Advanced Sample Preparation Methods
PLE – Pressurized Liquid Extraction▼ Auto-SPE Solid Phase Extraction▼ EZSPE -Semi-automated SPE▼ SuperVap Concentrator▼
Sample Preparation Methods
Sample preparation methods are the foundation of every high-quality analytical workflow. Accurate results begin long before instrument analysis, and FMS provides complete automated and semi-automated sample preparation methods for environmental, pharmaceutical, and food testing. These methods unify extraction, clean-up, and concentration into one streamlined, cost-effective process—delivering high analyte recovery, low contamination, and exceptional consistency across all matrix types.
By isolating target analytes, removing matrix interferences, and producing instrument-ready concentrated extracts, FMS ensures fast, reliable, and scalable sample preparation methods designed specifically for environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical analysis, and food safety testing.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emphasizes that accurate analytical results depend on effective sample preparation methods. Proper extraction, purification, and concentration are essential for removing interferences and meeting regulatory data-quality requirements in environmental, pharmaceutical, and food applications.
👉 EPA SW-846 Compendium – Sample Preparation Methods & Guidance:
https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846/sw-846-compendium
Extraction – The Core of Sample Preparation Methods
Extraction is the most important step in sample preparation methods. It isolates target analytes from a matrix and prepares them for clean-up. Strong extraction performance drives recovery, reproducibility, and confidence in environmental, pharmaceutical, and food results.
Solid Phase Extraction (SPE)
SPE provides precise extraction and initial clean-up for environmental contaminants (PFAS, PCBs, PBDEs, EPH), pharmaceutical compounds, drugs of abuse, and food-based analytes.
👉 SPE Products: https://fms-inc.com/solid-phase-extraction-spe/
Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE)
PLE is engineered for soil, sludge, sediment, meat, fish, produce, and pharmaceutical matrices, providing rapid, automated, high-recovery extraction—ideal for difficult and complex samples.
👉 PLE Products: https://fms-inc.com/pressurized-liquid-extraction-ple/
Extraction Summary
• Environmental testing: water, wastewater, soil, sediment, air filters
• Pharmaceutical testing: drug formulations, excipients, biological fluids
• Food testing: meats, fish, dairy, animal feed, plant-based samples
The goal of extraction in sample preparation methods is simple: high recovery, low interference, and a clean starting point for purification.
Sample Clean-Up (Purification)
After extraction, samples may contain fats, proteins, pigments, phospholipids, particulates, or excipients that interfere with instrumental analysis.
How FMS Clean-Up Supports Environmental, Pharmaceutical & Food Testing
• Mixed-mode SPE cartridges remove matrix interferences from environmental, pharmaceutical, and food samples.
• PLE extracts can be purified through SPE columns for selective removal of contaminants.
• Systems are optimized to protect LC-MS/GC-MS instruments from matrix overload.
AutoSPE – Fully Automated SPE System
Ideal for high-throughput environmental labs, pharmaceutical QC labs, and food safety laboratories requiring reproducibility and compliance.
👉 AutoSPE / DOA Systems: https://fms-inc.com/automated-systems/
EZSPE – Semi-Automated SPE System
Suitable for routine environmental testing, mid-volume pharmaceutical workflows, and food laboratories needing repeatable vacuum-based purification.
👉 EZSPE System: https://fms-inc.com/solid-phase-extraction-spe/
These clean-up technologies deliver consistent, high-quality purification that supports sample preparation methods across all three major application sectors.
Evaporation & Concentration
The final step of sample preparation methods is concentration—reducing extract volume to the levels required for trace-level LC-MS and GC-MS analysis.
FMS’s SuperVap™ provides fast, precise, contamination-free evaporation for environmental, pharmaceutical, and food-testing extracts.
Advantages vs. Water-Bath Evaporators
• Eliminates moisture and microbial contamination
• No water or steam exposure to extracts
• Uniform dry-heat processing
• Reduced foaming and analyte stability
• Higher throughput and better repeatability
• Compatible with all solvents and matrices
SuperVap™ Concentration Systems
SuperVap handles 1–250 mL extracts from environmental water samples, pharmaceutical matrices, and complex food samples.
Available Models:
• SuperVap 6 – 6-position
• SuperVap 12 – 12-position
• SuperVap 24 – 24-position
Key Features:
• Wide sample volume range
• Parallel, multi-position evaporation
• Direct-to-vial output
• Automated, reproducible performance
👉 SuperVap Automated Evaporation:
https://www.fms-inc.com/automated-evaporation/
Sample Preparation Methods
Sample preparation methods are the foundation of every high-quality analytical workflow. Accurate results begin long before instrument analysis, and FMS provides complete automated and semi-automated sample preparation methods for environmental, pharmaceutical, and food testing. These methods unify extraction, clean-up, and concentration into one streamlined, cost-effective process—delivering high analyte recovery, low contamination, and exceptional consistency across all matrix types.
