Environmental Analysis

Environmental

Protection of our environment and our natural resources is crucial. Water, our most precious food, is also our most thoroughly controlled food. Whether it is drinking water, surface or waste water, the PAL System provides the tools and workflows for automated analysis of large sample series, even the continuous online sampling from water streams.

A common technique for the control of water quality is Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME). Using the SPME Arrow lowest levels of contaminants can be analyzed. Examples include geosmin and 3-MIB, as well as poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or pesticides.

Similar SPME applications are used for the quality control of beverages, beer brewing, or also various kind of spirits. In addition, the classical static headspace (HS) or dynamic headspace analysis are available for routine water analysis.

Environmental contaminants in water, soil or sediments like personal care products (PCPs), pesticides or hormones use either the QuEChERS extraction with micro-SPE cleanup (uSPE), or SPME Arrow techniques.

Workflow Solutions

Discover our and our partners ready-to-go workflows.

Compressed Gas Analysis

The Boreas is a robotic platform that can perform a high throughput analysis of compressed gas tanks, such as for SF6 purity testing. The PAL3 RSI based Boreas is integrated to a GC through a Chronos interface to enable the injection from the tanks directly to the analyzer.

Dissolved Gas in Oil

The Oleo is a robotic platform that can perform a high throughput analysis of dissolved gas in oil by headspace, such as permanent gases, methane, ethane, ethylene, etc. In addition to being the perfect solution to test the quality of insulating oil, the PAL3 RTC based Oleo is also integrated to the GC through a Chronos interface to enable the injection.

EU Water Framework Directive

Solvent free determination of 100 contaminants in surface Water by GC/MS meeting EU Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) requirements.

Illustration showing the chemical structure of glyphosate with a bee on a flower, representing analyzing of glyphosate and its impact.

Glyophosate

Complete workstation for the determination of glyphosate in food.

Gloved hand collecting a water sample from an algae-covered surface, illustrating environmental testing and H53 analysis.

H53

Measuring station for the fully automatic determination of the hydrocarbon index in water based on H53

Grilled sausages and vegetables on a barbecue, illustrating PAHs analysing in food stuff to assess contamination from grilling.

PAHs in foodstuff

Time saving and highly sensitive determination of PAHs

PAHs in Soil

The HAPEX is a robotic platform that can perform a soil sample preparation for extraction, identification and quantification of environmental or chemical contamination such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Gloved hand holding a test tube near apples and lab equipment, illustrating QuEChERS sample preparation in food testing.

µSPE Clean-up of QuEChERS Extracts

The µSPE clean-up of QuEChERS extracts for the analysis of pesticides and environmental contaminations is one example of how robotic instruments can alleviate the demands of sample processing faced by researchers.

