Use of Ionic Liquids in Microextraction Techniques

The combined use of microextraction techniques for sample preparation and ionic liquids (ILs) is of growing interest in analytical chemistry. This article focuses on the combinations described in this context, considering the added values of ILs that are exploited in the extraction procedures. With this purpose, after an overview of the characteristics of ILs and their impact on analytical science, the topic is contextualized by giving a general outlook of a variety of microextraction techniques described. The main body of the article is devoted to the detailed explanation of the different uses of ILs in solid-phase and liquid-phase microextraction modalities, including the description of the most relevant practical examples presented in the literature. Finally, some remarks are made about the prospects of ILs in this context.

Keywords: ionic liquids; sample preparation; microextraction techniques; solid-phase microextraction; liquid-phase microextraction; single-drop microextraction; hollow-fiber-based liquid-phase microextraction; dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction