Design of a Novel Apparatus to Enrich Analytes via a Diffuse-Evaporation Process for HPLC-FTIR Analysis

HPLC-FTIR analysis using a novel apparatus with CuO powder as an interface is reported. This apparatus initially serves as a reservoir for the dilute eluted solution of HPLC, and then acts as an enrichment device by combining diffusion and evaporation processes. It can be used not only to effectively remove the mobile phase of the eluted solution, but also to enrich the analyte within a tiny spatially resolved separated sample spot whose size is suitable for obtaining spectra using an FTIR microscope. An experimental demonstration using benzamide and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate shows that this apparatus is readily applicable in the analysis of real-world mixture samples.