SPME Fiber Research Articles

Thermal desorption comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry for vapour phase mainstream tobacco smoke analysis

A thermal desorption comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TD-GC×GC-TOFMS) method has been developed for the analysis of mainstream tobacco smoke (MTS) vapour phase (VP). The selection process of the sample introduction approach involved comparing the results obtained from three different approaches: a) use of gas sampling bag followed by SPME (Tedlar®-SPME), b) gas sampling bag followed by TD (Tedlar®-TD), and c) sampling directly on TD sorbents (Direct-TD). Six different SPME fibers and six different TD sorbent beds were evaluated for the extraction capacities in terms of total number of peaks and related intensities or peak areas. The best results were obtained for the Direct-TD approach using Tenax TA/Carbograph1TD/Carboxen1003 sorbent tubes. The optimisation of TD tube desorption parameters was carried out using a face-centered central composite experimental design and resulted in the use of the Tenax TA/Carbograph 1TD/Carboxen 1003 sorbent with a 7.5min desorption time, a 60mL/min tube desorption flow, and a 250°C tube desorption temperature. The optimised method was applied to the separation of MTS-VP constituents, with 665 analytes detected. The method precision ranged from 1% to 15% for over 99% of identified peak areas and from 0% to 3% and 0% to 1% for both first (1tR) and second (2tR) dimension retention times, respectively. The method was applied to the analyses of two cigarette types differing in their filter construction. Principal component analysis (PCA) allowed a clear differentiation of the studied cigarette types (PC1 describing 94% of the explained variance). Supervised Fisher ratio analysis permitted the identification of compounds responsible for the chemical differences between the two sample types. A set of 91 most relevant compounds was selected by applying a Fisher ratio cut-off approach and most of them were selectively removed by one of the cigarette filter types.

Application of Amine and Phosphotungstic Acid Groups as a Novel Bifunctional Fiber Coating in SPME-HPLC of Volatile Phenols in Water

The utilization of a bifunctional amine and H3PW12O40 (PW12) as a direct solid-phase microextraction (D-SPME) coating was investigated for the first time. The fiber was synthesized using positively charged 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as the crosslinking agent, and provided sites for the immobilization of PW12. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the synthetic compound. This new fiber was developed to determine some chlorophenols [4-chlorophenol (4-CPh), 2,3-dichlorophenol (2,3-DCPh), and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCPh)] via SPME-HPLC. Using the experimental design method, the adsorption and desorption factors of the fiber—including ionic strength and adsorption and desorption times—for the three chlorophenols were systematically investigated by SPME-HPLC-UV. In the concentration range 50–5000 µg L−1, the calibration curves were linear for the analytes and the limits of detection varied from 0.3 to 2.5 µg L−1. The single-fiber repeatability and fiber-to-fiber reproducibility were in the ranges 4.8–6.4 and 10.2–12.1%, respectively. The application of the fiber to environmental water samples spiked at 70 µg L−1 with the chlorophenols yielded recoveries in the range 88.80–92.88%. Advantages of this novel bifunctional-coated SPME fiber include its increased extraction efficiency for chlorophenols and its long lifetime (it was used for >70 cycles of D-SPME-HPLC operation without showing any appreciable reduction in extraction performance).

Headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled to comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the analysis of aerosol from tobacco heating product

A method involving headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS) was developed and optimised to elucidate the volatile composition of the particulate phase fraction of aerosol produced by tobacco heating products (THPs). Three SPME fiber types were studied in terms of extraction capacity and precision measurements. Divinylbenzene polydimethylsiloxane appeared as the most efficient coating for these measurements. A central composite design of experiment was utilised for the optimization of the extraction conditions. Qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of the headspace above THP aerosol condensate was carried out using optimised extraction conditions. Semi-quantitative analyses of detected constituents were performed by assuming that their relative response factors to the closest internal standard (itR) were equal to 1. Using deconvoluted mass spectral data (library similarity and reverse match >750) and linear retention indices (match window of ±15 index units), 205 peaks were assigned to individual compounds, 82 of which (including 43 substances previously reported to be present in tobacco) have not been reported previously in tobacco aerosol. The major volatile fraction of the headspace contained ketones, alcohols, aldehydes, alicyclic hydrocarbons alkenes, and alkanes. The method was further applied to compare the volatiles from the particulate phase of aerosol composition of THP with that of reference cigarette smoke and showed that the THP produced a less complex chemical mixture. This new method showed good efficiency and precision for the peak areas and peak numbers from the volatile fraction of aerosol particulate phase for both THP and reference cigarettes.

Determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene in field and laboratory by means of cold fiber SPME equipped with thermoelectric cooler and GC/FID method

Abstract A simple and effective cooling device based on a thermoelectric cooler was applied to cool the SPME fiber. The device was used for quantitative extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons in the air. Several factors such as coating temperature, extraction temperature and relative humidity in the laboratory setting were optimized. Comparison of the results between the cold fiber SPME (CF-SPME) and NIOSH 1501 method on standard test atmosphere indicated a satisfactory agreement. The CF-SPME and SPME method were also compared. The results revealed that CF-SPME has the most appropriate outcome for the extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons from the ambient air. The cold fiber SPME technique showed good results for several validation parameters. Under the optimized conditions, the limits of detection (LOD) and the limits of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.00019 to 0.00033 and 0.0006 to 0.001 ng ml−1, respectively. The intra-day relative standard deviation (RSD) showed ranging from 4.8 to 10.5%.

A platinized stainless steel fiber with in-situ coated polyaniline/polypyrrole/graphene oxide nanocomposite sorbent for headspace solid-phase microextraction of aliphatic aldehydes in rice samples.

The surface of a stainless steel fiber was made larger, porous and cohesive by platinizing for tight attachment of its coating. Then it was coated by a polyaniline/polypyrrole/graphene oxide (PANI/PP/GO) nanocomposite film using electrochemical polymerization. The prepared PANI/PP/GO fiber was used for headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) of linear aliphatic aldehydes in rice samples followed by GC-FID determination. To achieve the highest extraction efficiency, various experimental parameters including extraction time and temperature, matrix modifier and desorption condition were studied. The linear calibration curves were obtained over the range of 0.05-20 μg g-1 (R2 > 0.99) for C4 -C11 aldehydes. The limits of detection were found to be in the range of 0.01-0.04 μg g-1 . RSD values were calculated to be <7.4 and 10.7% for intra- and inter-day, respectively. The superiority of the prepared nanocomposite SPME fiber was established by comparison of its results with those obtained by polydimethylsiloxane, carbowax-divinylbenzene, divinylbenzene-carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane and polyacrylate commercial ones. Finally, the nanocomposite fiber was used to extract and determine linear aliphatic aldehydes in 18 rice samples.

Oxidative stress in asthmatic and non-asthmatic adolescent swimmers-A breathomics approach.

To investigate the effect of a swimming training session on oxidative stress markers of asthmatic compared to non-asthmatic elite swimmers using exhaled breath (EB) metabolomics. Elite swimmers annually screened in our department (n=27) were invited and those who agreed to participate (n=20, of which 9 with asthma) had EB collected (Tedlar® bags) before and after a swimming training session. SPME fiber (DVB/CAR/PDMS) was used to extract EB metabolites followed by a multidimensional gas chromatography analysis (GC×GC-ToFMS). Dataset comprises eight metabolites end products of lipid peroxidation: five aliphatic alkanes (nonane, 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane, decane, dodecane, and tetradecane) and three aldehydes (nonanal, decanal, and dodecanal). To assess exercise impact on lipid peroxidation markers, data were analyzed using principle component analysis (PCA), which was run on the original data set and on the data set constructed using differences in the metabolite total areas before and after exercise session. Heatmap representation revealed that metabolites content decreased after exercise, both for control and asthma groups; however, the greater decrease was observed for controls. Asthmatics and controls did not form separated clusters; however, control swimmers demonstrated a more varied response to the exercise being dispersed along all score plot. In well-trained athletes, swimming is associated with a decrease in oxidative stress markers independently of the presence of asthma, although a more pronounced decrease was seen in controls.

