Solid phase extraction and thermal desorption of acetophenone and m-cresol using superheated water or steam as the sole eluent

Steam or superheated water can be used to efficiently elute moderately polar and non-polar compounds from polymeric sorbents at temperatures up to 220 °C without degradation of the analyte. Acetophenone and m-cresol, as model compounds, have been concentrated from dilute aqueous solutions, using solid phase extraction (SPE) traps packed with polystyrene–divinylbenzene (PS–DVB) or poly(divinylbenzene-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone). The technique offers low cost, ease of use and an environmentally friendly eluent.