Solid Phase Extraction (SPE
Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) is a broad term to describe the digital (step wise) separation technique where liquids contact sorbents, and organic compounds or ions in the liquid adsorb to the functional group(s) of the sorbent.
- Sorbents are chosen to either retain the components of interest, or selectively release them into a strong liquid phase
- SPE manufacturers commonly pack these sorbents into cartridges, well plates, dispersive tubes or other convenient devices
- SPE is “digital” (step-wise) – Mobile phases are chosen so analytes are 100% adsorbed on the stationary phase, or 100% in the mobile phase
- SPE is used for extraction, concentration and purification
- Sorbents are available in many forms: Silica based, Polymeric, Alumina, and Carbon(s)
- For all fields of application, silica based sorbents are the most common sorbents used
- Silica based sorbents give the greatest number of stationary phase choices for extraction
- Silica based sorbents are very rugged (Stable over a wide pH and solvent range)
- Silica based sorbents are the most cost effective
Common SPE Applications: (Environmental, Pharmaceutical and Forensic)
- Pharmaceutical compounds and metabolites in biological fluids
- Drugs of abuse in biological fluids
- Environmental pollutants in drinking and waste water
- Pesticides and antibiotics in food/agricultural matrices
- Desalting of proteins and peptides
- Fractionation of lipids
- Water and fat soluble vitamins
Related Topic: QuEChERS Sample Preparation - It's Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe
SPE Method
SPE Steps:
- Prepare sample
- Condition sorbents
- Apply (load) sample
- Wash interferences
- Elute analyte
- Concentrate
- Derivatize
Keys to SPE success:
SPE Automation
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Increased productivity - skilled technicians are focused more on tasks than manual labour shaking
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Increased reproducibility - virtually eliminates technician to technician technique variability
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Cost savings - decreases solvent usage, thereby decreasing waste disposal costs
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Increased safety - technicians have less exposure to harmful solvents
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Meet the most stringent regulatory requirements
SPE Products
UCT SPE
- Solid phase extraction columns
- Clean Screen: for forensic applications.
- Clean-Up: for general sample prep
- Enviro-Clean: for environmental applications
- Styre Screen: polymeric columns for acids, neutrals and bases
- XtrackT: Gravity-flow SPE columns for viscous samples such as equine urine, post-mortem blood and tissues, amniotic fluid, and meconium.
- Buffer Pouches: 'Ready-to-use' phosphate and acetate buffer pouches. They are a convenient way to accurately preparing the necessary reagents, at the proper pH and concentration
- Manifolds
- Bulk Sorbents
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Horizon SPE Automation Systems
- SmartPrep™ Extractor - simplifies cartridge-based SPE
- DryVap™ Concentrator - removes water and concentrates samples through evaporation of the extraction solvent
- SPE-DEX 3000XL - extracts oil and grease from a wide range of aqueous samples
- SPE-DEX 4790 - SPE system capable of processing aqueous samples directly in their original container
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SPE Resources
UCT 2013 Solid Phase Extraction Environmental Catalogue
Click here to download the PDF
or contact our customer service team to request a copy of literature code UCT07