Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME)

SPME operation

1. Locate the sample into the vial, seal by a proper septum
   
2. Heat the vial to a desired extraction temperature, wait for equilibration
3. Introduce fiber assembly into the vial to the headspace above sample (for VOCs) or directly to sample (for NVOCs)
4. Expose the fiber and wait during a desired extraction time
5. Retract the fiber and remove from vial
6. Introduce fiber assembly into the heated inlet port of gas chromatograph
7. Expose the fiber and wait during a desired desorption time

---

Advantages of SPME:

• Simple
• Fast
• Inexpensive (one fiber > 500 analyses, only a vial with a septum are needed for a single analysis)
• Solventless
• Only volatiles are extracted from headspace (less GC inlet maintenance)
• Easily automated using CTC Combi-PAL, Gerstel MPS, Thermo Tri-Plus or HTA HT280T autosamplers
• "Green" method (very low environmental impact)

Applications of SPME:

• Environmental (air, water, soil)
• Food and Agriculture
• Medicine
• Forensics

Achievable detection limits

• Depends on fiber affinity to analyte and matrix effect
• For very hydrophobic compounds (log Kow > 4): 1 ppt
• For polar compounds (log Kow < 0): 1 ppb

Optimized parameters

• Sample to headspace volumes ratio
• Fiber coating type
• Extraction temperature
• Extraction time
• Amount of salt and other additives
• pH
• Desorption temperature
• Desorption time

Application of SPME in the lab

• Screening and quantification of transformation products of rocket fuel unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine in air, water and soil
• Screening and quantification of volatile organic contaminants in air, water and soil
• Screening and quantification of volatile organic contaminants in alcoholic beverages and foodstuff

Course of interactive lectures on solid-phase microextraction

If you wish to master SPME, please follow the course of interactive lectures being developed by the laboratory.
The course includes the following lectures:

1. Introduction to SPME (in English and Russian)
2. Quantification using SPME (in English and Russian)
3. Development and optimization of analytical methods based on SPME (under development)
4. Analysis of gaseous samples using SPME (under development)
5. Analysis of solid samples using SPME (under development)
6. Analysis of liquid samples using SPME (under development)
7. Vacuum-assisted SPME (under development)