Book excerpt: The use of sampling systems in on-line analysis has spread to almost all areas of the process industries and extends increasingly to safety, process efficiency and environmental control applications. This book presents a comprehensive information resource on the concepts, design, manufacture, installation, operation, validation and maintenance of sampling and sample conditioning systems for use with process analysers. This book subdivides sampling in two ways; firstly in terms of the material sampled - gases, liquids, solids and combinations of these as heterogeneous materials, and secondly into sampling operations - sampling, sample conditioning and sample transport. This treatment provides a systematic approach to sampling, taking the reader through each stage of the process. At all times a range of practical illustrations is given alongside the necessary theory. The importance of validation is emphasised throughout. This new edition has been thoroughly updated to ensure that the information is readily accessible to a readership from a wide range of technical backgrounds interested in process analysis. Written under the auspices of the UK's Department of Trade and Industry's Valid Analytical Measurement Programme (VAM) on sampling, this is an essential practical reference for engineers and scientists who are designing, building or using sampling systems for process analysers. It should also be of value to instrument manufacturers, systems designers and plant contractors. This is the first book in the series on sampling produced by the VAM initiative on sampling, and collectively they provide a comprehensive reference to automatic sampling systems.