Symbiosis Online SPE technology

The Symbiosis technology for online SPE is based on pressure resistant high performance SPE cartridges that can be automatically exchanged. SPE solvent delivery is provided by proprietary High Pressure Syringe pumps for accurate delivery, independent of cartridge backpressure. The operating principle of the Symbiosis online SPE system is presented in a series of diagrams below. Symbiosis has two clamps for SPE cartridges enabling parallel operation of extraction and LC analysis. Valves taking care of switching solvent flow directions are not shown.

Conditioning

While the previous SPE cartridge is still being eluted to the separation column. A new SPE cartridge is placed in the other clamp. Solvent lines and the new SPE cartridge are flushed with appropriate solvents to prepare for the next sample introduction.

Sample loading

Sample is aspirated from the vial or well into the sample loop

Extraction

Sample is flushed from the sample loop through the SPE cartridge. Analytes are trapped and concentrated, most of the matrix is flushed to waste

Wash

Additional volumes of solvent are flushed through the SPE cartridge to remove more matrix components

Elution

Extracted and concentrated analytes are eluted from the cartridge onto the analytical separation column with the HPLC mobile phase.