Particle loaded membranes

Abstract Polymeric membranes are extensively used in analytical chemistry due to their high surface-to-volume ratio which boosts the mass transference and enhances the kinetics of the extraction. There is a wide variety of commercial membranes that can be adapted (selecting their chemistry, shape, pore size, and thickness) to a given analytical problem. The versatility of these materials can be even broadening if particles (of micro or nanometric size) are loaded on them. These particles can provide the membrane with alternative interaction chemistry than that exhibited by the polymer itself and they can, especially when nanoparticles are used, introduce new properties. This chapter gives a general overview of the potential of particle-loaded membranes in solid phase (micro)extraction. The chapter is more focused on the potential of particle-loaded membranes (including information about their synthesis) than the specific applications to provide the readers with a vision on how these materials can be adapted to a given analytical problem.