Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Feb 19.
Published in final edited form as: J Agric Food Chem. 2020 Feb 7;68(7):1910–1934. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b04525

Table 1.

Comparison of Sample Extraction Techniques

advantages disadvantages
Solvent Extraction
1 relatively robust extraction procedure that allows for efficient transfer of analytes into the extraction solvent 1 time consuming; long procedure for sample extraction, with extraction times between 8 and 48 h
2 applicable to complex sample matrices, like seafood 2 uses a lot of solvent, of which most is toxic, and, thus, generates a lot of hazardous waste
3 can be directly applied to unfiltered samples 3 has a low preconcentration factor
Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE)
1 simple, faster, and high-precision extraction compared to conventional solvent extraction methods 1 because it uses CO2 as an extractant, the scope of application is limited to nonpolar analytes
2 uses CO2, an environmentally friendly extractant, that reduces the need for consumption of and exposure to toxic organic solvents; CO2 is non-toxic, non-flammable, and relatively cheap 2 application in arsenic speciation is rare as a result of low extraction efficiency for highly polar or ionic compounds, which form the majority of the organoarsenicals
3 low viscosity and diffusion coefficient, contributing to rapid mass transfer of solutions and enhanced interactions at the molecular level, which favors the solubilization process 3 poor selectivity, which requires advanced optimization
4 capable of extracting thermolabile species, owing to the use of CO2 as an extractant, which has a low critical temperature that allows for extractions under mild conditions, and, thus, suitable for speciation analysis
Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE)
1 analyte- and matrix-independent technique 1 extraction efficiency asymptotically reaches a maximum, at which point the quantitative nature of extraction becomes matrix-dependent
2 provides cleaner extracts than conventional extraction procedures 2 no exact volume control of solvent used for extraction is provided
3 applicable for extraction of analytes in complex matrices 3 only fixed and relatively high-volume extraction cells are commercially available
4 relatively short sample extraction time 4 limited application in speciation analysis
Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE)
1 highly efficient extraction method for a wide range of sample matrices; solubility and not solvent diffusion is the only critical parameter to obtain good recovery 1 extraction medium, microwave power, and exposure time must be carefully optimized to avoid species losses or transformation
2 capable of hyphenation to chromatographic and spectroanalytical techniques 2 requires polar solvents
3 suitable for extraction of thermolabile species
4 supports derivatization reactions
5 fast and effective extraction method
6 environmentally friendly because of reduced solvent waste
Ultrasound Probe Sonication (UPS)
1 simple extraction procedure with fewer operations and, thus, less prone to contamination 1 being a batch system, the solvent cannot be renewed during the process; therefore, its efficiency is a function of the partitioning coefficient
2 cavitation increases the polarity of the system, including extractants, analytes, and matrices, which increases the extraction efficiency 2 the need for filtration and rinsing after extraction lengthens the overall duration of the process and increases solvent consumption and the risk of losses or contamination
3 allows for addition of a co-extractant to further increase the polarity of the liquid phase 3 particle size is a critical factor
4 allows for the extraction of thermolabile analytes, which are altered when using conventional extraction techniques 4 less robust because the extraction efficiency can be altered as the surface of the ultrasonic probe ages
5 allows for extraction of a wide variety of compounds with various polarities and, therefore, can be used with any solvent 5 lower precision, resulting from the use of an ultrasonic bath, in which energy distribution is not uniform and ultrasound energy is wasted
6 generally an expeditious, inexpensive, and effective alternative to other extraction techniques, with the possibility of full automation 6 not reproducible
7 safer for acid digestion because it does not require high pressure or temperature
Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion (MSPD)
1 mild extraction technique that maintains species integrity
2 suitable for speciation analysis
3 allows for simultaneous extraction and cleanup of samples
4 high capability for organic analyte extraction from complex matrices