Solvent bar micro-extraction: Improving hollow fiber liquid phase micro-extraction applicability in the determination of Ni in seawater samples.

During the last decade, hollow fiber liquid phase micro-extraction (HF-LPME) has become an attractive alternative in sample treatment for the analysis of trace metals in seawater. If compared with other similar methodologies, its main advantages are associated to a higher stability of the organic solution contained into the pores of the fiber, which acts as a lipophilic membrane during the extraction process. However there are some remaining problems that makes its use difficult, mostly related to the need of increasing the rate of analysis and improving portability.