This course focuses on providing a complete understanding of SPME. You will learn:

• The principles of SPME and how analytes are selectively extracted from liquids, solids, slurries, gases, and headspace samples
• The differences between headspace SPME and direct immersion SPME techniques
• How extraction equilibrium and partition coefficients influence extraction performance and quantitation
• The differences between adsorption and absorption extraction mechanisms
• How to select appropriate fibre coatings, phase types, polarities, and thicknesses for specific analytes
• The impact of analyte properties including molecular weight, polarity, boiling point, vapour pressure, and functional groups on extraction efficiency
• Practical approaches to method optimisation including temperature control, salt addition, pH adjustment, derivatisation, sample volume optimisation, and phase ratio control
• Instrumentation requirements, autosampler integration, fibre handling, conditioning, and maintenance
• Common troubleshooting approaches for poor recoveries, carryover, contamination, fibre damage, and reproducibility issues
• Real-world applications across environmental, food, fragrance, pharmaceutical, forensic, and industrial laboratories

By the end of the course, you will:

• Be able to confidently define SPME and explain its role in analytical sample preparation
• Understand how analytes partition between samples, headspace, fibres, and analytical systems
• Know how extraction equilibrium influences sensitivity, reproducibility, and quantitative performance
• Understand the differences between absorption and adsorption-based fibre coatings and their influence on extraction behaviour
• Recognise how fibre type, polarity, porosity, and coating thickness affect analyte selectivity and recovery
• Learn how temperature, pH adjustment, salting-out, derivatisation, and sample normalisation can improve extraction efficiency
• Become familiar with common fibre phases including PDMS, Polyacrylate, PDMS/DVB, Carboxen/PDMS, Carbowax, and mixed coatings
• Understand the advantages and limitations of headspace and immersion sampling approaches
• Gain confidence in developing, optimising, validating, and troubleshooting SPME methods
• Understand best practices for fibre maintenance, storage, conditioning, and instrument setup
• Gain an appreciation of how SPME and related sorptive extraction techniques are used in environmental, food, fragrance, pharmaceutical, forensic, research, and industrial testing applications

This RSC-approved, for purposes of CPD, training is designed for anyone who would like a complete understanding of SPME and modern analytical sample preparation techniques.

• Laboratory analysts and technicians performing sample preparation and extraction procedures
• Scientists developing analytical methods involving GC, GC-MS, LC, LC-MS, and related analytical techniques
• Laboratory managers overseeing analytical workflows and sample preparation activities
• Data analysts and report writers seeking a better understanding of sample preparation influences on analytical results
• Service engineers supporting chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation equipment
• Sales, commercial, and marketing teams working with analytical instrumentation, sample preparation products, automation systems, and laboratory consumables
• Researchers and scientists wanting a stronger understanding of extraction science, equilibrium processes, and analytical best practice
• Anyone involved in environmental, pharmaceutical, food, beverage, fragrance, forensic, industrial, or research laboratories where trace-level analysis is required

If SPME 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.