TY - JOUR A1 - Richter, Janine A1 - Elordui-Zapatarietxe, S. A1 - Emteborg, H. A1 - Fettig, Ina A1 - Cabillic, J. A1 - Alasonati, E. A1 - Gantois, F. A1 - Swart, C. A1 - Gokcen, T. A1 - Tunc, M. A1 - Binici, B. A1 - Rodriguez-Cea, A. A1 - Zuliani, T. A1 - Gonzalez Gago, A. A1 - Pröfrock, D. A1 - Nousiainen, M. A1 - Sawal, G. A1 - Buzoianu, M. A1 - Philipp, Rosemarie T1 - An interlaboratory comparison on whole water samples N2 - The European Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC requires monitoring of organic priority pollutants in so-called whole water samples, i.e. in aqueous nonfiltered samples that contain natural colloidal and suspended particulate matter. Colloids and suspended particles in the liquid phase constitute a challenge for sample homogeneity and stability. Within the joint research project ENV08 ‘‘Traceable measurements for monitoring critical pollutants under the European Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC’’, whole water test materials were developed by spiking defined amounts of aqueous slurries of ultrafinely milled contaminated soil or sediment and aqueous solutions of humic acid into a natural mineral water matrix. This paper presents the results of an European-wide interlaboratory comparison (ILC) using this type of test materials. Target analytes were tributyltin, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the ng/L concentration range. Results of the ILC indicate that the produced materials are sufficiently homogeneous and stable to serve as samples for, e.g. proficiency testing or method validation. To our knowledge, this is the first time that ready-to-use water materials with a defined amount of suspended particulate and colloidal matter have been applied as test samples in an interlaboratory exercise. These samples meet the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive. Previous proficiency testing schemes mainly employed filtered water samples fortified with a spike of the target analyte in a water-miscible organic solvent. KW - Water Framework Directive KW - Wasserrahmenrichtlinie KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Ringversuch KW - Whole water sample KW - Gesamtwasserprobe PY - 2016 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-015-1190-8 SN - 0949-1775 SN - 1432-0517 VL - 21 IS - 2 SP - 121 EP - 129 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-35730 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hildebrandt, L. A1 - von der Au, Marcus A1 - Zimmermann, T. A1 - Reese, A. A1 - Ludwig, J. A1 - Pröfrock, D. T1 - A metrologically traceable protocol for the quantification of trace metals in different types of microplastic N2 - The presence of microplastic (MP) particles in aquatic environments raised concern About possible enrichment of organic and inorganic pollutants due to their specific surface and chemical properties. In particular the role of metals within this context is still poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this work was to develop a fully validated acid digestion protocol for metal analysis in different polymers, which is a prerequisite to study such interactions. The proposed digestion protocol was validated using six different certified reference materials in the microplastic size range consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polyvinyl chloride. As ICP-MS/MS enabled time-efficient, sensitive and robust analysis of 56 metals in one measurement, the method was suitable to provide mass fractions for a multitude of other elements beside the certified ones (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, Sb, Sn and Zn). Three different microwaves, different acid mixtures as well as different temperatures in combination with different hold times were tested for optimization purposes. With the exception of Cr in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, recovery rates obtained using the optimized protocol for all six certified reference materials fell within a range from 95.9% ± 2.7% to 112% ± 7%. Subsequent optimization further enhanced both precision and recoveries ranging from 103% ± 5% to 107 ± 4% (U; k = 2 (n = 3)) for all certified metals (incl. Cr) in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The results clearly show the analytical challenges that come along with metal analysis in chemically resistant plastics. Addressing specific analysis Tools for different sorption scenarios and processes as well as the underlying kinetics was beyond this study’s scope. However, the future application of the two recommended thoroughly validated total acid digestion protocols as a first step in the direction of harmonization of metal analysis in/on MP will enhance the significance and comparability of the generated data. It will contribute to a better understanding of the role of MP as vector for trace metals in the environment. KW - Microplatic KW - Digestion KW - Analytical Chemistry PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-510727 DO - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236120 VL - 15 IS - 7 SP - e0236120 AN - OPUS4-51072 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - von der Au, Marcus A1 - Zimmermann, T. A1 - Kleeberg, U. A1 - von Tümpling, W. A1 - Pröfrock, D T1 - Characteristic regional differences in trace element pattern of 2014 German North Sea surface Wadden sediments – A judge and assessment N2 - The European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires good ecological status of the marine environment. This also includes the Wadden Sea located in the southeastern part of the North Sea and its chemical status of sediments. Based on results from campaigns conducted in the 1980s, 32 surface sediment samples were taken in 2014 to check whether the sampling strategy required for characterizing the trace element content in sediments is representative and to determine the degree of pollution and potential changes over the last decades. For this purpose the elemental mass fractions of 42 elements were assessed in the ≤20 μm grain size fraction of the surface sediments. Based on cluster analysis a clear correlation between the element distribution and the geographical location of the sampling locations of the German Wadden Sea could be found. As a result of the principal component analysis, three sub-catchments were significantly separated from each other by the characteristic element distributions in the