Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Sample Preparation for Analysis: Overview

Sample Preparation for Analysis: Overview

Sample preparation is an essential step in the analytical process. It involves preparing a sample so that it can be analyzed accurately. The goal is to extract the analyte, the substance you want to measure, from the sample while removing any components that may interfere with the analysis. Sample preparation techniques vary depending on the physical state of the sample.
Bulk or large solid samples are typically reduced in size using grinding, crushing, or milling techniques to increase the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Workers at Risk of Silicosis-Ongoing Overexposure and Lack of Medical Surveillance.

JAMA internal medicine·2023

Same author

Capturing high-resolution digital images for use in forensic document examination.

Journal of forensic sciences·2023

Same author

Intra-workday fluctuations of airborne contaminant concentration and the time-weighted average.

Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene·2022

Same author

Accuracy, reproducibility, and repeatability of forensic footwear examiner decisions.

Forensic science international·2022

Same author

Accuracy and reliability of forensic handwriting comparisons.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2022

Same author

An objective inter-comparison of trash mark constellations generated by manual and automated detection methods.

Forensic science international·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Paired with Total Vaporization Solid-Phase Microextraction as a Forensic Tool

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Paired with Total Vaporization Solid-Phase Microextraction as a Forensic Tool

Published on: May 25, 2021

Directly heated high surface area solid phase microextraction sampler for rapid field forensic analyses.

Scott A Ramsey¹, Robert V Mustacich, Philip A Smith

¹Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit, FBI Academy, Building 12, Quantico, Virginia 22135, USA.

Analytical Chemistry

|October 3, 2009

Summary

A novel high-surface area solid phase microextraction (HSA-SPME) sampler enables rapid, sensitive detection of airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This advanced sampler significantly improves upon existing methods for field analysis.

More Related Videos

Capturing Actively Produced Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds from Human-Associated Samples with Vacuum-Assisted Sorbent Extraction

Capturing Actively Produced Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds from Human-Associated Samples with Vacuum-Assisted Sorbent Extraction

Published on: June 1, 2022

Sampling and Analysis of Animal Scent Signals

Sampling and Analysis of Animal Scent Signals

Published on: February 13, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Paired with Total Vaporization Solid-Phase Microextraction as a Forensic Tool

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Paired with Total Vaporization Solid-Phase Microextraction as a Forensic Tool

Published on: May 25, 2021

Capturing Actively Produced Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds from Human-Associated Samples with Vacuum-Assisted Sorbent Extraction

Capturing Actively Produced Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds from Human-Associated Samples with Vacuum-Assisted Sorbent Extraction

Published on: June 1, 2022

Sampling and Analysis of Animal Scent Signals

Sampling and Analysis of Animal Scent Signals

Published on: February 13, 2021

Area of Science:

Analytical Chemistry
Environmental Science

Background:

Traditional methods for analyzing airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) often lack the sensitivity and speed required for rapid field deployment.
Existing solid phase microextraction (SPME) techniques face limitations in sampling capacity and efficiency, particularly at high air velocities.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and evaluate a high-surface area solid phase microextraction (HSA-SPME) sampler for efficient dynamic sampling of airborne analytes.
To assess the performance of the HSA-SPME sampler for the detection of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) in complex gas mixtures.

Main Methods:

A novel HSA-SPME device was designed using a carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (carboxen/PDMS) coated wire in an annular space for increased surface area.
The sampler facilitated dynamic sampling at high air velocities, followed by thermal desorption and analysis using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).
Trace-level BTEX compounds were quantified using stepwise calibration and single ion monitoring GC/MS.

Main Results:

The HSA-SPME sampler demonstrated high efficiency for capturing BTEX compounds from a TO-14 gas mixture.
Detection limits for BTEX analytes ranged from 0.2-6.9 parts per trillion by volume (pptr(v)).
A significant improvement in sensitivity (several orders of magnitude) was observed compared to standard commercial SPME fibers.

Conclusions:

The HSA-SPME sampler offers a promising solution for rapid and sensitive on-site analysis of airborne VOCs.
Its design allows for efficient analyte uptake and low-power thermal desorption, suitable for portable GC/MS instruments.
The technology holds potential for applications in forensics, public safety, and military intelligence requiring immediate threat detection.