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Eingeladener Vortrag
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Special new techniques of atomic spectrometric methods for trace analysis of high purity metals
(2003)
For determination of silicon in aqueous solutions by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry methane/argon mixtures as a gaseous modifier were applied during the pyrolysis step to improve the analytical performance. The beneficial effects observed on thermal stabilization, signal enhancement and shape of absorbance signals were attributed to the thermal decomposition products of methane, which were hydrogen and carbon black (soot). Using a 5% CH4 mixture with argon, the optimized pyrolysis and atomization temperatures were 1350 °C and 2450 °C, respectively. A flushing step following the pyrolysis was mandatory to avoid background absorption and accelerated deposition of pyrolytic graphite. Characteristic masses of 50 and 30 pg were obtained for standard transversely heated graphite atomizer (THGA) tubes and end-capped THGA tubes, respectively, which were lower than with other previously applied modifiers. A limit of detection of 0.2 µg L- 1 (3 s, n = 10) has been obtained. In addition, this gaseous modifier did not contribute to contamination which often was significant when a liquid modifier solution was co-injected. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of silicon in ultrapure water, nitric and hydrochloric acids.
Within the National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) and designated laboratories, an interlaboratory comparison, CCQM-P107, was conducted to verify the degree of international comparability concerning the results of purity analysis. The mass fractions of Ag, Bi, Cd, Cr, Ni, Tl at the lower mg/kg-level in a high purity zinc material were determined, but the real measurand in metrological sense was the sum of the six mass fractions. Homogeneity was investigated by glow discharge mass spectrometry, reference values were obtained using isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Six NMIs participated, contributing eight independent data sets. The agreement amongst the results of the participants, their median and the agreement with the reference values were usually excellent and in almost all cases below the target uncertainty of 30% relative. In this manner, the accuracy of results and the comparability between the participants was demonstrated to be established.
The meaning of calibration in general and in the field of isotopic measurements in particular is described, stressing the fundamental difference between calibration as an aim and tools to achieve calibration. The role of proper uncertainty budgeting as a prerequisite for establishing a calibrated measurement is explained. It leads to the recommendation that the quality of the uncertainty statement should be heavily weighed when ranking or judging calibrated isotopic measurement results evaluated by the Commission on Atomic Weight and Isotopic Abundances.
Two synthetic isotope mixtures for the calibration of sulfur isotope amount ratio measurements were gravimetrically prepared from high purity Ag2S materials enriched in 32S, 33S, and 34S. The mixtures were made so as to closely resemble the (natural) isotopic composition of the materials to be calibrated. This allowed a totally independent evaluation, on the same samples, of the relative combined uncertainty of: (a) the procedure to perform direct measurements of the amount of substance ratios of gas isotopes in the redetermination of the Avogadro constant and (b) the gravimetric preparation procedure. The result of both procedures, mass spectrometry and gravimetry, agree to a relative uncertainty of 3 × 10-4 for sulfur amount ratio measurements of the major abundant isotopes. Thus it seems that a direct measurement of isotopic gas mixtures (e.g. of natural isotopic composition) is now possible for sulfurand probably also for other gaseous isotopeswithout necessarily having to rely on calibration by means of values provided by measurements of gravimetrically prepared isotope mixtures. However, synthetic mixtures may be needed for validation and verification purposes, in particular for quality assurance.
Provision of promary reference materials for calibretion ; method development for trace analysis
(2002)
What is BAM?
(2002)
For the determination of main and minor components in silicon-based ceramic powders, a decomposition by a combustion with elemental fluorine and separation of the volatile fluorination products by a carrier-gas distillation with a subsequent detection by quadrupole mass spectrometry is described. The necessity and success of the separation step is demonstrated for the determination of boron as a minor constituent in SiC, where the spectral interferences of silicon on the boron signals are decreased considerably. The method developed is shown to be directly applicable to determination of silicon in Si3N4, SiC, and SiO2. The determination of nitrogen in Si3N4 requires additional effort, to separate nitrogen from the excess of fluorine. For the determination of boron, a complete mobilization of BF3 is assured by the presence of an adequate amount of GeF4. Analysis results obtained with different types of calibration show a precision of 30 g for boron at the milligram-per-gram level and a precision between 0.5 and 2% (m/m) for the main components, silicon and nitrogen. Within these standard deviations, the results agree well with the values expected from the stoichiometry, with the results for silicon and boron obtained by wet chemical decomposition and slurry techniques in combination with ICP-OES and with the results for nitrogen obtained by carrier gas heat extraction.
