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Organisationseinheit der BAM
KEY COMPARISON
High purity elements can serve as a realization of the SI unit amount of substance for the specific element. Solutions prepared from high purity metals by applying gravimetric preparation and the concept of molar mass are used as 'calibration' solutions in many fields of analytical chemistry and provide the metrological basis in elemental analysis. Since ideal purity does not exist for real materials, the actual purity of the high purity material must be known with a specified uncertainty. As required uncertainties around 10-4 relative on the purity statement are not accessible in almost all cases by a direct measurement of the element in itself, the indirect approach is followed, where all elements excepting the matrix element itself are measured and their sum is subtracted from the value for ideal purity, which is 1 kg/kg.
It was the aim of this comparison to demonstrate the capability of national metrology institutes and designated institutes to determine the purity of pure elements. In order to limit the effort within this comparison, only six metallic impurities (Ag, Al, Cd, Cr, Ni, Tl) in the low mg/kg range are considered in a zinc matrix. It has to be underlined here that the task was to measure the purity of zinc based on the determination of six analytes. The task is not trace analysis of specific analytes in zinc. This subtle distinction defines different measurands.
The sample, pure Zn, was cut in pieces of cubic geometry for wet chemical analysis or of pin geometry for GDMS analysis and was sent to the participants. The comparison was run under the auspices of the Inorganic analysis Working Group (IAWG) of the CCQM and was piloted by the BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Berlin, Germany. The majority of the participants applied ICP-MS techniques and only two participants used additionally atomic absorption spectrometry. GDMS was used only by one participant.
The observed spreads for the measurement results reported by the participants were significantly lower than those of the preceding study CCQM-P107 and were well below the target uncertainty of 30% relative. As a consequence, comparability within the participating laboratories is demonstrated to be established. The individual measurement results, mean values and medians derived were in all cases very consistent with the reference values obtained by IDMS and so the accuracy of the measurement results for the participating laboratories is as well demonstrated to be established. Especially with the results of CCQM-P62 and CCQM-P107 in mind, the outcome of CCQM-K72 can be considered as a big step forward in the community.
CCQM is aware of the difference between a characterization based on only six analytes and a complete characterization. Therefore, the pilot study CCQM-P149 has been initiated and already started, which focuses on the fit-for-purpose approaches for the purity determination of metals (here: zinc) to be used as primary standards in elemental analysis. Another follow-up in the form of a pilot study on non-metal impurities is mandatory, because non-metal impurities such as oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur often make up the largest contributions.
Main text. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.
The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
The determination of the mass fractions of bromide, sulfate, and lead as well as the isotopic composition of the lead (expressed as the molar mass and the amount fractions of all four stable lead isotopes) in an aqueous solution of sodium chloride with a mass fraction of 0.15 g/g was the subject of this comparison. Even though the mass fractions ranged from 3 μg/g (bromide) to 50 ng/g (lead), almost all results reported agreed with the according KCRVs.
CCQM-K143 is a key comparison that assesses participants’ ability to prepare single element calibration solutions. Preparing calibration solutions properly is the cornerstone of establishing a traceability link to the International System of Units (SI), and therefore should be tested in order to confirm the validity of CCQM comparisons of more complex materials. CCQM-K143 consisted of participants each preparing a single copper calibration solution at 10 g/kg copper mass fraction and shipping 10 bottled aliquots of that solution to the coordinating laboratory, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The masses and mass fraction for the prepared solutions were documented with the submitted samples.
The solutions prepared by all participants were measured at NIST by high performance inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (HP-ICP-OES). The intensity measurements for copper were not mapped onto values of mass fraction via calibration. Instead, ratios were computed between the measurements for copper and simultaneous measurements for manganese, the internal standard, and all subsequent data reductions, including the computation of the KCRV and the degrees of equivalence, were based on these ratios. Other than for two participants whose measurement results appeared to suffer
from calculation or preparation errors, all unilateral degrees of equivalence showed that the measured values did not differ significantly from the KCRV. These results were confirmed by a second set of ICP-OES measurements performed by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). CCQM-K143 showed that participants are capable of preparing calibration solutions starting from high purity, assayed copper metal.
Similar steps are involved when preparing solutions for other elements, so it seems safe to infer that similar capabilities should prevail when preparing many different, single-element solutions.
The CCQM-K123 key comparison was organized by the Inorganic Analysis Working Group (IAWG) of CCQM to assess and document the capabilities of the national metrology institutes (NMIs) or the designated institutes (DIs) to measure the mass fractions of sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium phosphorous and sulfur in biodiesel fuel (BDF). The National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) acted as the coordinating laboratories.
Results were submitted by 11 NMIs and DIs. The participants used different measurement methods, though most of them used inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), isotope dilution technique with ICP-MS and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) with microwave acid digestion.
The material was quite challenging and a number of questions were raised at the IAWG meeting. Concerning S, the variation in S results between participants, particularly those using IDMS methods was discussed at the IAWG meeting. BAM, NIST and NMIJ reviewed their experimental conditions, results and/or uncertainty calculations for IDMS. According to the additional evaluation and investigation, the variances between the revised results became smaller than the original one, the revised results were overlapping between IDMS measurements of S content at the k=2 level. It is not possible to calculate a KCRV with values being modified after submission. It was concluded that this KC does not support S measurements.
Accounting for relative expanded uncertainty, comparability of measurement results for each of Na, Ca, K, Mg and P was successfully demonstrated by the participating NMIs or DIs. It is expected that sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus at mass fractions greater than approximately 0.1 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg, 0.05 mg/kg, 0.05 mg/kg and 0.1 mg/kg respectively in biodiesel fuel and similar matrices (fuels and oils etc.) can be determined by each participant using the same technique(s) employed for this key comparison to achieve similar uncertainties mentioned in the present report. Furthermore, the results of this key comparison can be utilized along with the IAWG core capability approach.
The need for quality assessment of anthropogenic impact on environmental pollution is increasing due to discharge from various industries, the use of chemicals in agriculture and the consumption of fossil fuels. Diminishing resources such as natural waters used for the cultivation of agricultural products, plant and animal habitats are under severe pollution pressure and are at constant risk. Several parameters, such as Pb, Cd, Ni, Hg were listed by Water Framework Directive in Directive(2008/105/EC) in the priority substances. Cadmium and Hg were identified as priority hazardous substances whereas As is an important contaminant for its potential toxicological and carcinogenic effects. An inter-comparison study is organised in EURAMET TC-MC in order to demonstrate the capability participants for measuring five elements in river water. The participants carried out measurements for analytes: Pb, Cd, Ni and As as mandatory elements, and Se as an optional one. Participants were asked to perform the measurements with respect to the protocol provided. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.
The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).