SPME Arrow© (patent pending) -Solid Phase Micro Extraction

CTC Analytics AG announced a Smart SPME Arrow. RFID technology allows tracking of sample IDs, traceability, usage history. For automation of SPME Arrow with the PAL RTC and PAL RSI a SPME Arrow Tool is available, as well as an Agitator Module for agitation/sample Enrichment at up to 200°C and a SPME Arrow Conditioning Module. The Smart SPME Arrow works with any PAL3, but is required with PAL3 Series II Systems (currently shipping).

SPME Arrow, like SPME, is a solvent-free extraction device. Its major advantages over its predecessor are that its sorption surface area is six times larger and that its phase volume is 20 times larger overall, which prevents the sorption of analytes from being maxed out as in traditional SPME. We call these limitations “competition effects.” They are commonly found whenever the analytes of interest are suppressed by a dominant matrix. Good examples of applications in which these effects arise are analyzing flavors in alcoholic beverages (or other matrices); testing for drugs of abuse and doping in serum, blood or urine; as well as for environmental pollutants such as PAH, pesticides and herbicides in water.

SPME Arrow has an outer diameter of 1.1 or 1.5mm, resulting in larger sorption phase surfaces and volumes compared to traditional SPME. The arrow-shaped tip, hence called SPME Arrow, allows smooth penetration into a vial and injector septa. The arrow design feature protects the sorptive material and minimizes the loss of analyte due to physical stress during transfer process.