New mathematical models with associated equations for isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS)
(2004)
Vector models which progressively lead to a general model for isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) are presented for the case of two lsquomonitor isotopesrsquo and one blend involved. They enable one to find the boundary conditions for performing IDMS, and cover the cases of highly enriched isotopes, radioactive isotopes and ratios that are given with different denominator. The models identify the key measurements in their simplest form as well as the conditions which minimise the measurement effort and in some cases the propagated measurement uncertainties. The equations are discussed and compared with other published IDMS equations. Combined with discussion on fundamental aspects of IDMS, this results in an even more lsquogeneralrsquo but also more complex IDMS equation.
Isotope amount ratios of krypton were measured on subsamples from one large batch of high purity krypton separated from the atmosphere. Synthetic mixtures of enriched krypton isotopes were used to calibrate the measurements with small uncertainties. The result is a primary isotopic gas standard (PIGS) IRMM-2030 with certified values for isotope ratios, isotopic composition, and molar mass of krypton with small combined uncertainties uc, evaluated according to the ISO/BIPM Guide (GUM). It is commercially available from IRMM-Geel or from MESSER (Duisburg, D). The certified krypton isotope amount ratios in the PIGS IRMM-2030 are as follows: n(78Kr)/n(84Kr)=0.006 232 5(55), n(80Kr)/n(84Kr)=0.040 107(17), n(82Kr)/n(84Kr)=0.203 43(12), n(83Kr)/n(84Kr)=0.201 79(11), and n(86Kr)/n(84Kr)=0.303 205(59) with expanded uncertainty U=kuc and coverage factor k=2. The molar mass of Kr in this sample is M(Kr)=83.798 02(16) g/mol. These values are in good agreement with published measurements of atmospheric krypton but have smaller combined uncertainties and are calibrated by means of synthetic isotope mixtures. The values of the PIGS are traceable to the SI. Measurements of isotope amount ratios of krypton in other samples can be linked to SI using this PIGS.
Problems with understanding, explaining and communication of the present definition of primary method of measurement are described and amendments put forward for discussion. The conclusion is drawn that in many cases more attention should be given to the measurement result and its uncertainty statement, rather than to a method. Some cases are discussed where methods might have a fundamental characteristic that other methods do not have, a condition for the epitheton primary'.
Calibrated values have been obtained for sulfur isotope abundance ratios of sulfur isotope reference materials distributed by the IAEA (Vienna). For the calibration of the measurements, a set of synthetic isotope mixtures were prepared gravimetrically from high purity Ag2S materials enriched in32S, 33S, and 34S. All materials were converted into SF6 gas and subsequently, their sulfur isotope ratios were measured on the SF5+ species using a special gas source mass spectrometer equipped with a molecular flow inlet system (IRMMs Avogadro II amount comparator). Values for the 32S/34S abundance ratios are 22.650 4(20), 22.142 4(20), and 23.393 3(17) for IAEA-S-1, IAEA-S-2, and IAEA-S-3, respectively. The calculated 32S/34S abundance ratio for V-CDT is 22.643 6(20), which is very close to the calibrated ratio obtained by Ding et al. (1999). In this way, the zero point of the VCDT scale is anchored firmly to the international system of units SI. The 32S/33S abundance ratios are 126.942(47), 125.473(55), 129.072(32), and 126.948(47) for IAEA-S-1, IAEA-S-2, IAEA-S-3, and V-CDT, respectively. In this way, the linearity of the V-CDT scale is improved over this range. The values of the sulfur molar mass for IAEA-S-1 and V-CDT were calculated to be 32.063 877(56) and 32.063 911(56), respectively, the values with the smallest combined uncertainty ever reported for the sulfur molar masses (atomic weights).
