Traditional sample preparation often requires more than 50% of the analyst's time and consumes large quantities of diverse hazardous organic solvents. As a result of the Environmental Protection Agency's voluntary organic solvent reduction program and the 100% phaseout of chlorofluorocarbons (by Jan. 1, 1996), interest in methods that use benign solvating media such as supercritical fluids is increasing. The early 1980s saw great interest in supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) as its usefulness was demonstrated. In the 1990s analytical supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has emerged as a major technique. Because a universal extraction strategy for all analytes and matrices will never be feasible, an awareness of various extraction strategies, given the wide diversity of real-world matrices, is vital for the future success of analytical SFE. Last month, McNally reviewed recent theoretical and technological advances in SFE. This article will provide a sense of the strategies necessary for successful analytical SFE.
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