Complex matrices such as food typically require acid hydrolysis or pretreatment prior to solvent extraction. Our newly updated flow-through solvent extraction system allows extraction of matrices which require acidic or alkaline pretreatment. The ability to extract these pretreated matrices significantly expands the capabilities of accelerated solvent extraction technology.This Application Note describes methods used for extraction of total fat from food samples and determination of fat content by FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) analysis based on AOAC Official Method 996.06 section G.

EPA Method 608 uses liquid-liquid extraction by separatory funnel combined with gas chromatography and electron capture detector for the analysis of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in municipal and industrial waste water. Unlike the drinking water methods, however, analysis of waste waters and the streams they flow into, need to contend with particulates. The Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ AutoTrace™ 280 instrument has features that allow analysis of samples even with high amounts of suspended solids and is suitable for use in EPA Method 608.

The Accelerated Solvent Extraction system (ASE) uses elevated temperature and pressure to increase the efficiency of the extraction process. ASE automates and improves solvent extraction by significantly decreasing solvent consumption and extraction time. This application note describes the use of the ASE system for solvent extraction of five marker compounds from herbal preparations followed by analysis by HPLC. The results are compared to traditional pharmacopoeia extraction methods.

The following compounds are listed by UNEP to be POPS: • Pesticides: Aldrin, Chlordane, DDT, Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Mirex, and Toxaphene • Industrial chemicals: Hexachlorobenzene, and PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) • Chemical by-products (Dioxins): Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD and PCDF) This application note describes methods and results for extraction of the POPs listed above, with tables comparing ASE to traditional extraction methods.

This Application Note reports on the use of a coupled ASE-ASPEC system as an automated extraction and extract manipulation device for the determination of dianthrones in St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum). The results using the coupled system are compared to those obtained using a traditional sonication procedure followed by manual SPE cleanup.