By isolating target analytes, removing matrix interferences, and producing instrument-ready concentrated extracts, FMS ensures fast, reliable, and scalable sample preparation methods designed specifically for environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical analysis, and food safety testing.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emphasizes that accurate analytical results depend on effective sample preparation methods. Proper extraction, purification, and concentration are essential for removing interferences and meeting regulatory data-quality requirements in environmental, pharmaceutical, and food applications.
👉 EPA SW-846 Compendium – Sample Preparation Methods & Guidance:
https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846/sw-846-compendium
Extraction – The Core of Sample Preparation Methods
Extraction is the most important step in sample preparation methods. It isolates target analytes from a matrix and prepares them for clean-up. Strong extraction performance drives recovery, reproducibility, and confidence in environmental, pharmaceutical, and food results.
Solid Phase Extraction (SPE)
SPE provides precise extraction and initial clean-up for environmental contaminants (PFAS, PCBs, PBDEs, EPH), pharmaceutical compounds, drugs of abuse, and food-based analytes.
👉 SPE Products: https://fms-inc.com/solid-phase-extraction-spe/
Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE)
PLE is engineered for soil, sludge, sediment, meat, fish, produce, and pharmaceutical matrices, providing rapid, automated, high-recovery extraction—ideal for difficult and complex samples.
👉 PLE Products: https://fms-inc.com/pressurized-liquid-extraction-ple/
Extraction Summary
• Environmental testing: water, wastewater, soil, sediment, air filters
• Pharmaceutical testing: drug formulations, excipients, biological fluids
• Food testing: meats, fish, dairy, animal feed, plant-based samples
The goal of extraction in sample preparation methods is simple: high recovery, low interference, and a clean starting point for purification.
Sample Clean-Up (Purification)
After extraction, samples may contain fats, proteins, pigments, phospholipids, particulates, or excipients that interfere with instrumental analysis.
How FMS Clean-Up Supports Environmental, Pharmaceutical & Food Testing
• Mixed-mode SPE cartridges remove matrix interferences from environmental, pharmaceutical, and food samples.
• PLE extracts can be purified through SPE columns for selective removal of contaminants.
• Systems are optimized to protect LC-MS/GC-MS instruments from matrix overload.
AutoSPE – Fully Automated SPE System
Ideal for high-throughput environmental labs, pharmaceutical QC labs, and food safety laboratories requiring reproducibility and compliance.
👉 AutoSPE / DOA Systems: https://fms-inc.com/automated-systems/
EZSPE – Semi-Automated SPE System
Suitable for routine environmental testing, mid-volume pharmaceutical workflows, and food laboratories needing repeatable vacuum-based purification.
👉 EZSPE System: https://fms-inc.com/solid-phase-extraction-spe/
These clean-up technologies deliver consistent, high-quality purification that supports sample preparation methods across all three major application sectors.
Evaporation & Concentration
The final step of sample preparation methods is concentration—reducing extract volume to the levels required for trace-level LC-MS and GC-MS analysis.
FMS’s SuperVap™ provides fast, precise, contamination-free evaporation for environmental, pharmaceutical, and food-testing extracts.
Advantages vs. Water-Bath Evaporators
• Eliminates moisture and microbial contamination
• No water or steam exposure to extracts
• Uniform dry-heat processing
• Reduced foaming and analyte stability
• Higher throughput and better repeatability
• Compatible with all solvents and matrices
SuperVap™ Concentration Systems
SuperVap handles 1–250 mL extracts from environmental water samples, pharmaceutical matrices, and complex food samples.
Available Models:
• SuperVap 6 – 6-position
• SuperVap 12 – 12-position
• SuperVap 24 – 24-position
Key Features:
• Wide sample volume range
• Parallel, multi-position evaporation
• Direct-to-vial output
• Automated, reproducible performance
👉 SuperVap Automated Evaporation:
https://www.fms-inc.com/automated-evaporation/
Automated Solid Phase Extraction System
AutoSPE: Advanced Automated SPE System
FMS’s AutoSPE-AT is a powerful, automated solid phase extraction system designed for high-throughput sample preparation of water, beverages, biological fluids, and more. It supports up to 6 samples in parallel and automates all critical steps—including cartridge conditioning, sample loading, rinsing, nitrogen drying, and inline concentration—delivering final extracts directly to GC vials. With programmable methods, built-in solvent controls, and modular design, AutoSPE-AT boosts lab efficiency while maintaining precision and repeatability across every run.
