On-line coupling of extraction with gas chromatography

A recent trend in the development of analytical methodologies is the integration of the sample preparation step directly with the chromatographic system. In integrated on-line systems, extraction, clean-up, separation and detection are connected with each other and the whole analytical procedure takes place in a closed, usually automated system. In this review, a critical overview of the principles and benefits of on-line coupling of extraction with gas chromatography is presented. Techniques suitable for the extraction and analysis of various types of compounds in both solid and liquid samples are presented. The potential of on-line techniques is discussed and illustrated with selected examples.