Set Your Sights on Superior Performance

• Rugged stainless steel construction ensures longer lifetimes.
• Faster extraction means higher sample throughput.
• Better sensitivity allows lower LODs.
• Choose format based on sampling technique:
• 1.1 mm sleeve, if only using headspace sampling.
• 1.5 mm wide sleeve, if using direct immersion sampling (works for headspace, too).

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) is a fast, automated sample preparation technology that reduces sample handling, extraction time, and solvent consumption, making it a popular choice in environmental, food, and clinical laboratories. However, traditional SPME fiber technology has some significant drawbacks, including poor mechanical stability and a small phase volume.

The Restek PAL SPME Arrow system (patent pending) is a revolutionary change in microextraction that combines exceptional robustness with faster extraction times and trace-level sensitivity (Table I). In contrast to traditional SPME fibers, SPME Arrows contain significantly more phase volume, which allows more target analyte to be extracted in less time. In addition, the stainless steel construction, unique Arrow tip, inner stabilizing rod, and outer sheath design fully protect the phase, minimizing both mechanical damage and analyte loss during sample transfer.

Table I: Comparing Restek PAL SPME Arrow to Traditional SPME Fiber (Headspace Technique)

On Target: Longer Lifetime

One of the main drawbacks to SPME fibers is their fragility. Even during routine use, they are easily damaged and can be irreparably broken (Figure 1). Busy labs will benefit greatly from the reliability of rugged Restek PAL SPME Arrow. The unique stainless steel Arrow design includes a robust inner stabilizing rod that resists bending and breakage, as well as an outer sheath that protects the phase coating and prevents both physical damage and analyte loss. Typically, SPME Arrows perform well for hundreds of extractions, lasting 2–3 times longer than traditional SPME fibers. In addition, the unique arrow-shaped tip pierces the septum cleanly and with little resistance, extending septum lifetime (Figure 2).

Which Restek PAL SPME Arrow is best for my application?

Restek PAL SPME Arrows are suitable for a wide range of analyte chemistries and sample matrices. They are suitable for manual injection and compatible with PAL3 autosamplers. Choose the best SPME Arrow for your application based on the properties of your target compounds. Note that a GC inlet conversion kit is required in order to use a Restek PAL SPME Arrow.

• Trace analysis in foodstuffs
• Drugs and pharmaceuticals
• Herbicides/pesticides
• Medical diagnostics
• Trace impurities in polymers and solid samples
• Solvent residues in raw materials
• Water analysis (organics in water)

On Target: Higher Sample Throughput

Restek PAL SPME Arrows provide much faster extraction times than traditional SPME fibers because Arrows have much more phase volume. As shown in Figure 3, the increased phase volume allows more target analyte to be extracted in just seconds using an Arrow than can be extracted from a traditional fiber. Being able to extract what you need in a fraction of the time means more samples can be analyzed per day, which improves lab efficiency and profitability. The example in Table II demonstrates a nearly 50% increase in productivity!

Table II: Analyze more samples per day with Restek PAL SPME Arrow.

On Target: Lower Detection Limits

Developing a new method or trying to improve the performance of an existing one? Restek PAL SPME Arrows have more phase volume, so they provide much greater sensitivity than traditional fibers. To demonstrate this, 82 volatile compounds were analyzed under three different headspace extraction time and extraction volume combinations. Results under all experimental conditions definitively show that Arrow outperforms traditional SPME fiber and provides much higher analyte responses (Table III and Figure 4).

Table III: Analyte response is much higher with SPME Arrow than with a traditional SPME fiber.

Turning to the emerging cannabis market and the triple-phase (DVB/Carbon WR/PDMS) Arrow, you can also expect significantly higher analyte responses with residual solvents and other classes of compound (Figure 5).