Solid‐phase microextraction: a powerful sample preparation tool prior to mass spectrometric analysis

Abstract

Sample preparation is an essential step in analysis, greatly influencing the reliability and accuracy of resulted the time and cost of analysis. Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME) is a very simple and efficient, solventless sample preparation method, invented by Pawliszyn in 1989. SPME has been widely used in different fields of analytical chemistry since its first applications to environmental and food analysis and is ideally suited for coupling with mass spectrometry (MS). All steps of the conventional liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) such as extraction, concentration, (derivatization) and transfer to the chromatograph are integrated into one step and one device, considerably simplifying the sample preparation procedure. It uses a fused-silica fibre that is coated on the outside with an appropriate stationary phase. The analytes in the sample are directly extracted to the fibre coating. The SPME technique can be routinely used in combination with gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis and places no restriction on MS. SPME reduces the time necessary for sample preparation, decreases purchase and disposal costs of solvents and can improve detection limits. The SPME technique is ideally suited for MS applications, combining a simple and efficient sample preparation with versatile and sensitive detection. This review summarizes analytical characteristics and variants of the SPME technique and its applications in combination with MS.

Headspace‐solid‐phase microextraction preconcentration of phenols, indoles and on‐fibre derivatised volatile fatty acids in liquid and gas samples from cow slurries

“…In the case of time, four immersion periods (15,30,45, 60 min) were studied using a 85 lm PA fibre that had been previously used by Pan et al [7]. Larger chromatographic peak areas for VFAs were obtained the longer the fibre was immersed in the PDAM solution, as can be seen in Fig.…”

“…Once the desorption period was over, the fibre was baked in a hot auxiliary injection port for 15 min at the conditioning temperature of each fibre in order to minimise blank problems [29,30].…”

Volatile components and sensory characteristics of Thai traditional fermented shrimp pastes during fermentation periods

“…Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a potential sample preparation technique because it is easy to use, inexpensive and compatible with a range of analytical instruments. Moreover, it is simplicity, speed, solvent-free, high sensitivity, small sample volume, relatively low cost and simple automation (Vas and Vékey 2004). Reports on the application of SPME for volatile compounds analysis in various fermented foods include fish miso (Giri et al 2010), dry-fermented sausages (Marco et al 2004) and vegetarian soybean kapi (Wittanalai et al 2011), but fermented shrimp paste has not been revealed.…”

Factors affecting solid phase microextraction (SPME) to concentrate the odorants of Chinese white salted noodles for GC–MS analysis

“…The adsorbates were then analysed with GC and GC-MS. 9,10 Recently, this technique has been adopted to access the volatile constituents in rice. [11][12][13] This study utilized the SPME technique plus GC and GC-MS to survey the flavour and odorants of CWSN, including the optimum adsorption fibre, adsorption time and temperature, with an aim to expand the noodle market by carefully controlling pleasant tastes and flavours.…”