Miniaturized methods of sample preparation

Abstract The term miniaturization is a key word in the modern world, used in many areas of our lives, including analytical chemistry and the process of sample preparation. In this field of research activity, miniaturization will meet the challenges of modern analytics and novel research areas as well as the need to overcome the problems of classical methods of sample preparation. Yet, modern miniaturized methods of sample preparation are not only the scaled-down extraction systems capable of processing very small sample volumes using (if any) significantly reduced volumes of organic solvents, they are also very clever and well thought-out scientific solutions guaranteeing the highest possible sensitivity, selectivity, and precision in the shortest possible time and at the lowest overall costs. This chapter presents a series of miniaturized analytical methods for preparing environmental, plant, food, pharmaceutical, and biological samples.