Description

The Sample Preparation Study Group and Network organizes a series of sample preparation courses. The series started in 2017 and has been held annually. This is a prime theoretical/hands-on training event that moves around Europe and focuses on different sub-areas of sample preparation.

Past events

2022-Sample Preparation Summer Course, 13 – 15 September 2022, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic (Automation and miniaturization in sample preparation)

2021-Sample Preparation Summer Course, 28 September- 1 October 2021, Bydgoszcz, Poland (Focus on Biological Matrices)

2020-Sample Preparation Summer Course, Postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19

2019-Sample Preparation Summer Course, 25-27 September 2019, Bydgoszcz, Poland (Focus on Biological Matrices)

2018-Sample Preparation Summer Course, 22-24 August 2018, Chania, Crete, Greece (Focus on Microextraction)

2017-Sample Preparation Summer Course, 3-6 July 2017, Chania, Crete, Greece (Focus on Extraction and Microextraction)

 

Visit here to read the Report of the 2022-Sample Preparation Summer Course

 

Description of the 2023-Sample Preparation Summer Course

Automation and miniaturization in sample preparation

Dates: 19 – 22 September 2023

Chairs: Prof. Petr Solich, Assoc. Prof. Hana Sklenářová

Location: Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

Presenters international: Prof. C. Turner

Presenters local: prof. D. Šatínský, prof. L. Nováková, assoc. prof. P. Chocholouš, assist. prof. B. Horstkotte, Dr. Ivona Lhotská, Dr. Veronika Pilařová

Tentative schedule: 3.5 days – 30 hours (15 lectures, 15 practicals)

Sample-prep techniques to be covered: on-line SPE, SIA-SPE, in-syringe extractions, SFE, microextration for chromatography

Analytical Instrumentation to be used: UHPLC, SIA, SFE

Capacity: 24

 

Registration - deadline 30 June 2023

Registration fee - deadline 15 July 2023

Registration fee 300 EUR includes materials, access to lectures and workshops, coffee breaks and lunches 

 

Introduction

Automation of extraction procedures significantly saves times and sample handling to increase the throughput and repeatability of analyses while avoiding errors. This course will be organized in 3.5 days to cover a variety of approaches to sample preparation. In the first part lectures will be focused to SPE directly connected (on-line) to LC separations. Two different ways how to connect SPE to LC will be discussed – either column switching directly in the LC system or oof-line SPE using different sorbent materials including nanofibers. The other extraction area will be more focused on the green approach of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) applicable to lipophilic as well as hydrophilic target analytes. Modification of the extractant with modifiers and variation of pressure and temperature – viscosity and lipophilicity will be tested in practical tasks while via lectures, the principles of SFE, instrumentation, and method development will be explained including limitations and possibilities in case of hydrophilic substances extraction that are mainly present in plant extracts (polyphenolic compounds). In case of this analyte class, SFE provides an alternative way of extraction to classical solvent-based approaches allowing the extraction also of non-stable substances with a minimum risk of decomposition.

In the second part of the course, the automation and miniaturization of liquid phase microextraction approaches by flow automation techniques will be explained in a thorough lecture and accompanied by demonstration of a Lab-In-Syringe system covering dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and single drop microextraction including the use of green solvents for this purpose and the use of 3D printing technology for system setup and optimization. The automation of dispersive solid phase extraction by this technique will further be shown. Short seminar concerning greenness evaluation of different sample preparation approaches will conclude advantages and disadvantages in terms of practical applications of the mentioned extraction techniques for routine analysis.

 

The last part of the summer school will be devoted to practical tasks in frames of workshop organized in laboratories of the Department of Analytical Chemistry while the individual task will be focused to:

1. LC-SPE – column-switching mode

2. SPE sorbents manipulation, filled pipette tips (SPE) + MEPS

3. Supported liquid extraction

4. Supercritical Fluid Extraction

5. Lab-In-Syringe-DLLME + demonstration of other LIS automated sample preparation methods

6. Sequential Injection Analysis applied to automated SPE

 

Practical tasks will further cover SPE attempting miniaturization using different nanofibrous polymers such as polyethylene, polyamide, or polycaprolactone for the extraction of pesticides/insecticides or bisphenols.

 

Aims

The aims of this course are:

- to extend and increase the theoretical and experimental knowledge based on green sample preparation including on-line SPE, LPME, and SFE techniques as well as on the automation and miniaturization of liquid phase microextraction approaches

- to support confidence of participants to modern extraction methods

- to show and highlight modern advances in sample preparation in a variety of application fields

- to stress modern alternatives of sample preparation in frames of SPE using advanced/smart materials (e.g., nanofiber materials)

- to demonstrate advantages of SFE in extraction of lipophilic or low stability hydrophilic analytes

 

Why do you need to attend this course?

First, on-line SPE using column switching or hyphenation of low-pressure techniques for sample pre-treatment to separation techniques are still not widely explored and we believe to offer a valuable introduction to these techniques and a new perspective for everyone working in the field of LC separations. By example, new applications of SFE are currently arising as green alternatives to solvent-based extractions of solid matrices. At second, we have focussed the course scope to green ways of extraction and are positive that the selected sample-prep techniques correspond to the modern trends in miniaturization, e.g., lowest consumption of organic solvents or the use of green extractants such as carbon dioxide or deep eutectic solvents. This trend is applicable in every analytical laboratory and is a valuable contribution to decrease our environmental footprint, work safety, and responsibility.

If you feel that green approaches will strengthen your research or routine laboratory work, we warmly invite to get a thorough overview on the advantages and perspectives these techniques offer in form of lectures and practical demonstrations and tasks with experienced lecturers and gain valuable expertise. Take advantage of this possibility to get a close look to front-end instrumentation, to find out how to develop and optimize your extraction methods, and to discuss critical parameters that could come in your own work applying the presented principles.

 

Who should attend?

This course is prepared mainly for PhD students but pre-graduate students with a good knowledge and interest on sample preparation are welcome, too. As a second group we believe that postdoctoral scientists, and even more experienced researchers who could apply such modern approaches in their daily work will appreciate detailed explanations and practical tasks.

Managers and supervisors of analytical laboratories and R&D staff are welcome to join us to see green extraction approaches and how to develop and apply sample preparation approaches corresponding with new and up-to-date trends. The selected applications can be transferred to other working fields, too, including pharmaceutical quality control, biotechnological field, or biological matrix analysis.

 

Contacts

Email: sampleprep23<at>faf.cuni.cz

Assoc. prof. Hana Sklenářová, Ph.D.

Prof. RNDr. Petr Solich, CSc.

 

Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové

Department of Analytical Chemistry

Akademika Heyrovskeho 1203, Hradec Kralove, 500 05

Czech Republic