[Skip to Content](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com#main-content) [![MilliporeSigma](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/static/logos/purple/millipore_sigma.svg)](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en) Products Cart0 USEN Products [Login / Register](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/oidc-sign-in) [Order Lookup](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/order-lookup) [Quick Order](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/quick-order) Cart0 [Home](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en)[Solid Phase Extraction (SPE)](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/applications/analytical-chemistry/sample-preparation/solid-phase-extraction)Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) Overview # Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) Overview Solid phase extraction is a form of digital (step-wise) chromatography designed to extract, partition, and/or adsorb one or more components from a liquid phase (sample) onto stationary phase (sorbent or resin). Over the last twenty years, SPE has become the most powerful technique available for rapid and selective sample preparation (prep) prior to analytical chromatography. SPE extends a chromatographic system’s lifetime, improves qualitative and quantitative analysis, and by changing an analyte of interest’s original matrix environment to a simpler matrix more suitable for subsequent analysis, the demand placed on an analytical instrument is considerably lessened. ![Solid phase extraction equipment](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/cms-commons/sigmaaldrich/marketing/global/images/technical-documents/articles/analytical-chemistry/solid-phase-extraction/p001015.jpg "Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) Overview") ![Charts manifold](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/cms-commons/sigmaaldrich/marketing/global/images/technical-documents/articles/analytical-chemistry/solid-phase-extraction/charts_manifold.jpg "Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) Overview") ### Use SPE for Samples that - Contain particulate matter causing system clogging and high back-pressure - Contain components that cause high background, misleading peaks, and/or poor sensitivity - Require cleanup, trace enrichment/concentration, or purification - Require sample matrix or solvent exchange ### Benefits of SPE - Switch sample matrices to a form more compatible with chromatographic analyses - Concentrate analytes for increased sensitivity - Remove interferences to simplify chromatography and improve quantitation - Protect the analytical column from contaminants ### Common SPE Applications - Pharmaceutical compounds and metabolites in biological fluids - Drugs of abuse in biological fluids - Environmental pollutants in drinking and waste water - Pesticides and antibiotics in food/agricultural matrices - Desalting of proteins and peptides - Fractionation of lipids - Water and fat soluble vitamins __Related Articles__ - [Reversed-Phase SPE Methodology](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/protocol/analytical-chemistry/solid-phase-extraction/reversedphase-methodology) - [Ion Exchange Methodology](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/analytical-chemistry/solid-phase-extraction/ion-exchange-methodology) - [Ion-Exchange SPE Methodology](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/analytical-chemistry/solid-phase-extraction/normalphase-methodology) - [Determination of Formaldehyde and Acetaldehyde in Air Using DNPH Cartridges and Automated On-Line Desorption Followed by HPLC](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/protocol/environmental-testing-and-industrial-hygiene/air-testing/aldehydes-air-dnph) - [Effect of Container Materials on Milk Off-Flavors](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/analytical-chemistry/gas-chromatography/container-materials) - [Pesticide Residue Analysis in Ginger Powder with QuEChERS](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/analytical-chemistry/quechers/analysis-of-pesticide-residues-in-ginger-powder) - [Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Pistachios Using QuEChERS Extraction and Cleanup with Supel™ QuE Z-Sep+](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/analytical-chemistry/quechers/analysis-of-pesticide-residues-in-pistachios) - [HybridSPE-Phospholipid Technology](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/analytical-chemistry/small-molecule-hplc/hybridspe-precipitation-technology) - [View More](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/search/facet-search?focus=sitecontent&term=facet-search) Top __Sign In To Continue__ To continue reading please sign in or create an account. Sign In__Don't Have An Account?__Register An unknown error has occured. - English - EN - Español - ES [Learn More](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com)