Chapter 3
Sample Treatment
3.1 Sample Storage and Pre-preparation
Outlook
Prior to the main analytical procedures two pre-routines need to be considered:
sample storage and sample pre-preparations. Both aspects are discussed
briefly here.
After sampling and prior to the main analytical process some preparation steps and
storage of the samples normally require some attention (see Fig. 3.1). The order of
the two procedures is flexible. The samples can either be stored prior to further
treatment, or the treated sample material can be stored. However, the best practice is
to subject the sample material immediately after sampling towards the initial analytical steps. However, in most cases this is not possible due to necessary longdistance transport, transfer to specialized laboratories or time constraints in the
laboratory workflows.
Noteworthy, the raw sample material can also be subjected to various bulk
analyses. Particulate matter can be analyzed e.g. for total organic carbon (TOC,
see Sect. 4.4), Rock-Eval parameter (see also Sect. 4.4) or grain size distribution. For
water samples e.g. the dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen (DOC, DON) or the
AOX (adsorbable organic halogens) can be determined. However, in this textbook
bulk analyses are not considered in more detail.
Typical pretreatment procedure for solid sample material are drying and grinding.
Drying needs to be performed carefully in order to avoid loss of volatile components.
Drying is performed (1) for an optimized extraction, (2) for a better storage since
dried material is more resistant towards microbial attacks and, finally, (3) as preparation for the grinding process. Applying grinding improves the following extraction procedure due to an elevated surface of the particles that allows an enhanced
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
J. Schwarzbauer, B. Jovančićević, Introduction to Analytical Methods in Organic
Geochemistry, Fundamentals in Organic Geochemistry,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38592-7_3
15
Sample Treatment
3.1 Sample Storage and Pre-preparation
Outlook
Prior to the main analytical procedures two pre-routines need to be considered:
sample storage and sample pre-preparations. Both aspects are discussed
briefly here.
After sampling and prior to the main analytical process some preparation steps and
storage of the samples normally require some attention (see Fig. 3.1). The order of
the two procedures is flexible. The samples can either be stored prior to further
treatment, or the treated sample material can be stored. However, the best practice is
to subject the sample material immediately after sampling towards the initial analytical steps. However, in most cases this is not possible due to necessary longdistance transport, transfer to specialized laboratories or time constraints in the
laboratory workflows.
Noteworthy, the raw sample material can also be subjected to various bulk
analyses. Particulate matter can be analyzed e.g. for total organic carbon (TOC,
see Sect. 4.4), Rock-Eval parameter (see also Sect. 4.4) or grain size distribution. For
water samples e.g. the dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen (DOC, DON) or the
AOX (adsorbable organic halogens) can be determined. However, in this textbook
bulk analyses are not considered in more detail.
Typical pretreatment procedure for solid sample material are drying and grinding.
Drying needs to be performed carefully in order to avoid loss of volatile components.
Drying is performed (1) for an optimized extraction, (2) for a better storage since
dried material is more resistant towards microbial attacks and, finally, (3) as preparation for the grinding process. Applying grinding improves the following extraction procedure due to an elevated surface of the particles that allows an enhanced
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
J. Schwarzbauer, B. Jovančićević, Introduction to Analytical Methods in Organic
Geochemistry, Fundamentals in Organic Geochemistry,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38592-7_3
15