Modification and Evaluation of Non‐Polar Sorbents for Solid‐Phase Extraction

Abstract

Modification of packings for solid‐phase extraction through high‐frequency low‐temperature plasma treatment is a new method to obtain a wide variety of sorbents. This method is still in the process of investigation and application. In this study, several commercial sorbents have been modified in high‐frequency low‐temperature plasma with the mixed hydrogen/benzene system. The solvation parameter model is used to characterize the sorption properties of commercially available and plasma treated sorbents for solid‐phase extraction. Chromatographic test mixtures from the literature were used to probe hydrophobicity, free silanol interactions and shape selectivity of the sorbents. The physical and retention properties of the plasma treated sorbents indicate their suitability to be used in solid‐phase extraction. Some suggestions concerning the possible practical application of the newly obtained sorbents have been made.

Keywords:

• Bonded phases
• plasma modification
• solid‐phase extraction
• sorbents