Surface characterization of commercial fibers for solid-phase microextraction and related problems in their application.

The surfaces of commercially available polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Carboxen-PDMS fibers for solid-phase microextraction (SPME) were investigated by optical and electron microscopy. Damage to the coating as well as contamination of new fibers and a highly variable number of pores in Carboxen-PDMS coatings were observed. Together with the contamination of the fibers during their use with metallic particles originating from the SPME fiber holder they are possible explanations for the problems encountered in the analysis of organolead, organotin and organosulfur compounds, such as artifact formation and low repeatability.