The QSight® SP50 online solid phase extraction (SPE) module facilitates sample clean-up, enrichment and concentration, obviating the need for elaborate and time-consuming sample preparation procedures. SP50 offers easy and efficient switching between traditional, direct injection UHPLC analyses and fully automated online SPE with sample pre-concentration, allowing for increased throughput and cost savings.
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At the heart of the system is the QSight SP50 automated sample handler, a high precision UHPLC autosampler, designed to not only accurately introduce samples from a variety of vial formats, but to also coordinate the flow switching required for online SPE. Complimenting this, the QSight SP50 High Pressure Dispenser™ (HPD) is responsible for performing the accurate delivery of conditioning, wash and load solvents at controlled flow rates, at pressures of up to 300 bar. The HPD allows for the selection of up to 9 solvents, allowing one to create the optimal sample preparation method. Complete the system with the QSight LX50 Solvent Delivery module, and the QSight LX50 column temperature module to create the ultimate high-performance UHPLC - SPE system.
Finally, all instrument control and online SPE coordination are fully performed via the Simplicity™ 3Q software - providing unprecedented ease of use, regardless of the analysis being performed.
Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) are an emerging environmental concern, and include human and veterinary prescription and over-the-counter medications, sunscreens, lotions, soaps, and insect repellants. These commonly encountered products can enter the environment through various sources, including municipal wastewater, polluting ground water, surface water, and even drinking water. The analytical challenge associated with PPCP testing is the wide variety of chemical classes/ types that are typically present at parts per trillion (ng/L) concentrations in drinking water. The automated approach described in this application note allows for significant and efficient analyte concentration, obviating the need for elaborate and time-consuming sample preparation procedures, and thus improving productivity, reducing solvent usage and laboratory waste.
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi, and are capable of causing disease and death in both humans and animals. Sample preparation is a critical step in the successful analysis of mycotoxins in food matrices. The “dilute and shoot” approach is a quick and easy way to introduce the sample into the LC/MS/MS analysis. However, due to the complexity of food matrices, this approach will often result in irreproducible matrix effects. To overcome these problems and improve sensitivity, this application note details the use of online solid phase extraction (SPE), coupled to an LC/MS/MS system for sample enrichment.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been found to have harmful effects on the health of both humans and wildlife. Of these EDCs, endogenous estrogens, such as estriol, 17ß-estriadiol, and estrone are of particular interest due to their potency/physiological activity even at very low levels. These hormones are particularly challenging to monitor, as concentrations are typically expected to be in the low ng/mL (ppb) to low pg/mL (ppt) range.
To improve sensitivity, this work utilizes the addition of on-line solid phase extraction (SPE) coupled to an LC/MS/MS system for sample enrichment and quantitation. This approach allows for significant/efficient analyte concentration, obviating the need for elaborate and time-consuming sample preparation procedures. Due to enrichment, compared to other methods, large sample volumes (= ½ liter) are no longer needed to reach part per trillion levels for estrogen monitoring in river water.
