University Chemistry ›› 2026, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (3): 297-306.doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202504078

• Survey of Chemistry • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Application of Solid-Phase Microextraction and Mass Spectrometry in Environmental Detection

Siwei Hou1, Yaxin Niu2, Guanglu Zhang1, Yanmei Yang1, Xu Wang1, Zhenzhen Chen1   

  1. 1 Key Laboratory of Molecular and NanoProbe of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China;
    2 Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University (Jinan Children's Hospital), Jinan 250022, China
  • Received:2025-04-28 Accepted:2025-05-23 Published:2026-03-24
  • Contact: Zhenzhen Chen E-mail:zzchen@sdnu.edu.cn

Abstract: Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) represents an integrated sample pretreatment technology combining extraction, concentration, desorption, and sampling processes in a single step. Characterized by operational simplicity, cost-effectiveness, high efficiency, and minimal solvent requirements, this technique has emerged as a critical analytical tool in environmental sciences since its initial development in the 1990s by Belardi and Pawliszyn at the University of Waterloo, Canada. The integration of SPME with mass spectrometry (MS) enables effective detection and quantitative analysis of environmental pollutants, establishing a robust methodology for environmental monitoring. This review systematically examines the fundamental principles of SPME technology, including its extraction mechanisms and advanced coating materials. It further analyzes three principal hyphenated techniques (SPME-GC-MS, SPME-LC/HPLC-MS, and SPME-AMS) through their operational characteristics and environmental application case studies. The paper concludes with a critical perspective on future research directions, focusing on technical optimization and expanded implementation potential in environmental analytical chemistry.

Key words: Sample pretreatment, Solid phase microextraction, Coating, Mass spectrometry