Complete Sample preparation
- Duration: 4 days for live courses
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Delivery methods: Offsite training & consultancy | On-Demand | Online | Onsite training & consultancy | Tailored training |
- Type of course: Universal
- Applicable to manufacturer(s): Agilent | Bruker | CDS Analytical | CTC analytics | Frontier | GERSTEL | GL Sciences | Leco | OI Analytical | PerkinElmer | Pyrolab | Sciex | Scion | Shimadzu | SRI | Thermo | Varian | Waters |
- CPD Approved: Approved
- Scheduled course price: £1,425.00 + TAX per delegate
- Course discounts: RSC CAMS HEaTED Cambridge Network members receive a discount on this course
Your Complete Guide to Sample preparation
Learn everything you need to know about sample preparation with this 4-day classroom-based course for professionals, students and chemists approved by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) for purposes of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). This training in modern sample preparation techniques, allows you to understand the theory, application, optimisation, and troubleshooting of extraction and sample introduction techniques used in analytical chemistry today. Alongside diagrams and examples from various industries, improve your understanding further with the opportunity to handle (see, in virtual courses) parts and consumables such as SPE cartridges, SPME fibres, vials, septa, filaments, needles and TD tubes.
The course covers all the practical theory you need to know about sample preparation from both the physical and chemical perspectives providing an in-depth understanding of liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), derivatisation, solid phase extraction (SPE), solid phase micro-extraction (SPME), headspace, purge & trap, thermal desorption and pyrolysis. Through practical examples, real-world applications, and case studies, participants learn how to select, optimise, and troubleshoot the most appropriate sample preparation strategy for a wide range of analytical applications.
Why should I join?
By the end of this training, you will have a complete understanding of sample preparation and be able to confidently apply all aspects studied on this course to your own laboratory and analytical work.
This sample preparation course gives you:
- A clear understanding of the theory and practical application of modern sample preparation techniques
- Knowledge of how sample preparation affects analytical accuracy, sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility
- Insight into extraction mechanisms including partitioning, adsorption, absorption, thermal extraction, and derivatisation
- A practical understanding of LLE, derivatisation, SPE, SPME, headspace, purge & trap, thermal desorption and pyrolysis
- Guidance on selecting the most appropriate technique for specific analytes, matrices, and analytical objectives
- Knowledge of method development, optimisation, validation, automation, and troubleshooting approaches
- Real-world examples demonstrating how the techniques are applied across multiple industries
- A valuable refresher for analysts wanting to strengthen and update their knowledge
What would I learn?
This course focuses on providing an all-round understanding of analytical sample preparation. You will learn:
- Principles of extraction, analyte recovery, enrichment, clean-up, and matrix removal
- How analytes partition between phases and how extraction conditions influence analytical performance
- How headspace analysis, purge and trap, and thermal desorption techniques are used for volatile and semi-volatile compounds
- The role of derivatisation in improving analyte volatility, stability, sensitivity, and detectability
- How pyrolysis can be used to characterise polymers, materials, and other complex non-volatile samples
- The influence of pH, solvent selection, sorbent chemistry, temperature, salting-out, derivatisation, and matrix modification on extraction performance
- Practical approaches to sample preparation method development, optimisation, and validation
- Common automation technologies and modern high-throughput sample preparation systems
- Effective troubleshooting strategies for resolving recovery, contamination, carryover, reproducibility, and matrix-related issues
What knowledge will I gain?
By the end of the course, you will:
- Be able to confidently explain the purpose and importance of sample preparation in analytical workflows
- Understand the scientific principles that govern extraction efficiency, selectivity, and analyte recovery
- Know how different sample preparation techniques can be used to improve sensitivity, reduce matrix effects, and enhance data quality
- Understand how physicochemical properties such as polarity, volatility, solubility, ionisation, and molecular structure influence sample preparation strategies
- Recognise the advantages, limitations, and ideal applications of LLE, derivatisation, SPE, SPME, headspace, purge & trap, thermal desorption and pyrolysis
- Learn how to optimise extraction conditions, sorbent selection, solvents, temperatures, pH, and sample preparation workflows
- Become familiar with modern automated and high-throughput sample preparation technologies
- Understand common analytical issues including poor recovery, matrix interference, carryover, contamination, breakthrough, analyte loss, and method variability
- Gain an appreciation of how sample preparation supports reliable analytical results across a wide range of industries and applications
Is this course for me?
This RSC-approved, for purposes of CPD, sample preparation training is designed for anyone seeking a complete understanding of analytical sample preparation techniques and best practice.
- Laboratory analysts & technicians wanting clear, structured, in-depth training or a refresher on these sample preparation techniques
- Laboratory or line managers overseeing sample preparation
- Data analysts and report writers who want to further their knowledge on sample preparation
- Service and consultant engineers who need a chemistry-focused viewpoint
- Sales, marketing, or commercial teams working with sample preparation systems, consumables, or laboratory services who would like a complete, in-depth perspective
If sample preparation touches your work in any way, this course, delivered by experts in the field, equips you to understand the science behind these techniques.
Feedback from previous attendees
“I thought it was well-structured and very easy to follow.” Joe Marsden, PhD Student, University of Leeds (Practical Essentials of Liquid-Liquid Extraction (LLE), November 2021).
“It was a very good introduction to LLE.” Blaise Bridier, Customer application development technologist, ExxonMobil Chemical (Practical Essentials of Liquid-Liquid Extraction (LLE), November 2021).
“The expertise and knowledge of the presenters. It is better [compared to other courses] because the presenters introduced a high sense of practicality.” Feedback from the Practical Essentials of Sample Preparation (modules 1 – 8), July/August 2021.
“Great presenter with lots of knowledge on pyrolysis and great scientific content delivery skills!” Feedback from the Practical Essentials of Pyrolysis (Py), August 2021.
“I enjoyed that the course covered all aspects of TD knowledge required and that it was understandable for even a beginner like myself.” Practical Essentials of Thermal Desorption, April 2021.
“This course gave me a good overview of what goes into analyzing with thermal desorption alone and helped to formulate some ideas of how it can be implemented in our laboratory. This course moved at a steady pace, was perfect for a novice. There wasn’t anything I was not able to understand and possibly use in the future.” Feedback from the Practical Essentials of Thermal Desorption Short Course at Pittcon 2019.
“Very thorough. Slides are excellent. Good pace.” Feedback from the Practical Essentials of Thermal Desorption Short Course at Pittcon 2019.
