This course focuses on providing a complete understanding of purge and trap. You will learn:

• The principles of purge and trap and how volatile analytes are extracted from samples
• The differences between purge and trap and other volatile extraction techniques such as headspace analysis
• How analytes partition between sample matrices and the gas phase
• The role of purge efficiency, purge volume, flow rate, and temperature in extraction performance
• The differences between fritted sparging, non-fritted sparging, and needle sparging techniques
• How temperature, salts, pH adjustment, co-solvents, and derivatisation influence analyte recovery
• The operation and optimisation of spargers, traps, valves, transfer lines, and purge gas systems
• How to select and optimise trap sorbents including Tenax, Carbotrap, Carboxen, Carbosieve, and mixed-bed trapping systems
• The role of dry purging and water management in improving analytical performance
• Practical approaches to method development, validation, maintenance, and troubleshooting
• Instrument setup procedures, leak checking, system suitability testing, and sample quality requirements
• Real-world applications involving volatile organic compound analysis in environmental, industrial, pharmaceutical, and forensic laboratories

By the end of the course, you will:

• Be able to confidently define purge and trap and explain the principles behind volatile analyte extraction and enrichment
• Understand how purge efficiency and partition coefficients influence analyte recovery and sensitivity
• Know how volatile compounds transfer from liquid and slurry matrices into the gas phase
• Understand the impact of temperature, purge flow, purge time, sample size, and matrix composition on extraction performance
• Recognise how salting out, pH adjustment, co-solvent addition, and derivatisation can improve recovery for challenging analytes
• Learn how trap sorbents are selected to maximise analyte retention while minimising water interference
• Understand the importance of sample normalisation, quality control standards, surrogate standards, and internal standards
• Gain confidence in developing, optimising, validating, and troubleshooting Purge and Trap methods
• Understand common sources of analytical problems including carryover, foaming, leaks, contamination, trap degradation, water management issues, and poor recoveries
• Appreciate how purge and trap is applied for trace-level volatile organic compound analysis across environmental, industrial, pharmaceutical, packaging, food, beverage, forensic, and research applications

This RSC-approved, for purposes of CPD, training is designed for anyone who would like a comprehensive understanding of volatile compound extraction and trace-level analytical techniques.

• Laboratory analysts and technicians performing VOC analysis and sample preparation procedures
• Scientists developing analytical methods involving GC and GC-MS
• Laboratory managers overseeing analytical workflows and volatile compound testing activities
• Data analysts and report writers seeking a better understanding of sample preparation influences on analytical results
• Service engineers supporting purge and trap, chromatography, and mass spectrometry systems
• Sales, commercial, and marketing teams working with analytical instrumentation, sample preparation products, and laboratory consumables
• Researchers and scientists wanting a stronger understanding of volatile extraction science, method optimisation, and analytical best practice
• Anyone involved in environmental, pharmaceutical, food, beverage, forensic, packaging, industrial, or research laboratories where volatile organic compounds are monitored

If purge and trap is part of your laboratory, research, environmental, industrial, or product development work, this introductory course delivered by subject matter experts will provide a solid understanding in this analytical sample preparation technique.