Enhancing the Sensitivity of Full Evaporation Technique Using Multiple Headspace Extraction Analysis

This article reports on the development of a new full evaporation (FE) headspace technique based on multiple headspace extraction (MHE). Using multiple headspace extraction procedures, the sample volume used in the headspace can be dramatically increased, thereby significantly enhancing the sensitivity. The technique was applied to the quantification of ethanol. The results showed that up to 0.2 mL of ethanol solution can be used in full evaporation HS-GC analysis by adding multiple headspace extraction procedures. The sensitivity for ethanol content was ten times higher than that in conventional full evaporation HS-GC measurement without using multiple headspace extraction procedures. The present MHE-FE headspace analytical technique is accurate and automated and has great potential for the application in determining volatile analytes in aqueous samples.