A liquid sample 3 held in an open container 2 and including a volatile solvent, is evaporated by continuously removing inert gas rich in vapor by means of a suction tube 5 whose open end is held close to the top surface of the liquid. Vapor in the gas is then extracted in a refrigerated condensing vessel 6, from where the purified gas is fed by a pump 7 for recirculation back into a sealed chamber 1 in which the container is mounted. In a modification, the inert gas is fed directly through a nozzle 17 into the container 2 wile the gas/vapor mixture is extracted from the chamber 1 for recirculation, after passing through a condenser 6 or the like.
An analysis system which permits sample pretreatment which comprises: a sample rack; a sample container supply, a sample dispenser, a solvent-removing evaporator, a solvent dispenser for dispensing a second solvent, a sample-stirring means, a sample aspirating-and-transferring means, a sample recovery means, a sample container recovery means, and a control means for controlling the aforementioned various means.