The feasibility of performing SI-traceable carbon isotope amount ratio measurements following conversion of carbon into CF4 was studied. A procedure for the direct fluorination of carbon with elemental fluorine was developed, and the conversion step was checked for losses, blank contributions, and the absence of systematic isotope effects. Gas chromatography was used to identify and quantify the gaseous fluorination products and to isolate CF4 from byproducts. After fluorination of graphite carbon, CF4 and perfluoroalkanes with up to six carbon atoms were observed as reaction products. Within an uncertainty of 10%, the graphite carbon was fully recovered in the gaseous carbon fluorides, with the main product being CF4 (80-90%) and C2F6 as the major byproduct. The fluorination and GC procedures were found to introduce an alteration not bigger than 0.03 ± 0.04 on the isotopic composition of CF4. Carbon blank contributions introduced during the fluorination procedure were below 0.5% relative to a typical sample of 4 mg of carbon. For two of the materials investigated, the carbon isotope ratios measured on a differential mass spectrometer were reproducible within a standard deviation of ~0.1 for several individual fluorinations. For these materials, the developed fluorination procedure is a straightforward process, which can be used as a foundation to establish SI-traceable measurements of carbon isotope amount ratios. However, for the third graphite material the formation of byproducts (C2F6-C6F14) was found to induce significant isotopic fractionation.
ICP-MS analysis of high purity molybdenum used as SI-traceable standard of high metrological quality
(2005)
The need, concept and technical approach for the certification of SI-traceable standards of high metrological quality for chemical analysis of the elements is briefly explained. As an example of problems occurring in the certification of these standards, special technical aspects related to the analysis of high purity Mo by ICP-MS, namely blank reduction for Na, Li and Ni by protective coating of the cones with silicon, as well as dealing with the interferences from the Mo matrix, are discussed.
Microwave induced plasma spectrometry (MIP) as detector for carrier gas hot extraction (CGHE)
(2007)
The preparation and analysis of the oxygen mass fraction of three pure copper reference materials (BAM-379/1, BAM-379/2, BAM-379/3) intended for the calibration of spark emission spectrometry are described here. Data of homogeneity testing and round robin certification in collaboration with 12 independent laboratories from metalworking industry and research are reported. Problems with the establishment of traceability in this special case are discussed.
The International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90) is based on thermodynamic equilibrium states of ideally pure substances. The largest contribution to the uncertainty budgets of most metallic fixed points is the influence of impurities on the fixed-point temperature. Therefore, a traceable chemical analysis of the remaining impurities with small uncertainty is the basis of further progress. Further requirements are better knowledge of the phase diagrams at very low impurity contents, impurity segregation, and the quantification and correction of thermal effects during a fixed-point realization. In this article, current and future activities at PTB and BAM in order to develop improved metallic fixed-point cells of the ITS-90 are reviewed.
A new approach was developed for quantitative calibration in GD-MS which can afford reliable and metrologically traceable results for many trace elements and was exemplified for pure copper and pure iron. It can be assumed that the technique can be further improved and applied to the analysis of other pure metals. Pressed copper and iron powder samples were used to calibrate the glow discharge mass spectrometry applied to the analysis of pure copper and iron. The new type of glow discharge mass spectrometerthe Element GD (Thermo Electron Corporation)was used with a Grimm-type discharge cell for flat samples. Two series of powder samples were prepared for each of the copper and iron matrixes. The powders were quantitatively doped with solutions of graduated and defined concentrations of 40 or 20 analytes, respectively. The mass fractions of the analytes in the dried and homogenized metal powder samples ranged from µg/kg levels up to 10 mg/kg levels. A special technique was developed to press the samples and to form mechanically stable pellets with low risk of contamination. Ion beam ratios of analyte ions to matrix ions were used as measurands. The calibration curves were determined and the linear correlation coefficients were calculated for different intervals of the curves. The linear correlation coefficients are very satisfactory for most of the calibration curves, which include the higher segments of mass fractions; however, they are less satisfactory for the lower segments of the calibration curves. Nevertheless, in many cases rather acceptable and rather promising values were achieved even for these lower segments, representing mass fractions of analytes at ultra-trace level. The comparison of the certified values of different reference materials with the measured values based on calibrations with the pressed powder samples led to deviations less than 30% for most of the considered examples.
