Abstract
Thirty years since the invention and public disclosure of solid phase microextraction (SPME), the technology continues evolving and inspiring several other green extraction technologies amenable for the collection of small molecules present in complex matrices. In this manuscript, we review the fundamental and operational aspects of a novel SPME geometry that can be used to “hunt” target molecules in complex matrices: the SPME Arrow. In addition, a series of applications in environmental, food, cannabis and forensic analysis are succinctly covered. Finally, special emphasis is placed on novel interfaces to analytical instrumentation, as well as recent developments in coating materials for the SPME Arrow.
Highlights
Solid phase microextraction (SPME) is a concept that embraces an array of technologies, or devices, with several common features: First, all SPME technologies comprise a minute amount of extraction phase or sorbent material.This sorbent is typically adhered to a solid substrate, and said substrate can take multiple geometries [1]
A SPME device can carry out multiple steps of the analytical workflow such as analyte collection, sample preparation, analyte transportation, and analyte transfer into an analytical instrument (e.g., when thermal desorption is used on gas chromatography (GC)) [4]
Additional phase thickness deviations may be observed when looking at the other phases (e.g., 75/85 μm of carbon on the traditional SPME fiber compared to 120 μm of carbon on the SPME Arrow)
Summary
Solid phase microextraction (SPME) is a concept that embraces an array of technologies, or devices, with several common features:. Even though the SPME patent did not thwart academia/industry from conducting research on SPME devices and extraction phases [10,11,12], it categorically prevented corporations from commercializing improved versions of the “traditional” fiber (e.g., enhancements to the substrate to make a more robust technology). The expiration of intellectual property a few years ago enabled commercial vendors to offer the “traditional” SPME fibers, but to mechanically and chemically enhance versions of this technology. An example of these enhancements includes the first large volume SPME fiber developed by CTC Analytics AG for GC applications, known as the SPME. The focus of the current review article is to summarize the fundamental and operational aspects of SPME Arrows, as well as recent developments and future directions [17,18]
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