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- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2022 4:08 pm
As part of an analytical method I am testing, I will be extracting analytes (at ultra-trace levels which have been deposited on a solid matrix) using various extraction solvents. These will be recovered, evaporated to dryness and will then be reconstituted in my analytical solvent ready for GC-MS.
Because my analytes are at very low levels, I would like to minimise reconstitution volume and wonder if anyone had any experience of small volume samples. I would like to go down to around 10µL (if that is practicable) and have bought a bunch of vial inserts (the ones with plastic feet) with a retention volume of 1µL which I guess gives me the best chance.
With this in mind, I would be really grateful if you might consider the following questions:
1. Is 10µL a feasible volume? Has anyone gone lower successfully?
2. Will the needle depth require adjusting given that the plastic springs push the inserts up fairly high?
3. Obviously auto-sampler 'sample wash' (where the sample is drawn up to remove residual solvent from the syringe) is not feasible... Should I also get rid of the auto-sampler bubble removal step (where the sample is drawn up and pumped) too?
I recognise that issue 3 is far from ideal and that my RSD will suffer, but on the plus side, the method is qualitative...
Many thanks for your opinions on this.
Kind Regards
TD2