The Thin Film Solid Phase Micro Extraction (TF-SPME) is an extension of the conventional SPME, whereby TF-SPME is more sensitive than the standard SPME due to its larger surface area and the larger phase volume, both of which give rise to an improved analyte yield.
The film consists of a 20 mm x 4.8 mm carbon mesh sheet impregnated with a sorptive phase.
This can be used in both headspace and immersion mode. In headspace mode, the film is suspended above a solid or liquid sample in a closed vial, while in immersion mode, it is inserted directly into a liquid sample. In both cases, the sample is stirred using a stir bar.
If the stir bar is replaced by a GERSTEL Twister, the Twister will ensure additional PDMS phase volume and, in combination with the TF-SPME, will improve the extraction efficiency.
Once extraction has been performed, the Twister and the film are desorbed in one of the GERSTEL thermal desorption systems and the analytes are transferred to the GC column. Further sample preparation steps are not necessary.
TF-SPME can also be used in back extraction mode, thermolabile analytes can be extracted from the adsorbent phase using an appropriate solvent and injected into HPLC.
The TF-SPME can be partially automated using the MultiPurposeSampler MPS.
Benefits:
- Analytes from a liquid sample or from the headspace above the sample can be enriched quickly using only a small quantity of solvent
- The special phase geometry allows extraction times to be shorter and offers a high degree of sensitivity
- If you use a Twister as a stir bar and also desorb it, the extraction efficiency will be increased
- Once the analysis is complete, you can simply condition the adsorbent and reuse it many times
- The fact that it is produced from thin film makes the technology very robust
- Using the MultiPurposeSampler MPS, you can automate the desorption and the subsequent analysis.
Variants:
Various adsorbents are available for the enrichment of different analytes.