional liquid standards are used, then immediate analysis can be performed, but decomposition or concentration change occurs over time
Solution Approach 1:
The standard is pre-adsorbed onto the solid phase media in known quantities during manufacturing. This preliminary action establishes the exact concentration on the media, eliminating the need for subsequent preparation steps that could introduce errors. The pre-prepared media can be stored indefinitely and used immediately when needed, ensuring both availability and reliability
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 significantly reduces worker exposure to toxic materials, enhances the stability of standards, and facilitates high-throughput automated analysis, minimizing waste and ensuring accurate quantification of trace compounds in complex matrices.
Implementation Method 1
The columns contain solid phase extraction resin materials that are suitable for adsorbing the particular type of analytical standard(s), compounds, or samples
Implementation Method 2
the PAHs are captured by solid phase extraction
Implementation Method 3
The standards are added to samples as a liquid solution of known volume containing known masses of the PAH
Data Source
AI summary
This invention employs solid phase extraction media and column methods to apply external and internal standards and compounds. Analytical standard or compounds including PFAS are adsorbed to a solid phase extraction media and are stored indefinitely. The standards or compounds remain stable on the solid phase extraction media without decomposing. The standards or compounds may be removed from the solid phase extraction media with an elution solvent or reagent.