Preparation of Liquid and Solid Samples

Abstract

Sampling and sample preparation of liquids and solids often present significant challenges for real-world quantitative analyses using spectrometric techniques (e.g., UV–vis and infrared absorption, luminescence and Raman spectroscopies). Very often, the native form of a sample is unsuitable for analysis. This could be due to (i) the complex nature of the object, which could provide false measurements due to interferences or masking agents; (ii) the size of the object being too large to analyze in its entirety (e.g., laboratory sample of contaminated soil); or (iii) the awkward shape of the object, preventing it from fitting within the instrument in which the measurement is to be made. To overcome these problems, some sort of sample preparation must be performed. In many cases, sample preparation is required before any quantitative analysis, and both can have dramatic impacts on the measured results and their accuracy. The previous chapter presented the main criteria to be followed for solid and liquid sample collection. This chapter presents a general overview of various methods for sample preparation. This general topic has been described extensively in a variety of research papers and review chapters in the literature [1–6], with specific variations for particular applications often being necessary. This chapter deals with the sample preparation required to provide a material suitable for spectrometric analysis.