SPME Arrow

Importance of Topic

The advancement of Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME) Arrow technology has greatly impacted sample preparation workflows by offering a fully solvent-free extraction and pre-concentration step compatible with GC-MS. By enlarging the sorbent phase and optimizing fiber geometry, SPME Arrow delivers enhanced sensitivity, reduced extraction time, and improved robustness, addressing critical needs for ultra-trace analysis in diverse matrices.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note presents the design and performance of the Thermo Scientific SPME Arrow system, integrated with the TriPlus RSH autosampler and Heatex Stirrer, to demonstrate significant gains in analytical sensitivity and laboratory productivity compared to classical SPME fibers.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The optimized SPME Arrow approach encompasses four key steps: incubation at controlled temperature and agitation, cycloid-based extraction, thermal desorption into the GC injector, and fiber conditioning to prevent carry-over.

• Thermo Scientific SPME Arrow fibers (100 µm and 250 µm PDMS coatings)
• Thermo Scientific TriPlus RSH Robotic Sample Handling autosampler
• Heatex Stirrer module for precise, cycloid mixing
• Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) system

Main Results and Discussion

Compared to classic 100 µm SPME fibers, the 100 µm SPME Arrow achieves equivalent analyte uptake in half the time, while the 250 µm Arrow demonstrates up to ten-fold higher sensitivity due to its larger sorbent volume. In direct immersion analysis of 16 regulated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in drinking water, the 250 µm Arrow delivered the highest peak areas, enabling detection limits down to 0.1–1.0 ppt under optimized conditions.

Benefits and Practical Applications

Key advantages of the SPME Arrow technology include:

• Enhanced trace-level detection for environmental contaminants (pesticides, phenols, BTEX, PAHs) in water and soil
• Robust aroma and flavor profiling in food and beverage analysis (wine, packaging off-flavors)
• Clinical and forensic investigations requiring ultra-trace biogenic or xenobiotic analysis
• Flexible sampling modes: headspace, direct immersion, and on-site gas sampling

Future Trends and Potential Uses

Ongoing developments in sorbent chemistries and automation aim to expand SPME Arrow applications to more polar compounds, bioanalytical targets, and real-time field monitoring. Integration with high-resolution mass spectrometry and on-fiber derivatization strategies will further boost selectivity and throughput.

Conclusion

The SPME Arrow system, combined with automated TriPlus RSH sample handling and precise Heatex Stirrer control, represents a significant advancement for GC-MS workflows, delivering superior sensitivity, faster extraction, and increased robustness for routine and ultra-trace analyses across multiple industries.