Solid phase extraction

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Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is a separation method that uses a solid phase and a liquid phase to isolate one, or one type, of analyte from a solution. SPE is based on the preferential affinity of desired or undesired solutes for the solid material.

SPE is usually used to "clean up" a sample before using a chromatographic or other analytical method to quantitate the amount of analyte(s) in the sample. The sorbent must be conditioned and activated with the appropriate solvent in order for the aqueous sample to be seperated, the sorbent is often made up of a C8 compound.