Methods and apparatus for evaporating a liquid component from a liquid sample in a container

A method of conducting an evaporation procedure using an evaporator to evaporate a liquid component from a liquid sample in a container, the method comprising the steps of:

• heating the container towards a target temperature using a heat source having a thermostatic control arrangement;
• iteratively determining a value of a heat flow parameter with a controller, wherein the heat flow parameter is related to the amount of heat energy outputted by the heat source during an immediately preceding time period,
• detecting a peak in the value of the heat flow parameter with the controller;
• determining with the controller when the heat flow parameter value has fallen by a predetermined extent from its peak value;
• and
• outputting a control signal from the controller in response to said determination, the control signal causing a further step in the evaporation procedure to be carried out.