Oasis PRiME HLB Cartridges Now Available in Syringe Compatible Plus Format

Importance of the Topic

Reliable cleanup of complex food matrices is essential in analytical chemistry to ensure accurate detection and quantification of contaminants such as pesticides and antibiotic residues. Traditional cleanup procedures often require multiple steps, centrifugation, or specialized vacuum manifolds, which add time and complexity. Introducing a versatile cartridge format compatible with simple syringe operation can streamline workflows, reduce laboratory overhead, and maintain high cleanup performance.

Objectives and Overview of the Study

The primary goal was to evaluate Oasis PRiME HLB cartridges in the new “Plus” format, which features luer fittings compatible with syringes or vacuum manifolds. The study compared cleanup efficiency, analyte recovery, and ease of use of Plus Light (100 mg) and Plus Short (335 mg) cartridges against the traditional Vac style (60 mg and 150 mg) in QuEChERS extracts of avocado and spinach.

Methodology and Used Instrumentation

Sample Preparation and Cleanup:

• QuEChERS extraction performed on homogenized avocado (15 g) or spinach (15 g) with acetic acid/acetonitrile and AEAC salts.
• After centrifugation, supernatant aliquots were passed through Oasis PRiME HLB cartridges without prior conditioning.
• Plus formats were operated manually via syringe at a dropwise flow; Vac formats used a vacuum manifold.

Instrumentation:

• UPLC-PDA (ACQUITY UPLC I-Class FTN with CORTECS UPLC T3 column) at 450 nm for chlorophyll monitoring.
• UPLC-MS/MS (Xevo TQ-S) for phospholipid removal assessment in avocado extracts.
• APGC-MS/MS (Agilent 7890 GC with Restek Rxi-5ms column, Xevo TQ-S) for pesticide analysis under positive ionization MRM mode.

Main Results and Discussion

Cleanup performance was equivalent across all cartridge formats:

• Phospholipid removal exceeded 95% in avocado extracts for Plus Light, Plus Short, and Vac formats.
• Chlorophyll removal from spinach extracts surpassed 99% in all cases.
• Pesticide recoveries of representative compounds (e.g., cyhalothrin isomers, pyriproxyfen) were statistically indistinguishable between syringe-driven Plus cartridges and vacuum-driven Vac cartridges.

This demonstrates that the new Plus formats maintain high cleanup efficiency while offering greater operational flexibility.

Practical Benefits and Applications

• No specialized manifold is required for manual syringe operation, simplifying laboratory setup.
• Reduced processing time by eliminating centrifugation and dispersive cleanup steps.
• Scalable cartridge sizes allow tailored cleanups based on extract volume needs.
• Applicable to a wide range of food matrices and chemical classes, supporting routine QA/QC and research workflows.

Future Trends and Applications

Advances may include integration of syringe-compatible SPE cartridges into automated or semi-automated platforms, expansion of sorbent chemistries for emerging contaminants, and miniaturization for low-volume or on-site testing. Sustainable cartridge designs with reduced plastic waste and reusable housings could further enhance green analytical practices.

Conclusion

Oasis PRiME HLB Plus cartridges offer a robust and adaptable alternative to traditional vacuum-style SPE formats. They achieve equivalent cleanup and recovery performance for complex food matrices while simplifying workflows through manual syringe operation. This flexibility benefits laboratories by reducing equipment requirements and streamlining sample preparation for high-throughput analyses.

References

1. Waters Application Note 720005816EN (2016). Oasis PRiME HLB Cartridge for Rapid and Effective Cleanup of Avocado Prior to APGC-MS/MS.
2. Waters Technology Brief 720005994EN (2017). Oasis PRiME HLB Cartridges for Rapid and Effective Removal of Chlorophyll from QuEChERS Spinach Extracts.