Operation of a micro steam distillation—solvent extraction (SDE) device in two different modes, namely at reduced pressure and involving the concentration of the dynamic headspace resulting from purging the sample with an inert gas, was investigated. A notable advantage of the proposed micro SDE apparatus is that the use of extraction solvents denser or lighter than the sample solvent is feasible with only one configuration. The modified simplex method was used to improve the performance of the analytical procedure by optimization of several experimental conditions involved in the process.

Financial support for this work by the Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia (Project AL1 91/0621) is gratefully acknowledged. G.P.B. thanks the Comunidad de Madrid for a grant.

Peer reviewed