EconoPrep Dioxin sample CleanUp
The EconoPrep® System is an innovative solution tailored for laboratories conducting Dioxin and PCB analyses. This compact, cost-effective, and user-friendly system automates the sample cleanup process, ensuring consistent and accurate results every time.
Utilizing advanced automation, the EconoPrep® System efficiently loads samples, performs cleanup, fractionation, and concentration steps, and delivers the final extract directly to the analysis vial, ready for GC, or GC/MS. This streamlined process saves both labor and time. FMS+2FMS+2FMS+2
The ultimate rewards are enhanced efficiency and reproducibility in sample preparation.
EZSPE:Efficient Semi-Automated SPE for Water and Wastewater Analysis
The EZSPE system offers a cost-effective, semi-automated solution for solid-phase extraction (SPE) in water and wastewater testing. Processing up to 12 samples in under 30 minutes, it integrates vacuum and nitrogen drying, automated bottle rinsing, and in-line moisture removal. With no need for computers or electronics, EZSPE simplifies sample preparation while ensuring consistent, reproducible results. Ideal for laboratories seeking to enhance throughput without significant capital investment.
PLE - Pressurized Liquid Extraction
The FMS-PLE™ System is a modular and expandable Pressurized Liquid Extraction platform, designed for efficient extraction of solids and semi-solids such as food, soil, and tissue. Scalable from 1 to 8 positions, it accommodates cell sizes from 5 mL to 100 mL, making it ideal for high-throughput labs requiring flexibility and precision.
EconoTrace®: Automated SPE for Water Analysis
The EconoTrace® system is a fully automated, modular SPE platform designed for environmental laboratories. It processes up to eight water samples in parallel, integrating extraction, nitrogen drying, and concentration into a seamless workflow. With positive pressure fluid delivery and a user-friendly touchscreen interface, EconoTrace® ensures consistent, reproducible results while reducing solvent usage and manual intervention. Ideal for EPA methods such as 525.3 and 527, it streamlines sample preparation for GC-MS or LC-MS analysis
SuperVap Automated Concentrator/Evaporator
The SuperVap® is a fully automated, direct-to-vial concentrator designed for high-throughput sample evaporation in demanding applications such as environmental and food analysis. By replacing traditional manual evaporation methods, it enhances efficiency, consistency, and sample integrity while significantly reducing labor costs.
The system features a waterless dry bath, programmable temperature and nitrogen control, and is available in 6-, 12-, and 24-position models to suit various throughput needs. Optional HEPA/carbon filtration helps minimize contamination, ensuring clean, reproducible results across all applications.
The SuperVap® delivers precise, unattended concentration for streamlined laboratory workflows.
Automated Solid Phase Extraction System
AutoSPE: Advanced Automated SPE System
FMS’s AutoSPE-AT is a powerful, automated solid phase extraction system designed for high-throughput sample preparation of water, beverages, biological fluids, and more. It supports up to 6 samples in parallel and automates all critical steps—including cartridge conditioning, sample loading, rinsing, nitrogen drying, and inline concentration—delivering final extracts directly to GC vials. With programmable methods, built-in solvent controls, and modular design, AutoSPE-AT boosts lab efficiency while maintaining precision and repeatability across every run.
EconoPrep Dioxin sample CleanUp
The EconoPrep® System is an innovative solution tailored for laboratories conducting Dioxin and PCB analyses. This compact, cost-effective, and user-friendly system automates the sample cleanup process, ensuring consistent and accurate results every time.
Utilizing advanced automation, the EconoPrep® System efficiently loads samples, performs cleanup, fractionation, and concentration steps, and delivers the final extract directly to the analysis vial, ready for GC, or GC/MS. This streamlined process saves both labor and time. FMS+2FMS+2FMS+2
The ultimate rewards are enhanced efficiency and reproducibility in sample preparation.
EZSPE:Efficient Semi-Automated SPE for Water and Wastewater Analysis
The EZSPE system offers a cost-effective, semi-automated solution for solid-phase extraction (SPE) in water and wastewater testing. Processing up to 12 samples in under 30 minutes, it integrates vacuum and nitrogen drying, automated bottle rinsing, and in-line moisture removal. With no need for computers or electronics, EZSPE simplifies sample preparation while ensuring consistent, reproducible results. Ideal for laboratories seeking to enhance throughput without significant capital investment.