Fabrication of polyaniline/silver composite coating as a dual-functional platform for microextraction and matrix-free laser desorption/ionization

Polyaniline/silver (PANI/Ag) composites were prepared with a one-step synthesis method, and fabricated into solid-phase microextraction fiber coatings through three different means, i.e. in situ growth, gluing and chemical bonding. This work explored the utility of the as-fabricated PANI/Ag SPME fibers as dual-functional platforms for microextraction and matrix-free laser desorption/ionization (LDI) of the target analyte. The results showed that after incorporating Ag into the PANI polymer, the LDI efficiency was improved by over two times, which was 92.8% the LDI efficiency of the commercial LDI plate. In addition, the in situ grown fiber coatings were observed the most sensitive as dual platforms for the analysis of bifenthrin. The signal intensity was increased over twenty times by using in situ grown fiber, comparing to direct analysis with commercial LDI plate, which were attributed to the excellent extraction ability of PANI backbone, as well as the high LDI efficiency of the PANI/Ag composites. Low detection limit (lower than 10ngL−1) and good fiber-to-fiber repeatability (relative standard deviation 11.0%, n=3) were obtained by using the in situ grown coating for the analysis of bifenthrin, and bifenthrin in real water samples was successfully analyzed. The work successfully coupled SPME with matrix-free LDI, which greatly simplified the analytical process and improved the analytical sensitivity.

A poly-dopamine based metal-organic framework coating of the type PDA-MIL-53(Fe) for ultrasound-assisted solid-phase microextraction of polychlorinated biphenyls prior to their determination by GC-MS

The authors describe an ultrasonic-assisted headspace method for solid phase micro-extraction (UA-HS-SPME) of 7 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with codes PCB28, PCB52, PCB101, PCB118, PCB138, PCB153 and PCB180. The coating is based on a poly-dopamine metal-organic framework [PDA-MIL-53(Fe)] on a stainless steel wire. The coating can be prepared and evenly deposited on the stainless fiber by dipping the PDA fiber into a solution of MIL-53(Fe). The assay is also environmentally friendly because water is used as the solvent. The effects of extraction time, addition of salts, pH value and power of ultrasonic power were optimized. The coating is found to possess a high selectivity and adsorption capacity for PCBs compared to commercial SPME fibers such as the divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane fibers. Following desorption, the PCBs were quantified by GC-MS. The detection limits are between 50 and 90 pg⋅g−1 of PCBs in soil. The fibers can be easily prepared, and the batch-to-batch reproducibility (RDS) is <10% (for n = 6). The fibers are inexpensive, re-usable and can be easily manipulated, and particularly well suited for screening polychlorinated biphenyls in soil.

Identification of strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa‘Rubygem’) volatiles using various SPME fibres by GC/MS

Identification of strawberry (<i>Fragaria</i>×<i>ananassa</i>‘Rubygem’) volatiles using various SPME fibres by GC/MS

Analysis of exhaled breath from cigarette smokers using CMV-GC/MS

The aim of this research was to investigate the potential of a novel preconcentration device, capillary micro-extraction of volatiles (CMV), for the application of breath analysis. The CMV offers dynamic sampling of volatile to semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by the simple coupling of an adapter to a GC inlet for GC/MS analysis, in comparison to the expensive thermal desorption units needed for sorbent tubes. It additionally offers an increased surface area over a single SPME fiber. The CMV was used to sample and extract 108 compounds from the breath of 11 self-reported cigarette smokers and 7 non-smokers. Twelve (12) compounds were determined to be statistically significant between the groups. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) were used to distinguish the groups, resulting in 100% correct classification of all non-smokers. In some cases, nicotine was not detected in smokers and therefore some of those smokers were confused with the non-smokers. Nicotine was detected in the breath of 64% of all cigarette smokers with an average mass of 143±31pg from the approximate 5-liter breath sample collected within 1h after smoking. The successful use of the CMV sampler for preconcentration of breath to distinguish between smokers and non-smokers serves as a proof of concept for future applications of the CMV for detection of marijuana smokers’ breath for impaired driver management.

