Hands-on Headspace
- Duration: 1 day for live courses
- Experience level: Advanced
- Delivery methods: Face-to-face | Offsite training & consultancy | Onsite training & consultancy | Tailored training |
- Type of course: Universal
- Applicable to manufacturer(s): Agilent | Bruker | CTC analytics | GERSTEL | GL Sciences | Leco | PerkinElmer | Scion | Shimadzu | SRI | Thermo | Varian | Waters |
- CPD Approved: Approved
- Scheduled course price: £650.00 + TAX per delegate
- Course discounts: RSC CAMS HEaTED Cambridge Network members receive a discount on this course
Your Hands-on approach to learning Headspace Analysis
Module 4 of the Hands-on of Sample Preparation course.
Combine the practical theory of headspace with laboratory-based exercises when attending this Hands-on training approved by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) for purposes of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Apply the knowledge learnt to practical exercises involving sample preparation, method development, optimisation, instrumentation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. Gain experience of headspace workflows, instrumentation, sample preparation techniques, and analytical strategies used to isolate volatile compounds from complex sample matrices.
This Hands-on Headspace course is designed for analysts, scientists, technicians, and laboratory professionals who would like to develop both a practical and theoretical understanding of headspace techniques. The course combines headspace theory, optimisation, troubleshooting, and real-world applications with laboratory-based exercises that reinforce learning enable understanding of the technique for use in laboratory.
Why should I join?
On completion of this Hands-on headspace training, you will have both a strong theoretical understanding and practical experience of developing, performing, optimising, and troubleshooting headspace methods.
This Hands-on headspace course gives you:
- A clear understanding of the principles behind static and dynamic headspace analysis
- Practical experience of developing and optimising headspace methods
- How partition coefficients influence sensitivity and analyte recovery
- Insight into sample preparation techniques including temperature optimisation, salting-out, pH adjustment, and matrix modification
- Practical guidance on phase ratio optimisation and equilibration processes
- Hands-on experience with modern headspace instrumentation and autosamplers
- Exposure to static headspace, dynamic headspace, trap-based systems, and advanced headspace technologies
- Practical troubleshooting techniques for solving common headspace problems
- Experience applying headspace principles through laboratory exercises and case studies
What would I learn?
This course focuses on providing an in-depth understanding of headspace analysis combined with practical Hands-on experience. You will learn:
- The principles of headspace analysis and volatile compound extraction
- The differences between static and dynamic headspace methodologies
- How analytes partition between sample matrices and the gas phase
- The role of equilibrium and partition coefficients in method performance
- How equilibration temperature, equilibration time, and agitation affect analyte recovery
- Practical approaches to improving sensitivity using salting-out, pH adjustment, derivatisation, and co-solvent addition
- The influence of phase ratio, sample volume, and headspace volume on analytical performance
- The operation of gas-tight syringe, balanced pressure, and pressurised loop headspace systems
- The principles and applications of dynamic headspace trapping techniques
- Multiple headspace extraction (MHE) approaches for quantitative analysis
What knowledge will I gain?
By the end of the course, you will:
- Understand the fundamental principles behind headspace analysis and volatile analyte extraction
- Be able to explain how analytes partition between sample matrices and the gas phase
- Understand how partition coefficients influence analytical sensitivity and recovery
- Know how temperature, pH, sample composition, salt addition, and phase ratio affect extraction performance
- Understand the operation and capabilities of modern headspace autosamplers and transfer systems
- Gain confidence in developing and optimising headspace methods for different analytes and matrices
- Understand the principles of trap selection, analyte concentration, and dynamic headspace enrichment
- Be able to identify and troubleshoot common issues including carryover, condensation, poor sensitivity, leaks, contamination, and poor reproducibility
- Understand best practices for sample preparation, vial selection, septa handling, and method robustness
Is this course for me?
This RSC-approved, for purposes of CPD, Hands-on Headspace course is designed for anyone who wants a practical understanding of headspace analysis and volatile compound testing.
- Laboratory analysts and technicians performing volatile 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 how sample preparation influences analytical results
- Service engineers supporting headspace, chromatography, and related laboratory instrumentation
- Sales, marketing, and commercial professionals working with analytical instrumentation, automation systems, consumables, or laboratory services
If headspace touches your work in any way, this well-planned course delivered by experts in the field equips you to understand the science behind these techniques.
Course combinations
Can’t attend the full course? No worries, combine days or modules to create training that works best for you. The more days you book the larger the discount.
- For 2 days, pay £1250
- For 3 days, pay £1825
- For 4 days, pay £2350
- For 5 days, pay £2850
Please note, discounts won’t apply when booking but will appear on your invoice.
Select the courses you are interested in:
Feedback from previous attendees
“Overall this course was an addition to my initial 5-day course but the extra knowledge & info was great to learn about and gain more understanding into.” Jasmin Hunt, Materials Quality Controller, Clean Tech (September 2018).
“(I enjoyed) conversations with (the) instructor on various topics throughout the day.” Andrew Webb, Analytical Chemist, DSTL (bespoke 1-day Headspace course, January 2017).
“Practical experience in the technical aspects of the techniques.” PhD Student, UK University, (October 2015).
“A balanced mixture of relevant information and practicals.” David Saunders, Laboratory Chemist, SI Group-UK ( October 2015).
“Useful to see results of analysis.” Chemist, workplace health consultancy (November 2014).
“[I enjoyed] the method development theory and getting lots of useful information about how to improve things here.” Rebecca Nichols, QC Analyst, Quay Pharma (September 2014).
“[I enjoyed] hands on learning and learning about the various parts of the instrument.” QC Analyst (September 2014).
“[I enjoyed] the combination of theory and pratical, as well as the thorough knowledge of the instructors.” Analytical Development Scientist (September 2014).
“[I enjoyed] the way the presenter gave the course. I liked the useful slides and hand-outs.” Fatima Al Wahshi, a Research Scientist from the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company (Aug 2013).
“[I enjoyed] the mixture between the theoretical presentation and hands on the equipment for practical experiments.” Celia Laurence, a research assistant from The Open University (Aug 2013).