An inter-laboratory study was performed by some National Metrology Institutes in order to take a snap shot of the comparability and the capability of performing purity assessments of high purity materials as needed for providing national standards for elemental determination. The measurand was defined as the value of the sum of the mass fractions of Ag, Al, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn in the bulk of a high purity nickel material and the interim results for the six individual impurities. Whereas for the analytes Ag, Al, Cu and Fe there was no agreement within the target uncertainty of 30%, agreement could be achieved for Pb and Zn. The discrepancies observed for the individual analytes resulted in a variation of a factor of 8 of the reported values for the impurity of nickel with respect to the six defined metallic analytes. The reference measurements using IDMS and for Al using GD-MS confirmed the lower reported values.
Measurement of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon using radiochemical photon activation analysis (RPAA)
(2007)
The determination of O, N and H using a microwave induced plasma coupled to carrier gas hot extraction was exploratory investigated. The signal intensities versus time of blanks and calibration materials were recorded. To check for interferences the signal intensities versus wavelength were recorded at the times just before increase and at the maximum of the time dependent analytical signal. O, N and H were investigated at their prominent wavelengths of 777 nm, 174 nm and 486 nm, respectively. Calibration was performed for O, N and H in the ranges of 027 µg, 351000 µg and 343 µg respectively. For concentration values in the middle of the linear part of the investigated calibration interval, a relative precision of 5% at 13 µg, 2% at 74 µg and 0.6% at 23 µg for O, N and H respectively was found. The maximum matrix load to the plasma used was found to be 150 µg min-1. From the signal to noise ratio and the sensitivity obtained, instrumental limits of detection (3s) of 0.01 µg for O, 1 µg for N and 0.1 µg for H were found. Assuming a typical sample mass of 1 g this corresponds to relative LODs of 0.01 µg g-1, 1 µg g-1 and 0.1 µg g-1 for O, N and H respectively.
A complete metrological traceability system for measurement results of chemical analysis was set up. Core components are pure substances (national standards) characterised at the highest metrological level, primary solutions prepared from these pure substances and secondary solutions deduced from the primary solutions and intended for sale. The relative uncertainty of the element mass fraction of the primary substances and solutions is < 0.01 and < 0.05%, respectively. For the certification of transfer solutions and for stability testing, a precision measurement method for element contents has been developed by means of optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) by which uncertainties between 0.1 and 0.05% can be achieved. The dissemination to field laboratories is effected with the aid of a calibration laboratory of the German Calibration Service (DKD) which certifies the element content of the secondary solutions with an uncertainty <= 0.3%. Calibration with these solutions enables the user to establish traceability of his measurement results to the International System of Units (SI). Currently, the system comprises Cu, Fe, Bi, Ga, Si, Na, K, Sn, W, and Pb.
A candidate material for the use as primary standard for silver determination was characterized with respect to total purity. Except the radioactive elements and He, all possible impurities were considered. Based on glow discharge mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and carrier gas hot extraction measurements, the demonstrated total purity and its standard uncertainty is w(Ag) = (99.999 52 ± 0.000 11) %. The purity value and its uncertainty is dominated by the contributions from the measurements of the nonmetallic impurities, namely S, N, C and O.
Thermo Analytic Investigation of Hydrogen Effusion Behavior - Sensor Evaluation and Calibration
(2011)
The well established carrier gas analysis (CGA) method was used to test different hydrogen detectors comprising a thermal conductivity detector (TCD) and a metal oxide semiconducting (MOx) sensor. The MOx sensor provides high hydrogen sensitivity and selectivity, whereas the TCD exhibits a much shorter response time and a linear hydrogen concentration dependency. Therefore, the TCD was used for quantitative hydrogen concentration measurements above 50?µmol/mol. The respective calibration was made using N2/H2 gas mixtures. Furthermore, the hydrogen content and degassing behaviour of titanium hydride (TiH2-x) was studied. This material turned out to be a potential candidate for a solid sample calibration. Vacuum hot extraction (VHE) coupled with a mass spectrometer (MS) was then calibrated with TiH2-x as transfer standard. The calibration was applied for the evaluation of the hydrogen content of austenitic steel samples (1.4301) and the comparison of CGA-TCD and VHE-MS.
