Preconcentration of organic micropollutants on solid phase cartridges (SPE)
Solid phase extraction for micropollutant sampling

Of the many solid-phase extraction systems available (columns, cartridges, disks, etc.) [2] , cartridges remain the most widely used configuration. Introduced in the early 1980s, they generally take the form of a polypropylene syringe in which a few hundred milligrams of solid-phase particles (average diameter between 30 and 60 µm) are held by two polyethylene sinterings. Various systems are currently on the market (ASPEC by Gilson, AutoTrace by Zymark, etc.), which automate the following extraction steps:

• phase conditioning ;

• sample percolation ;

• sample rinsing and purification, if required;

• elution of compounds of interest by an appropriate solvent.