PLE - Pressurized Liquid Extraction
The FMS-PLE™ System is a modular and expandable Pressurized Liquid Extraction platform, designed for efficient extraction of solids and semi-solids such as food, soil, and tissue. Scalable from 1 to 8 positions, it accommodates cell sizes from 5 mL to 100 mL, making it ideal for high-throughput labs requiring flexibility and precision.
EconoTrace®: Automated SPE for Water Analysis
The EconoTrace® system is a fully automated, modular SPE platform designed for environmental laboratories. It processes up to eight water samples in parallel, integrating extraction, nitrogen drying, and concentration into a seamless workflow. With positive pressure fluid delivery and a user-friendly touchscreen interface, EconoTrace® ensures consistent, reproducible results while reducing solvent usage and manual intervention. Ideal for EPA methods such as 525.3 and 527, it streamlines sample preparation for GC-MS or LC-MS analysis
SuperVap Automated Concentrator/Evaporator
The SuperVap® is a fully automated, direct-to-vial concentrator designed for high-throughput sample evaporation in demanding applications such as environmental and food analysis. By replacing traditional manual evaporation methods, it enhances efficiency, consistency, and sample integrity while significantly reducing labor costs.
The system features a waterless dry bath, programmable temperature and nitrogen control, and is available in 6-, 12-, and 24-position models to suit various throughput needs. Optional HEPA/carbon filtration helps minimize contamination, ensuring clean, reproducible results across all applications.
The SuperVap® delivers precise, unattended concentration for streamlined laboratory workflows.
Automated Solid Phase Extraction System
AutoSPE: Advanced Automated SPE System
FMS’s AutoSPE-AT is a powerful, automated solid phase extraction system designed for high-throughput sample preparation of water, beverages, biological fluids, and more. It supports up to 6 samples in parallel and automates all critical steps—including cartridge conditioning, sample loading, rinsing, nitrogen drying, and inline concentration—delivering final extracts directly to GC vials. With programmable methods, built-in solvent controls, and modular design, AutoSPE-AT boosts lab efficiency while maintaining precision and repeatability across every run.
EconoPrep Dioxin sample CleanUp
The EconoPrep® System is an innovative solution tailored for laboratories conducting Dioxin and PCB analyses. This compact, cost-effective, and user-friendly system automates the sample cleanup process, ensuring consistent and accurate results every time.
Utilizing advanced automation, the EconoPrep® System efficiently loads samples, performs cleanup, fractionation, and concentration steps, and delivers the final extract directly to the analysis vial, ready for GC, or GC/MS. This streamlined process saves both labor and time. FMS+2FMS+2FMS+2
The ultimate rewards are enhanced efficiency and reproducibility in sample preparation.
EZSPE:Efficient Semi-Automated SPE for Water and Wastewater Analysis
The EZSPE system offers a cost-effective, semi-automated solution for solid-phase extraction (SPE) in water and wastewater testing. Processing up to 12 samples in under 30 minutes, it integrates vacuum and nitrogen drying, automated bottle rinsing, and in-line moisture removal. With no need for computers or electronics, EZSPE simplifies sample preparation while ensuring consistent, reproducible results. Ideal for laboratories seeking to enhance throughput without significant capital investment.
PLE - Pressurized Liquid Extraction
The FMS-PLE™ System is a modular and expandable Pressurized Liquid Extraction platform, designed for efficient extraction of solids and semi-solids such as food, soil, and tissue. Scalable from 1 to 8 positions, it accommodates cell sizes from 5 mL to 100 mL, making it ideal for high-throughput labs requiring flexibility and precision.
EconoTrace®: Automated SPE for Water Analysis
The EconoTrace® system is a fully automated, modular SPE platform designed for environmental laboratories. It processes up to eight water samples in parallel, integrating extraction, nitrogen drying, and concentration into a seamless workflow. With positive pressure fluid delivery and a user-friendly touchscreen interface, EconoTrace® ensures consistent, reproducible results while reducing solvent usage and manual intervention. Ideal for EPA methods such as 525.3 and 527, it streamlines sample preparation for GC-MS or LC-MS analysis
SuperVap Automated Concentrator/Evaporator
The SuperVap® is a fully automated, direct-to-vial concentrator designed for high-throughput sample evaporation in demanding applications such as environmental and food analysis. By replacing traditional manual evaporation methods, it enhances efficiency, consistency, and sample integrity while significantly reducing labor costs.
The system features a waterless dry bath, programmable temperature and nitrogen control, and is available in 6-, 12-, and 24-position models to suit various throughput needs. Optional HEPA/carbon filtration helps minimize contamination, ensuring clean, reproducible results across all applications.
The SuperVap® delivers precise, unattended concentration for streamlined laboratory workflows.
