Neutral analytes can be extracted by solvent gradient!

In collaboration with scientists from the University of Valencia, we have challenged a fundamental assumption in three-phase liquid membrane extraction (LME): that extraction across the membrane must be driven by ionization. We demonstrate that weakly acidic compounds can instead be extracted as neutral species using a solvent gradient created by a DMSO-water acceptor phase, eliminating the need for highly alkaline conditions. The study provides new insight into mass-transfer mechanisms in LME, broadens the range of compounds amenable to extraction, and opens new opportunities for mild, efficient sample preparation of complex biological samples...

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