Environmental and biological determination of acrolein using new cold fiber solid phase microextraction with gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

Acrolein is a pollutant released daily to the indoor environment from different sources. The present study reports the development of a simple and sensitive cold fiber solid phase microextraction sampling method for the determination of acrolein in exhaled air and indoor air by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine was used as derivatizing agent supported on a 65-μm polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene SPME fiber. An acrolein permeation tube at 326.25ngmin-1 rate was used to generate gaseous standards. The method shows good results for main validation parameters. The limits of detection and quantification were 2.88 and 5.08μgm-3, respectively, for indoor analysis; and 2.40 and 3.79μgm-3, respectively, for exhaled air analysis. The precision showed standard deviation ranges from 6.00 to 8.00% for intra-assay analyses and from 8.00 to 10.00% for inter-assay analyses. After optimizing the conditions, analyses of real samples were performed on indoor environments contaminated by cigarette smoke, or heated oil, including pastry shops, restaurants, churros stands, and closed parking cars located in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Acrolein breaths of exposed people were also determined. A good Pearson correlation coefficient (r = 0.901) was observed between the concentration of acrolein in indoor air and exhaled air, allowing to propose acrolein breath as environmental exposure biomarker. Graphical Abstract Cold fiber solid phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Composition of volatile aromatic compounds and minerals of tarhana enriched with cherry laurel (Laurocerasus officinalis).

Different concentrations of cherry laurel pulp (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) were used to produce tarhana samples. Volatile aromatic compounds and minor mineral content were investigated. Volatile aromatic compounds were analyzed by using GC-MS with SPME fiber and minor mineral values were evaluated with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. The statistical analysis showed that addition of pulp affected volatile aromatic compounds and minor mineral content significantly. Thirty five volatile aromatic compounds were found in tarhana samples. The octanoic acid from acids, benzaldehyde (CAS) phenylmethanal from aldehydes, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one from ketones, octadecane (CAS) n-octadecane form terpenes, ethyl caprylate from esters and benzenemethanol (CAS) benzyl alcohol from alcohols had the highest percentage of volatile aromatic compounds. Tarhana samples were rich source of Mn, Cu and Fe content.

Vacuum-assisted headspace-solid phase microextraction for determining volatile free fatty acids and phenols. Investigations on the effect of pressure on competitive adsorption phenomena in a multicomponent system

This work proposes a new vacuum headspace solid-phase microextraction (Vac-HSSPME) method combined to gas chromatography-flame ionization detection for the determination of free fatty acids (FFAs) and phenols. All target analytes of the multicomponent solution were volatiles but their low Henry's Law constants rendered them amenable to Vac-HSSPME. The ability of a new and easy to construct Vac-HSSPME sampler to maintain low-pressure conditions for extended sampling times was concurrently demonstrated. Vac-HSSPME and regular HSSPME methods were independently optimized and the results were compared at all times. The performances of four commercial SPME fibers and two polymeric ionic liquid (PIL)-based SPME fibers were evaluated and the best overall results were obtained with the adsorbent-type CAR/PDMS fiber. For the concentrations used here, competitive displacement became more intense for the smaller and more volatile analytes of the multi-component solution when lowering the sampling pressure. The extraction time profiles showed that Vac-HSSPME had a dramatic positive effect on extraction kinetics. The local maxima of adsorbed analytes recorded with Vac-HSSPME occurred faster, but were always lower than that with regular HSSPME due to the faster analyte-loading from the multicomponent solution. Increasing the sampling temperature during Vac-HSSPME reduced the extraction efficiency of smaller analytes due to the enhancement in water molecule collisions with the fiber. This effect was not recorded for the larger phenolic compounds. Based on the optimum values selected, Vac-HSSPME required a shorter extraction time and milder sampling conditions than regular HSSPME: 20 min and 35 °C for Vac-HSSPME versus 40 min and 45 °C for regular HSSPME. The performance of the optimized Vac-HSSPME and regular HSSPME procedures were assessed and Vac-HSSPME method proved to be more sensitive, with lower limits of detection (from 0.14 to 13 μg L−1), and better intra-day precision (relative standard deviations values < 10% at the lowest spiked level) than regular HSSPME for almost all target analytes. The proposed Vac-HSSPME method was successfully applied to quantify FFAs and phenols in milk and milk derivatives samples.

