Application of Solid-Phase Microextraction in Analytical Toxicology

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) found its place among the first miniaturized sample preparation techniques capable of analyzing a wide range of compounds from different complex matrices. SPME is a technique where polymeric organic coating over fused silica fibre is immersed in an aqueous sample, and with the aid of agitation, mass transfer of analytes takes place from the sample phase to the extractant phase. The analytes of interest adsorbed on the fibre can be directly injected into sophisticated analytical instruments. No solvent is required from sample preparation to instrumentation analysis; therefore, SPME is regarded as a solvent-free extraction technique. SPME has been widely applied for the analysis of various classes of compounds, such as pesticides, drugs of abuse, cannabinoids, cocaine, amphetamines, volatile organic compounds, and small biological molecules. In this chapter, we will discuss different modes of operation of SPME, the significance of the coating material, factors that can influence SPME efficiency, and applications of SPME in analytical toxicology.