During the past decade, miniaturized and solvent-less sample preparation techniques based on sorptive extraction, e.g. solid phase micro-extraction (SPME), have proven to be simple, fast and environmentally friendly alternatives to LLE while maintaining or even improving sensitivity. In 1999, a new extraction technique known as stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) using stir bars coated with 50-300 μl of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was developed by Baltussen et al. [1]. The advantage of SBSE is a higher enrichment factor combined with the application range and extraction mechanism of SPME.
The aim of this paper was to apply SBSE coupled to thermal desorption (TD)-GC-MS to determine ultratrace level (sub-ng/L to ng/L) compounds in aqueous samples.