Millions of measurements are performed each year by liquid based analytical atomic spectrometry to support healthcare, diagnostic tests, environmental monitoring, material assay, product development and safety. Despite the effort to develop absolute methods, most methods still depend on calibration solutions, which are gravimetric mixtures of high purity solvents and high purity (source material) metals or compounds. As in the real world ideal purity does not exist, the impurity of the solvent and the purity of the source material needs to be known. The impurity of a solvent with respect to one analyte can be measured rather easily and with low limits of determination. In contrast the measurement of the purity of the source material, i.e., the mass fraction of the main constituent in a high purity metal, is more difficult to determine. It becomes even more difficult when the source material is not a pure metal but a compound since problems regarding stoichiometry arise additionally. Although the major producers of calibration solutions make a special effort to determine the purity of the source material, the actual purity statement is often incomplete or not demonstrated. The main reason for this situation is the complexity and high effort necessary to fully characterize such a material. This problem holds to a very wide extent also for the primary standards for element determination at the National Metrology Institutes and Designated Institutes (NMIs and DIs). It is the task of the NMIs and DIs to realise and disseminate primary standards for providing traceability to the International System of Units (SI). The primary elemental standards at the NMIs should provide the link to secondary standards produced by commercial producers and other independently prepared standards for element determination. Without such primary standards, elemental calibration solutions may vary and, depending on the uncertainty required, comparability of measurement in time and space results cannot be achieved.
The results of analytical measurements performed with solid-sampling techniques are affected by the distribution of the analytes within the matrix. The effect becomes significant in case of determination of trace elements in small subsamples. In this framework we propose a measurement model based on Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis to determine the relative variability of the amount of an analyte among subsamples of a material. The measurement uncertainty is evaluated and includes the counting statistics, the full-energy gamma peak efficiency and the spatial gradient of the neutron flux at the irradiation position. The data we obtained in a neutron activation experiment and showing the relative variability of As, Au, Ir, Sb and W among subsamples of a highly pure Rh foil are also presented.
Fast flow glow discharge mass spectrometry with a Grimm-type ion source providing a high sputter rate was used for the determination of major nonmetallic impurities in magnesium. The analytical signal was found to be strongly influenced by the electrical discharge parameters. For calibration by standard addition, synthetic standard samples were produced in two different ways—namely, by pressing and by sintering doped metal powders. The observed sensitivity of the calibration curves was shown to depend on the particle size of the powder. For the magnesium powders, the mass fractions of oxygen, nitrogen, boron, and silicon were determined to be about 0.01 kg·kg-1 (relative standard deviation approximately 10–20 %), 2,700 mg·kg-1, 150 mg·kg-1, and 300 mg·kg-1, respectively.
Gravimetrically prepared mono-elemental reference solutions having a well-known mass fraction of approximately 1 g/kg (or a mass concentration of 1 g/L) define the very basis of virtually all measurements in inorganic analysis. Serving as the starting materials of all standard/calibration solutions, they link virtually all measurements of inorganic analytes (regardless of the method applied) to the purity of the solid materials (high-purity metals or salts) they were prepared from. In case these solid materials are characterized comprehensively with respect to their purity, this link also establishes direct metrological traceability to The International System of Units (SI). This, in turn, ensures the comparability of all results on the highest level achievable. Several national metrology institutes (NMIs) and designated institutes (DIs) have been working for nearly two decades in close cooperation with commercial producers on making an increasing number of traceable reference solutions available. Besides the comprehensive characterization of the solid starting materials, dissolving them both loss-free and completely under strict gravimetric control is a challenging problem in the case of several elements like molybdenum and rhodium. Within the framework of the European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP), in the Joint Research Project (JRP) called SIB09 Primary standards for challenging elements, reference solutions of molybdenum and rhodium were prepared directly from the respective metals with a relative expanded uncertainty associated with the mass fraction of Urel(w)<0.05 %. To achieve this, a microwave-assisted digestion procedure for Rh and a hotplate digestion procedure for Mo were developed along with highly accurate and precise inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) and multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) methods required to assist with the preparation and as dissemination tools.