VOCs in Soil

The Illo is a robotic platform that can perform a soil sample preparation for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) extraction, identification and quantification of environmentally or chemically contaminated material.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) leachates from cigarette butts into water
Keywords: Cigarette butts, PAHs leachate, naphtalene, fluorene, SPME Arrow
Environmental Pollution 259 (2020) 113916
Aerial drone as a carrier for miniaturized air sampling systems
Keywords: Aerial drone; Miniaturized air sampling systems; SPME Arrow; ITEX; Sampler; Sampling accessories; Air sampling
J Chromatogr A, 1597 (2019) 202-208 (OPEN ACCESS)
PAL SPME Arrow - evaluation of a novel solid-phase microextraction device for freely dissolved PAHs in water (OPEN ACCESS)
Keywords: PAL SPME Arrow, SPME, Solid-Phase Microextraction, PDMS, PAH, water
Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 2016, 408, 943-952
Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sediment by Pressure-Balanced Cold Fiber Solid Phase Microextraction
Keywords: pressure-balanced cold fiber SPME, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon, PAH, sediment
Anal. Chem.; 2016, 88 , pp 8936–8941
Solid phase microextraction Arrow for the sampling of volatile amines in wastewater and atmosphere
Keywords: SPME Arrow, Solid phase microextraction, Dimethylamine, Trimethylamine, Wastewater, Atmosphere
J. Chromatography A, 1426 (2015) 56-63
Optimization strategies of in-tube extraction (ITEX) methods (OPEN ACCESS)
Keywords: In-tube extraction, ITEX, ITEX DHS, method development, parameter optimization
Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 2015, 407, 6827-6838
Determination of Sub-Nanomolar Levels of Low Molecular Mass Thiols in Natural Waters by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry after Derivatization with p-(Hydroxymercuri) Benzoate and Online Preconcentration.
Keywords: online preconcentration, SPE, LC-ESI-MS/MS, thiols, derivatization
Anal Chem. 2015; 87 :1089-96. doi: 10.1021/ac503679y
Coupling of a Headspace Autosampler with a Programmed Temperature Vaporizer for Stable Carbon and Hydrogen Isotope Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds at Microgram per Liter Concentrations.
Keywords: GC/IRMS, compound-specific stable isotope analysis, hydron and carbon isotope ratio mass spectrometry, headspace sampling, BTEX, MTBE
Anal Chem. 2015 ; 87 :951-9. doi: 10.1021/ac503229e
Determination of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in small volumes of human blood by high-throughput on-line SPE-LVI-GC-HRMS
Keywords: On-line solid phase extraction, SPE, large volume injection, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, human blood, PCBs, polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides
J. Chrom. B (2014), 945-946, 217-224
Automated Dispersive Solid-Phase Extraction Using Dissolvable Fe304-Layered Double Hyroxide Core-Shell Microspheres as Sorbent
Keywords: Dispersive SPE, magnetic particles
Anal Chem. 2014; 86 11070-6
Automated dispersive liquide-liquide microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Keywords: Dispersive LLE, phtalate esters, GC-MS
Anal Chem. 2014;86 3743-9
On-line solide-phase extraction coupled to liquid chromatography tandem spectrometry optimized for the analysis of steroid hormones in urban waste waters
Keywords: Endocrine disrupting compounds, on-line SPE, LC-MS
Talanta 115 (2013) 349-360
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes as sorptive material for solventless in-tube microextraction (ITEX2)—a factorial design study
Keywords: Carbon nanotubes, in-tube microextraction, design of experiment GC-MS, VOCs, water samples
Anal Bioanal Chem (2013) 405:8387–8395
Sorbent Coated Glass Wool Fabric as a Thin Film Microextraction Device
Anal. Chem. 2012, 84, 8990−8995
Multiresidue analysis of 88 polar organic micropollutants in ground, surface and wastewater using online mixed-bed multilayer solid-phase extraction coupled to high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
J Chromatography A, 1268 (2012) 74– 83
In-Tube Extraction of Volatile Organic Compounds from Aqueous Samples: An Economical Alternative to Purge and Trap Enrichment
Anal. Chem. 2010, 82, 7641–7648
Determination of anti-inflammatory drugs in water samples, by in situ derivatization, solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Talanta. 2008 Mar 15; 75 (1): 111-5
Determination of volatile organic hydrocarbons in water samples by solid-phase dynamic extraction
Anal Bioanal Chem (2007) 387:2163–2174
Miniaturization and Automation of an Internally Cooled Coated Fiber Device
Anal. Chem. 2006, 78, 5222-5226
Fully automated online solid phase extraction coupled directly to liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry Quantification of sulfonamide antibiotics, neutral and acidic pesticides at low concentrations in surface waters
Journal of Chromatography A, 1097 (2005) 138–147
Full automation of derivatization-solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with a dual-arm system for the determination of organometallic compounds in aqueous samples
Phytochem. Anal. 2014, 25 (2), 161-9
Trace Determination of Macrolide and Sulfonamide Antimicrobials, a Human Sulfonamide Metabolite, and Trimethoprim in Wastewater Using Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Electrospray Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Anal. Chem. 2004, 76, 4756-64

Related Content

PFAS in Cosmetics -A Comparative Analysis of Sample Preparation Techniques for PFAS Analysis

Application Notes

PFAS in Cosmetics -A Comparative Analysis of Sample Preparation Techniques for PFAS Analysis

This application note explores a comparative study that tackles this challenge head-on by evaluating two powerful sample preparation techniques: Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) and Micro Solid Phase Extraction (µSPE) for analyzing eight key PFAS in mascara by Liquid Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS). The investigation revealed that the two methods offer complementary strengths. SPME proved more sensitive for water-soluble PFAS and offered a simpler, filtration-free workflow. In contrast, automated µSPE excelled for oil-soluble PFAS but required a sample filtration step.

