Sol-Gel Coatings for SPME

A group of researchers from Universita degli Studi di Parma (Parma, Italy) developed sol-gel-synthesized coatings for solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers for analyzing trace-level polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water. The researchers measured the fibers' film thickness, porosity, thermal stability, and pH resistance. A diethoxydiphenylsilane-based coating was found to provide thermal stability to temperatures as high as 400 C. Limits of detection were better than those obtained using a polydimethylsiloxane fiber.