Quantification in GD-MS
(2015)
In carrier gas hot extraction the calibration of low amounts of non-metals with masses of a few micrograms with small uncertainty remains a challenge. To achieve high flexibility a high precision gas mixture pump was combined with an automated syringe drive. The gas mixing pump allows filling the syringe with different gas compositions; the automated syringe drive allows matching to modulate the signal profiles to those of real samples. The system was designed and its experimental potential explored. The resulting calibration curves were comparable to those obtained by calibration using solid materials of sufficient purity and stoichiometry. However smaller uncertainties and lower limits of quantification (i.e. 0.5 µg and 0.6 µg for O and N, respectively) were found using the gas calibration device.
Within the Working Group on Inorganic Analysis (IAWG) of the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance: Metrology in Chemistry and Biology (CCQM) international key comparisons and pilot studies related to inorganic analysis are carried to ensure consistency in this field at the highest level. Some of these comparisons deal directly with the preparation and characterization of monoelemental solutions or with topics, closely related. The importance of monoelemental solutions lies in the fact that almost every measurement in inorganic analysis relies on the comparison with either a reference material, or references in form of solutions, usually (mono)elemental solutions. All quantitative measurement approaches, e.g. isotope dilution or standard addition, need an accurate reference solution made from a well characterized reference material, prepared under full gravimetric control. These primary (monoelemental) solutions do not only serve as arbitrary references/calibration solutions, but they also link up measurement results to the International System of units (SI), this way establishing the so-called metrological traceability to a measurement unit of the SI. Without such solutions on the highest possible level of accuracy and with the smallest possible associated uncertainties (for e.g. element content and/or impurities), an analysis itself can never be as good as it could be with appropriate reference solutions. This article highlights select key comparisons and pilot studies dealing with monoelemental solution related topics within the IAWG from the foundation of CCQM – 25 years ago – up to latest achievements in the field of inorganic analysis.
The relevance of the COOMET.QM-S5 comparison is founded on tightening of requirements to a control of automobile emissions (realization of environmental standards of EURO 4, EURO-5). Participating laboratories: VNIIM, BAM, BelGIM, Ukrmetrteststandart, KazInMetr. This comparison was carried out in 2013-2014. This supplementary comparison supports CMC claims for: CO2 in the range (4–16) 10⁻² mol/mol; CO in the range (0.5–5) 10⁻² mol/mol; C3H8 in the range (0.01–0.3) 10⁻² mol/mol. Results:
Component CO:
All laboratories identified the values of carbon monoxide mole fraction in the gas mixture within ±0.9134%.
Component CO2:
All laboratories identified the values of carbon dioxide mole fraction in the gas mixture within ±0.3042%.
Component C3H8:
All laboratories identified the values of propane mole fraction in the gas mixture within ±0.443%.
The performance of glow discharge mass spectrometry (GD-MS) is investigated for the accurate quantification of metallic impurities and oxygen in solid samples using the fast flow source GD-MS instrument ELEMENT GD.
Different quantification approaches based on relative and absolute sensitivity factors are evaluated for the determination of metallic impurities using three sample matrixes (Al, Cu and Zn). The effect of the discharge conditions (voltage, current, discharge gas pressure/flow) on the sensitivity is investigated and the parameters are optimized to favour matrix independent calibrations. Improved standard relative sensitivity factors (StdRSFs) are calculated under optimal conditions based on multi-matrix calibrations. The sputtering rate corrected calibration is also presented as a multi-matrix calibration approach.
The capabilities of GD-MS for oxygen determination are also investigated using a set of new conductive samples containing oxygen with mass fractions in the percent range in three different matrices (Al, Mg and Cu) produced by a sintering process. Poor limits of detection (in the order of g/kg) were obtained as consequence of the reduced sensitivity of oxygen in GD-MS and high oxygen background signal intensity as well as its variations. The absolute sensitivity procedure is shown as a matrix-independent approach, which provides quantitative values consistent with those obtained by carrier gas hot extraction (CGHE).