A Comparision between Polyaniline Coated Fibers and Polyaniline-CNT Fibers for Solid Phase Microextraction of Phenols from Aqueous Sample

Polyaniline coated fibers and polyaniline-CNT fibers for solid phase microextraction of phenols from aqueous sample were compared. In the present work we established a method for preparation of polyanilie-CNT coated platinum wire (SPME Fiber) and investigated their capability to extract phenol from aqueous samples.

Volatile Composition of Sweet Passion Fruit (Passiflora alata Curtis)

Passiflora alata Curtis (sweet passion fruit) is a native species grown in South America, especially in Brazil. In addition to being aromatic, its pulp is sweeter and less acidic compared to traditional commercial passion fruits, and this makes it highly appreciated for fresh consumption. Its aroma is also very distinct from other passion fruit species but it has not been characterized so far. In the present study, for the first time, the volatile composition of sweet passion fruit was investigated. Two genotypes (BGM004 and BGM163) were evaluated and two SPME fibers were tested. Forty-five volatile compounds were properly identified and semiquantified. The carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS) fiber presented better performance regarding both number and concentration of compounds. Esters and terpenes were the main volatile classes. Methyl butanoate, methyl (E)-2-butenoate, ethyl butanoate, ethyl (E)-2-butenoate, methyl 2-hexenoate, and ethyl-2-hexenoate were among major compounds. As complementary results, sugar content, titratable acidity, pH, and total soluble solids were evaluated.

Studies on the floral anatomy and scent chemistry of titan arum(Amorphophallus titanum, Araceae)

Amorphophallus titanum (Becc.) Becc. ex Arcang., the titan arum, is popularly known for having the world's largest unbranched inflorescence. The enormous flower-like inflorescence is also called 'corpse flower' or 'carrion flower' due to the characteristic putrid odor of the bloom. The present study illustrates detailed anatomy and micromorphology of the inflorescence by light and scanning electron microscopy. Collenchyma was found to be the major tissue providing mechanical support in the spathe. The appendix consisted of a dense parenchymatous cortex enclosing a hollow center traversed by loose networks of aerenchyma. Anthocyanin pigments found in the epidermises and cortical tissues imparted a purple color to various parts of the inflorescence. Two types of raphide crystals, Psychotria type and Lemna type, and cluster crystals were observed. The volatile compounds from different parts of the inflorescence were collected by a modified headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) technique and the samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major volatile compounds found by this method included isovaleric acid (21.6%), butyric acid (17.0%), benzyl alcohol (16.2%), and γ-butyrolactone (12.1%) in the appendix; g-butyrolactone (27.0%), tetradecane (13.4%), and 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone (10.5%) in the male flowers; tetradecane (19.9%), 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone (13.0%), and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (10.6%) in the female flowers; and butyl acetate (44.5%) and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (12.2%) in the spathe. Use of different types of SPME fibers and multiple analytical methods is necessary in order to obtain a complete picture of the volatile composition of titan arum blooms.

Evaluation of the volatile profile of Tuber liyuanum by HS-SPME with GC-MS

The volatile components of Tuber liyuanum were determined by HS-SPME with GC-MS for the first time. The effects of different fibre coating, extraction time, extraction temperature and sample amount were studied to get optimal extraction conditions. The optimal conditions were SPME fibre of Carboxen/PDMS, extraction time of 40 min, extraction temperature of 80 °C, sample amount of 2 g. Under these conditions 57 compounds in volatile of T. liyuanum were detected with a resemblance percentage above 80%. Aldehydes and aromatics were the main chemical families identified. The contribution of 3-Octanone(11.67%), phenylethyl alcohol (10.60%), isopentana (9.29%) and methylbutana (8.06%) for the total volatile profile were more significant in T. liyuanum than other compounds.

