The invention of fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) has begun a new era in analytical sample preparation by ingeniously combining two competing sample preparation techniques, solid phase extraction (SPE) and solid phase microextraction (SPME) into a single sample preparation technology platform. The integrated system, FPSE utilizes a flexible, yet active fabric (cellulose, polyester, and fiberglass) substrate to host a thin layer of sol-gel derived high performance extracting sorbents. The engineered selectivity of the sol-gel sorbents by design to extend the highest possible affinity towards the analytes and the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of the fabric substrate synergistically complement to the net polarity of the fabric phase sorptive extraction membrane and consequently, determine its extraction efficiency. The sponge-like porous architecture of the sol-gel extraction sorbent and the inherent permeability of the fabric substrate create an extraction membrane that mimics a solid phase extraction disk and allows permeating aqueous sample matrix through its body, leading to rapid sorbent-analyte interaction and subsequent successful retention of the analyte(s) onto the extraction membrane. The flexibility of the FPSE membrane permits direct insertion into the sample container for analyte extraction without any matrix cleaning, and thus minimizes the number of transfer containers used in the sample preparation process. The sol-gel coating technology allows utilization of typical functional ligands commonly used in solid phase extraction such as C4/C8/C18 as well as polymers used in solid phase microextraction such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/polyethylene glycol (PEG). Unlike SPE and SPME, FPSE can be performed either in equilibrium extraction mode (as in SPME) or in exhaustive extraction mode (as in SPE). In addition, sol-gel coated sorbents demonstrate superior thermal, solvent and pH stability (1-13) compared to their conventional counterparts. Due to these and other attributes, FPSE has gained considerable popularity in a short period since its inception and has highlighted numerous unique applications in a wide variety of samples including food, urine, blood, wastewater and air.
In the current talk, the analytical and bioanalytical data pertaining to some new and fascinating applications of FPSE will be presented.