Measurements are an important fundament of natural science in general and of chemical analysis in particular. Metrology is the science (and art) of performing measurements. The basic concepts and terms of metrology and their practical implementation are introduced. The very special peculiarities of chemical measurements that are absent in physical measurements are discussed.
For the gradual introduction of hydrogen in the energy market, the study of the properties of mixtures of hydrogen with typical components of natural gas (NG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is of great importance. This work aims to provide accurate experimental (p, rho, T) data for three hydrogen-propane mixtures with nominal compositions (amount of substance, mol/mol) of (0.95 H2 + 0.05 C3H8), (0.90 H2 + 0.10 C3H8), and (0.83 H2 + 0.17 C3H8), at temperatures of 250, 275, 300, 325, 350, and 375 K, and pressures up to 20 MPa. A single-sinker densimeter was used to determine the density of the mixtures. Experimental density data were compared to the densities calculated from two reference equations of state: the GERG-2008 and the AGA8-DC92. Relative deviations from the GERG-2008 EoS are systematically larger than those from the AGA8-DC92. They are within the ±0.5% band for the mixture with 5% of propane, but deviations are higher than 0.5% for the mixtures with 10% and 17% of propane, especially at low temperatures and high pressures. Finally, the sets of new experimental data have been processed by the application of two different statistical equations of state: the virial equation of state, through the second and third virial coefficients, B(T, x) and C(T, x), and the PC-SAFT equation of state.
For more than 110 years, BAM has been producing reference materials for a wide range of application fields. With the development of new analytical methods and new applications as well as continuously emerging more stringent requirements of laboratory accreditation with regard to quality control and metrological traceability, the demand and requirements for reference materials are increasing. This trend article gives an overview of general developments in the field of reference materials as well as developments in selected fields of application in which BAM is active. This includes inorganic and metal analysis, gas analysis, food and consumer products, and geological samples. In addition to these more traditional fields of application, developments in the areas of optical spectroscopy, particulary fluorescence methods, and nanomaterials are considered.
During its 25 years of existence, the Inorganic Analysis Working Group of the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance: Metrology in Chemistry and Biology (CCQM IAWG) has achieved much in establishing comparability of measurement results. Impressive work has been done on comparison exercises related to real-world problems in fields such as ecology, food, or health. In more recent attempts, measurements and comparisons were focused on calibration solutions which are the basis of most inorganic chemical measurements. This contribution deals with the question of how to achieve full and transparent SI traceability for the values carried by such solutions. Within this framework, the use of classical primary methods (CPMs) is compared to the use of a primary difference method (PDM). PDM is a method with a dual character, namely a metrological method with a primary character, based on the bundling of many measurement methods for individual impurities, which lead to materials with certified content of the main component. As in classical methods, where small corrections for interferences are accepted, in PDM, many small corrections are bundled. In contrast to classical methods, the PDM is universally applicable to all elements in principle. Both approaches can be used to certify the purity (expressed as mass fraction of the main element) of a high-purity material. This is where the metrological need of National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) for analytical methods meet the challenges of analytical methods. In terms of methods, glow discharge mass spectrometry (GMDS) with sufficient uncertainties for sufficiently small impurity contents is particularly noteworthy for the certification of primary transfer standards (PTS), and isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS), which particularly benefits from PTS (back-spikes) with small uncertainties, is particularly noteworthy for the application. The corresponding relative uncertainty which can be achieved using the PDM is very low (< 10−4). Acting as PTS, they represent the link between the material aspect of the primary calibration solutions and the immaterial world of the International System of Units (SI). The underlying concepts are discussed, the current status of implementation is summarised, and a roadmap of the necessary future activities in inorganic analytical chemistry is sketched. It has to be noted that smaller measurement uncertainties of the purity of high-purity materials not only have a positive effect on chemical measurements, but also trigger new developments and findings in other disciplines such as thermometry or materials science.
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).