Determination of phthalate esters in drinking water and edible vegetable oil samples by headspace solid phase microextraction using graphene/polyvinylchloride nanocomposite coated fiber coupled to gas chromatography-flame ionization detector

In the current study, a graphene/polyvinylchloride nanocomposite was successfully coated on a stainless steel substrate by a simple dip coating process and used as a novel headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) fiber for the extraction of phthalate esters (PEs) from drinking water and edible vegetable oil samples. The prepared SPME fibers exhibited high extractability for PEs (due to the dominant role of π-π stacking interactions and hydrophobic effects) yielding good sensitivity and precision when followed by a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The optimization strategy of the extraction process was carried out using the response surface method based on a central composite design. The developed method gave a low limit of detection (0.06–0.08μgL−1) and good linearity (0.2–100μgL−1) for the determination of the PEs under the optimized conditions (extraction temperature, 70±1°C; extraction time, 35min; salt concentration, 30% w/v; stirring rate, 900rpm; desorption temperature, 230°C; and desorption time, 4min) whereas the repeatability and fiber-to-fiber reproducibility were in the range 6.1–7.8% and 8.9–10.2%, respectively. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of PEs in drinking water and edible oil samples with good recoveries (87–112%) and satisfactory precisions (RSDs<8.3%), indicating the absence of matrix effects in the proposed HS-SPME method.

Gas Chromatographic-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Volatiles Obtained by HS-SPME-GC-MS Technique from Stachys lavandulifolia and Evaluation for Biological Activity: A Review

In this work, the volatile profile from the aerial parts of S. lavandulifolia using the HS-SPME-GC-MS technique along with phytochemical evaluations involving antioxidant and antibacterial activities of its methanolic extract have been screened. Volatile fractions were trapped on an SPME fiber and immediately transferred onto the injection port of a GC-MS instrument. The methanolic extract from the aerial parts of Stachys lavandulifolia was obtained and its antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The antibacterial activity of the extract was also assessed using disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The major volatile compounds were found to be myrcene (41.6 %), α-pinene (33.0 %), β-phellandrene (12.2 %), β-pinene (5.1 %), sabinene (1.3 %) and α-phellandrene (1.3 %) altogether involving more than 94 % of the profile accounting for high frequency of monoterpene hydrocarbons. S. lavandulifolia extract exhibited a rather desirable activity with an IC50 of 185.5±1.8 μg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values varied over the ranges 6.25-12.5 mg/mL and 12.5-25 mg/mL, respectively. Our study revealed that methanolic extracts of S. lavandulifolia showed strong and promising broad-spectrum activities against all the standard strains as well as clinical isolates. Our findings imply the potential use of the proposed HS-SPME-GC-MS technique in characterization of the volatile fractions of plants. In addition, this study highlighted promising biological activities of the extract of S. lavandulifolia.

Disposable Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-Coated Fused Silica Optical Fibers for Sampling Pheromones of Moths.

In the past decades, the sex pheromone composition in female moths has been analyzed by different methods, ranging from volatile collections to gland extractions, which all have some disadvantage: volatile collections can generally only be conducted on (small) groups of females to detect the minor pheromone compounds, whereas gland extractions are destructive. Direct-contact SPME overcomes some of these disadvantages, but is expensive, the SPME fiber coating can be damaged due to repeated usage, and samples need to be analyzed relatively quickly after sampling. In this study, we assessed the suitability of cheap and disposable fused silica optical fibers coated with 100 μm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) by sampling the pheromone of two noctuid moths, Heliothis virescens and Heliothis subflexa. By rubbing the disposable PDMS fibers over the pheromone glands of females that had called for at least 15 minutes and subsequently extracting the PDMS fibers in hexane, we collected all known pheromone compounds, and we found a strong positive correlation for most pheromone compounds between the disposable PDMS fiber rubs and the corresponding gland extracts of the same females. When comparing this method to volatile collections and the corresponding gland extracts, we generally found comparable percentages between the three techniques, with some differences that likely stem from the chemical properties of the individual pheromone compounds. Hexane extraction of cheap, disposable, PDMS coated fused silica optical fibers allows for sampling large quantities of individual females in a short time, eliminates the need for immediate sample analysis, and enables to use the same sample for multiple chemical analyses.