Technical Note: Principles of Sample Preparation by Grinding or Comminution
Sample preparation is the process where a representative piece of material, chemical or substance is extracted from a larger amount, bulk or batch for subsequent analysis. Representative samples are selected to accurately reflect the larger group and represent the characteristics of the whole material. Ideally representative samples are homogeneous or similar in nature, but when that is not possible, the best attempts must be made to achieve samples which represent the majority of the characteristics of the larger grouping. The preparation of samples is one of the most important steps in analytical methods for many reasons, including the fact that some materials cannot be analyzed in an in-situ condition (such as proteins, DNA and RNA). Some samples have interfering substances and species that can produce faulty results. Sample preparation can include many processes, from reactions or treatment with chemical agents, to filtration, dilution, and extraction.
Important Talks You May Have Missed at AAFS 2025
March 20th 2025The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Annual Scientific Meeting took place from February 17 to 22, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland. In this video interview, we speak with Tom Metz of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Heidi Eldridge of George Washington University, and Claire Glynn of the University of New Haven, all of whom attended AAFS this year and delivered important talks that provide insight into the state of the forensic science industry. Metz, Eldridge, and Glynn provide summaries of the talks they delivered at AAFS.
Improving Biofuel Production Through Feedstock Screening With ICP-OES
March 10th 2025Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) is the preferred technique for inorganic contaminant analysis of biodiesel, and PerkinElmer offers two technologies to support it. The Avio 220 Max and Avio 550 Max, combined with PerkinElmer's expertise, can help labs achieve accurate feedstock analysis demanded by today's market.
