The Analytical Skills Development course, organized by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), is being conducted at the ChemTech Department of the Delft University of Technology from 27 June until 8 July 2005. The course’s main objectives are to assist qualified analytical chemists from those OPCW Member States whose economies are developing or in transition in expanding their experience and practical skills in analytical chemistry. The skills the twenty course participants acquire facilitate the analysis of chemicals related to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the adoption of sound laboratory practices. The course also serves to enhance Member States’ national capacity to implement the global chemical weapons ban.
This course is funded in part by the European Union’s joint action with the OPCW in support of the Convention’s full and effective implementation.
The Analytical Skills Development course, introduced in 2004, continues to prove to be of particular value and utility for Member States. It will focus on hands-on experience in using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Participants will receive theoretical and practical training covering hardware, optimisation, system-validation and trouble-shooting.
The preparation of environmental samples, and GC and GC-MS analysis of these samples for chemicals related to the Convention, is an essential role played by National Authorities laboratories. Participants will be provided intensive training in the preparation of sample matrices, for later analysis by GC with element-selective detectors and by GC/MS in electron-impact and chemical-ionization modes. They will be introduced to a range of extraction, clean-up and derivatisation procedures. There will also be brief presentations on liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, as well as other analytical techniques.
26/2005