sediments (Norderney and Weser, Elbe and offshore areas, and North Friesland). With the help of discriminant analysis, the classification was confirmed unambiguously. Small anomalies, such as potentially contaminated sites from WWII, could be identified. This proved that the sampling strategy for sediment characterization with reference to trace elements in the Wadden Sea of the German Bight is representative. The impact of regulation and changes on the overall sediment quality is most evident when looking at the environmentally critical elements such as As, Cd, Hg, and Cr. For these elements the mean mass fractions show a significant reduction over the last three decades. Current sediments feature only slightly elevated mass fractions of Ag, Cd, Ce, Cs, Nd, Pb and Se at some sampling locations. KW - Wadden Sea KW - Trace Elements KW - North Sea KW - Statistics PY - 2022 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114208 VL - 184 IS - 114208 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-56550 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - D'Agostino, Giancarlo A1 - Oelze, Marcus A1 - Vogl, Jochen A1 - Ghestem, Jean-Philippe A1 - Lafaurie, Nicolas A1 - Klein, Ole A1 - Pröfrock, Daniel A1 - Di Luzio, Marco A1 - Bergamaschi, Luigi A1 - Jaćimović, Radojko A1 - Oster, Caroline A1 - Irrgeher, Johanna A1 - Lancaster, Shaun T. A1 - Walch, Anna A1 - Röthke, Anita A1 - Michaliszyn, Lena A1 - Pramann, Axel A1 - Rienitz, Olaf A1 - Sara-Aho, Timo A1 - Cankur, Oktay A1 - Kutan, Derya A1 - Noireaux, Johanna T1 - Development and application of reference and routine analytical methods providing SI-traceable results for the determination of technology-critical elements in PCB from WEEE N2 - The recovery and reprocessing of technology-critical elements (TCE) present in printed circuit boards (PCB) from electrical and electronic waste is essential both for recycling valuable materials subject to supply risk and for reducing the environmental impact. Although the quantitative knowledge of TCE amounts in endof- life PCB plays a key role, there are neither matrix certified reference materials nor harmonized analytical methods available to establish the traceability of the results to the International System of Units. To fill these gaps, we developed and applied five reference analytical methods based on ICP-MS standard addition calibrations and INAA k0- and relative calibrations suitable to certify reference materials. In addition, we developed and tested six analytical methods based on more commonly used ICP-MS external standard calibrations to provide industry with routine analysis methods. Twenty TCE (Ag, Au, Co, Cu, Dy, Ga, Gd, Ge, In, La, Li, Nd, Ni, Pd, Pr, Pt, Rh, Sm, Ta and Ti) were selected as target analytes and a batch of powdered PCB was used as measurement material. An overall mutual agreement was observed among data collected by reference methods at a few percent relative uncertainty levels. Moreover, all but one of the methods developed for routine analysis demonstrated their suitability in industrial applications by producing data within ± 20% of the values established with reference methods. KW - Technology critical elements KW - Electronic waste KW - Printed circuit boards KW - Traceability KW - Uncertainty PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-612416 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d4ja00235k SN - 1364-5544 VL - 39 IS - 11 SP - 2809 EP - 2823 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-61241 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lancaster, Shaun T. A1 - Sahlin, Eskil A1 - Oelze, Marcus A1 - Ostermann, Markus A1 - Vogl, Jochen A1 - Laperche, Valérie A1 - Touze, Solène A1 - Ghestem, Jean-Philippe A1 - Dalencourt, Claire A1 - Gendre, Régine A1 - Stammeier, Jessica A1 - Klein, Ole A1 - Pröfrock, Daniel A1 - Košarac, Gala A1 - Jotanovic, Aida A1 - Bergamaschi, Luigi A1 - Di Luzio, Marco A1 - D’Agostino, Giancarlo A1 - Jaćimović, Radojko A1 - Eberhard, Melissa A1 - Feiner, Laura A1 - Trimmel, Simone A1 - Rachetti, Alessandra A1 - Sara-Aho, Timo A1 - Roethke, Anita A1 - Michaliszyn, Lena A1 - Pramann, Axel A1 - Rienitz, Olaf A1 - Irrgeher, Johanna T1 - Evaluation of X-ray fluorescence for analysing critical elements in three electronic waste matrices: A comprehensive comparison of analytical techniques N2 - As the drive towards recycling electronic waste increases, demand for rapid and reliable analytical methodology to analyse the metal content of the waste is increasing, e.g. to assess the value of the waste and to decide the correct recycling routes. Here, we comprehensively assess the suitability of different x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF)-based techniques as rapid analytical tools for the determination of critical raw materials, such as Al, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Pd and Au, in three electronic waste matrices: printed circuit boards (PCB), light emitting diodes (LED), and lithium (Li)-ion batteries. As validated reference methods and materials to establish metrological traceability are lacking, several laboratories measured test samples of each matrix using XRF as well as other independent complementary techniques (instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and ICP optical emission spectrometry (OES)) as an inter-laboratory comparison (ILC). Results highlighted key aspects of sample preparation, limits of detection, and spectral interferences that affect the reliability of XRF, while additionally highlighting that XRF can provide more reliable data for certain elements compared to digestion-based approaches followed by ICP-MS analysis (e.g. group 4 and 5 metals). A clear distinction was observed in data processing methodologies for wavelength dispersive XRF, highlighting that considering the metals present as elements (rather than oxides) induces overestimations of the mass fractions when compared to other techniques. Eventually, the effect of sample particle size was studied and indicated that smaller particle size (<200 μm) is essential for reliable determinations. KW - XRF KW - WEEE KW - PCB KW - Battery KW - LED KW - Recycling PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-614060 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2024.10.015 VL - 190 SP - 496 EP - 505 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-61406 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -