Solid-phase microextraction

Abstract

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is often conceived as a radical departure from conventional sample preparation strategies, due to the fact that the goal is to extract only a portion of the target analyte according to the sorbent partitioning constant, contrarily to the exhaustive extraction in many other techniques. Because of that, many potential practitioners have initially avoided the technique due to the differences in method optimization between exhaustive and non-exhaustive extraction. This is particularly true among those who expect the technique to be an extension of solid-phase extraction (SPE). However, SPME is more closely aligned to techniques such as headspace extraction and membrane-based extraction techniques; consequently, strategies for method development in this line could be of better interpretation. A careful study of the presented extraction principles reveals that the processes are in fact universal among all extraction methods. In this chapter, fundamental aspects of extraction are reviewed, emphasizing those related to SPME method development. Besides, automation and high-throughput approaches are outlined, as well as strategies aiming to enhance the performance of traditional fiber approaches, including different geometries and alternative technologies. Lastly, selected applications covering diverse analyte classes as well as a wide variety of matrixes are discussed.