Optimizing the Preconcentration of Volatile PFAS Precursors - A Comparative Study of SPME Geometries

Application Notes

Optimizing the Preconcentration of Volatile PFAS Precursors - A Comparative Study of SPME Geometries

This Application Note summarizes a study by Williams et al. (2025) that performs a comprehensive comparison of two Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) geometries: the traditional SPME Fiber and the robust SPME Arrow. The study systematically evaluates the impact of SPME geometry and extraction mode (Headspace vs. Direct Immersion) on extraction efficiency. The results provide a clear, data-driven basis for method development, showing how SPME configurations can be optimized for the specific physicochemical properties of different PFAS analytes.

ASMS 2025 - Fully automated implementation of EPA Method 1633 for LC-MS/MS analysis of PFAS in environmental samples using a customized robotic autosampler

Posters

ASMS 2025 - Fully automated implementation of EPA Method 1633 for LC-MS/MS analysis of PFAS in environmental samples using a customized robotic autosampler

Widespread use and persistence of PFAS has led to ubiquitous detection in water, soil, air, and living organisms.
US EPA Method 1633 is intended for analysis of PFAS in aqueous, solid and tissue samples using LCMS/ MS at part-per-trillion concentrations.
This method involves significant sample preparation and purification steps prior to instrumental analysis, leading to bottlenecks in sample processing.
We have developed a fully automated, online μSPE-LC-MS/MS workflow based on a customized LC TriPlus RSH SMART Advanced system for high-throughput analysis of PFAS in environmental samples following EPA Method 1633 guidelines

Characterization of the New PAL micro-SPE Cartridge for Pesticides Extract Clean-up

Posters

Characterization of the New PAL micro-SPE Cartridge for Pesticides Extract Clean-up

Since more than ten years micro-SPE (uSPE) emerged as a micromethod for sample preparation and clean-up in food safety, proteomics, forensic, environmental and analysis. Applications are wide-ranging and cover drugs, environmental contaminants, and, in particular, the QuEChERS extract cleanup in multiresidue pesticide analysis. The automation of the uSPE sample preparation steps led to the desired increase in sample throughput, unification of the used sorbent materials for food commodities, and the potential for the online hyphenation with GC/MS and LC/MS instrumentation.

Webinars

Advantages of automated and miniaturized uSPE clean-up in pesticides residues analysis

Recent developments in pesticides analysis extend the well-established methods to higher productivity and reliability while minimizing consumption and exposition to harmful chemicals. A workflow was developed that allows automatic preparation of calibration standards, automatic sample dilution, and automatic clean-up of sample extracts on one instrument, showing that miniaturized automated solutions are reducing errors, improving analytical consistency and protecting the environment in one convenient approach.

Presented by:

Thomi Preiswerk, Senior Account Manager, CTC Analytics AG

Gwen Lim , Specialist for automated sample preparation, CTC Analytics

Ederina Ninga, Postdoc, Research Group for Analytical Food Chemistry, Danish Technical University

Webinars

Advancing PFAS Analysis - Robotic Automation and Streamlined LC/MS Workflows

To support the scientific community and advance PFAS analysis we are proud to offer a webinar on this topic.

Key topics:

PFAS Fundamentals: Learn about the chemistry and significance of PFAS compounds.
Sample Preparation Challenges: Understand current hurdles, regulations and best practices in PFAS extraction and purification.
Automated LC/MS Workflows: Get an overview on automated workflows and see how PAL System integrates with LC/MS to optimize sample preparation and injection.
Deep Dive: Explore online SPE for PFAS analysis.

The Power of Micro Solid Phase Extraction

eBooks

The Power of Micro Solid Phase Extraction

This eBook explores the potential of uSPE to transform analytical workflows. It highlights the key benefits of uSPE, compares it with traditional techniques and examines its application across various industries. This resource provides a comprehensive guide for scientists and lab managers looking to optimize their sample preparation processes, achieve higher precision and embrace sustainable practices in analytical chemistry.

eBooks

Static and Dynamic Headspace Analysis

The PAL Compendium

Brochures

PAL3 Accessories & Smart Consumables

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