Application of Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction in Analysis of Toxic Chemicals
A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Novel Methods in Toxicology Research".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 24 July 2026 | Viewed by 18
Special Issue Editors
Interests: forensic sciences; analytical chemistry; forensic chemistry; trace chemical detection; solid phase microextraction; trace evidence; crime scene management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: analytical chemistry; analytical separations; microextraction technologies; fate and transport of emerging contaminants in heterogeneous environmental systems; micropollutants exposure to human and wildlife; use of natural polymers for separations; bioanalytical chemistry; PFAS preconcentration and quantification in complex media; target and non-target analysis of environmental contaminants; hyphenation of microextraction technologies to mass spectrometry; fundamentals of analytical separations; green analytical chemistry
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) has become an effective extraction technique for environmental, occupational, and forensic analysis of toxic chemicals because it provides rapid, solvent‑free sampling directly from complex matrices such as biological fluids, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, industrial emissions, contaminated soils, and waste streams. By profiling the volatile fraction of samples, the method minimizes matrix interference, reduces preparation time, and lowers consumable costs compared with conventional solvent-based extraction techniques. The integration of sensitive detectors enables both qualitative identification (e.g., unknown metabolites or degradation products) and semi‑quantitative screening of priority toxins—including heavy metals (as volatile complexes), organophosphates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and emerging hemp-derived cannabinoids.
Key advantages of HS-SPME when coupled with sensitive detectors include (i) excellent limits of detection often in the low‑ppb range without extensive cleanup and (ii) compatibility with automated platforms for high‑throughput laboratories. Method robustness can be enhanced through optimization of extraction parameters—temperature, time, ionic strength, and coating type—tailored to each analyte class. Validation studies typically report linearity across several orders of magnitude, intra‑ and interday precision below 5%, and recovery rates ranging from 80 to 110% after matrix compensation strategies such as standard addition or isotopically labelled internal standards.
Overall, HS‑SPME offers an efficient, reliable workflow for monitoring toxic chemicals in diverse samples, supporting both regulatory compliance and risk‑assessment initiatives aimed at safeguarding public health and the environment. This Special Issue will welcome submissions that advance the theoretical understanding, methodological innovations, and practical applications of headspace SPME across the full spectrum of toxicological, environmental, pharmaceutical, and forensic investigations.
Prof. Dr. Jorn Yu
Dr. Emanuela Gionfriddo
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- headspace chemical analysis
- toxicology
- forensic Science
- pharmacetical
- gas chromatography
- mass spectrometry
- material sciences
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