Mixed-mode ion-exchange polymeric sorbents in environmental analysis.

When determining contaminants from environmental samples, sample treatment plays an important role. Among the different extraction techniques available, solid-phase extraction (SPE) has been commonly used for liquid samples, as well as for solid samples after an extraction technique amenable for solids. The broad applicability of SPE is attributed to the availability of different sorbents. Among these sorbents, the mixed-mode ion-exchange polymeric ones have been widely exploited since they suitably combine both capacity (to concentrate the compounds) and selectivity (to clean-up the interferences from complex matrices). This review overviews the application of mixed-mode ion-exchange polymeric sorbents in environmental field when water and solid samples are analyzed. The sample analyzed, the compounds determined, the type of mixed-mode sorbent selected, the approach used and the SPE protocol applied are comprehensively discussed through different examples. This review intends to summarize the role of mixed-mode ion-exchange polymeric sorbents in the environmental field.