Hollow fiber membrane concentrator for on-line preconcentration

Solvent removal by membrane permeation is presented as a method for on-line preconcentration. Experiments were carried out to develop a one-step, on-line, concentration process using a microporous composite hydrophobic membrane, or a polar solvent-permeable Nafion membrane depending on the solvent. Both polar and non-polar hollow fiber membranes were found to be effective in concentrating trace analytes. A large increase in analyte enrichment factors was found for both concentrator modules. Enrichment factors as high as 18.9 were observed. Residence time and operating temperature were found to be important parameters. Several different model compounds were preconcentrated. Further, in a Nafion membrane (polar solvent-permeable), analyte interaction with membrane bound sulfonic acid residues resulted in the loss of reactive analytes such as atrazine (ATZ). All analytes were successfully concentrated and detected using a polypropylene–siloxane composite membrane system when hexane was used as the solvent.