Conducted by Ron E. Majors, Ph.D. Author of LCGC's popular features "Column Watch" and "Sample Prep Perspectives"

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is one of the more efficient, time-saving, and rapid sample preparation techniques in use today. It is replacing many liquid-liquid extraction protocols since it provides more versatility, can be more easily automated, uses less organic solvent, and doesn't form emulsions. Although the phases used in SPE are similar to those of HPLC, the operational aspects are quite different. In this audio seminar, the basics of SPE will be presented with enough information that you will be able to go to the laboratory and begin using the technique today.

This audio seminar CD will be conducted by Dr. Ron Majors. Over the last 35 years, Dr. Majors has been involved in instrumental research and development, applications, product marketing, and, most recently, in the areas of HPLC column and sample preparation development. He has written on chromatography columns (“Column Watch”) and sample preparation (“Sample Prep Perspectives) for LCGC Magazine for the past 24 years. His “What's New at Pittcon” articles are eagerly anticipated each year to give readers the highlights of new products and technologies that roll out at each year's Pittsburgh Conference. He has followed and been involved in sample preparation development for many years.

This audio seminar CD will cover these specific areas:

• Recent improvements in SPE
• Comparison of SPE with other extraction techniques
• Types of samples best suited to SPE
• Phases and chemistries
• Modern SPE formats and when to use them
• Equipment required
• Operational aspects
• Method development with selected applications
• Tips for successful application of SPE and sources of information

This audio seminar CD is presented by Dr. Ronald E. Majors, a worldwide expert on sample preparation and liquid chromatography technology. In this unique audio seminar CD format, lasting just one hour, Dr. Majors will provide information on SPE and discuss newer commercial products that you can use immediately to improve your sample preparation protocols.

A detailed outline and Dr. Majors' qualifications follow below.

Basic Solid-Phase Extraction (SPE)

Part I
• What is solid-phase extraction and where can it be applied?
  • Fundamental steps in the SPE experiment
  • Comparison to liquid-liquid extraction
  • Types of samples cleaned up by SPE
  • SPE vs. HPLC
  • Operation of SPE ("Digital chromatography")
  
  Part II
• SPE formats - Where to apply each of them
  • Cartridges - sizes and shapes
  • Disks - flow characteristics, supported
  • Pipette tips - miniaturization of SPE
  • 96-well plates - high throughput SPE
  • Related products such as protein precipitation plates ("crash plates")
  
  Part III
• Apparatus of SPE
  • Simple and cheap approach
  • Vacuum manifolds
  • Pressurized manifolds
  • Centrifugation
  • Manual SPE vs. SPE automation
  • Examples of automated systems
  
  Part IV
• Chemistry of SPE
  • Phases (e.g. silica-, bonded silica-, polymer-, carbon-based)
  • Reversed phase and ion exchange SPE
  • Mixed modes for selectivity enhancement
  • Specialty phases (e.g. drugs of abuse, biofluids, environmental, pharmaceutical)
  
  Part V
• SPE Method Development
  • Steps in method development
  • Variables to consider
  • How to optimize sample recovery
  • Method development flow chart
  • Examples of method development
    a.Triazine in soil, muscle tissue and corn oil
    b. Barbituates in serum
    c. Phenols and PAHs in water
    d. Drugs of abuse in urine
    
    
  • SPE tips for improving precision and recovery
  • A simple application you can do to illustrate concept - separation of food dye colors using water and alcohol (vodka)
  
  Part VI
• Sources of information
  • Review articles
  • Books
  • Other sources

Ron E. Majors, Ph.D.

Dr. Majors is most widely known as the author of LCGC Magazines popular monthly columns “Sample Prep Perspectives” and “Column Watch”. As the editor for this column for 23 years, he has contributed more than 250 installments of practical articles on chromatography columns and sample preparation techniques. In his 40 year career, he has also contributed to the development of HPLC instrumentation, sample prep robotics, supercritical fluid extraction and HPLC and GC columns and solid-phase extraction products. He has been presented several chromatography awards and has been the chairman of HPLC symposia, chairman of the ACS Subdivision on Chromatography and Separation Techniques, and has served on Analytical Chemistry's Instrumentation Advisory Board. For many years, he was an editor of Analytical Chemistry's Biennial Review on liquid chromatography

Dr. Majors is currently a Senior Chemist for Agilent Technologies Columns and Consumables Products in Wilmington, DE. He travels extensively around the world lecturing on column and sample prep technology. He has also presented many short courses and led workshops on solid-phase extraction.