This key comparison aims to assess the core capabilities of the participants in gas analysis. Such competences include, among others, the capabilities to prepare Primary Standard gas Mixtures (PSMs), perform the necessary purity analysis on the materials used in the gas mixture preparation, the verification of the composition of newly prepared PSMs against existing ones, and the capability of calibrating the composition of a gas mixture. According to the Strategy for Key Comparisons of the Gas Analysis Working Group, this key comparison is classified as an RMO track A key comparison.
The artefacts were binary mixtures of propane in nitrogen at a nominal amount-of-substance fraction level of 1000 μmol/mol. The values and uncertainties from the gravimetric gas mixture preparation were used as key comparison reference values (KCRVs). Each transfer standard had its own KCRV. The results are generally good. All results are within ± 1 % of the KCRV.
In dieser Arbeit werden die Grundlagen der Normung, die Entstehung einer Norm und die für die Gasanalytik relevanten Normungsgremien kurz dargestellt. Dazu werden die wichtigsten Normen zur Gasanalytik entlang des analytischen Prozesses gruppiert und aufgeführt. Schließlich wird als Anwendungsbeispiel aus der eigenen Praxis der Prozess von der Herstellung bis zur Zertifizierung eines Kalibriergases beschrieben.
Die Nutzung von Sensortechnologien, insbesondere im Bereich der Gasdetektion mit einem Schwerpunkt auf Wasserstoff, spielt eine entscheidende Rolle in verschiedenen Anwendungsbereichen der Wasserstofftechnologie. Sicherheitsüberwachung, Leckdetektion und Prozesskontrolle gehören zu den prominenten Anwendungsgebieten dieser Sensortechnologien. Ein zentrales Ziel ist die Erkennung von freigesetztem Wasserstoff sowie die genaue Bestimmung des Wasserstoff-Luftverhältnisses mithilfe von Gassensoren. Dies ist von entscheidender Bedeutung, um potenzielle Gefahren frühzeitig zu erkennen und angemessene Maßnahmen zu ergreifen.
Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt dieses Beitrags liegt auf der Analytik und der Verwendung zertifizierter Referenzmaterialien in Verbindung mit Metrologie für die Wasserstoffspeicherung. Dies gewährleistet eine präzise und zuverlässige Charakterisierung von Wasserstoff und unterstützt die Entwicklung sicherer Speichertechnologien. Im Rahmen des Euramet-Vorhabens Metrology for Advanced Hydrogen Storage Solutions (MefHySto) wird eine Kurzvorstellung präsentiert.
Der Vortrag stellt zwei zerstörungsfreie Prüfverfahren zum strukturellen Zustandsüberwachung (Structural Health Monitoring, SHM) für Wasserstofftechnologien vor. Insbesondere die Fehlstellenerkennung mittels geführter Ultraschallwellen spielt eine bedeutende Rolle bei der Lebensdauerüberwachung von Wasserstoffspeichern. Ein weiterer Aspekt ist die Anwendung faseroptischer Sensorik zur Schadensfrüherkennung von Wasserstoffspeichern. Diese zerstörungsfreien Prüfverfahren ermöglichen eine präzise und frühzeitige Identifizierung von Schäden, was die Sicherheit und Effizienz von Wasserstoffspeichersystemen entscheidend verbessert.
Zusammen mit der Genauigkeit von Messungen ist die ihnen zugeordnete Messunsicherheit Ausdruck und Maß von Vergleichbarkeit und Richtigkeit. Die Messunsicherheit spielt ebenso die Schlüsselrolle im Aufbau einer Rückführbarkeitskette, wie in diesem Beitrag beschrieben. Es ist der vierte und letzte Teil einer Artikelserie (siehe Infokasten), die Einblicke gibt in die Arbeit des DIN-Normenausschusses „Gasanalyse und Gasbeschaffenheit“ (DIN NA 062-05-73 AA) sowie der international tätigen Technical Committees 158 und 193 der ISO.
In vielen industriellen High-Tech Verfahren und Prozessen, Forschung und Wissenschaft, Medizin und Umwelttechnik werden Sondergase eingesetzt.
Als Gattungsbegriff umfasst diese Bezeichnung ein ansehnliches Spektrum höchster Qualitäten an Gasen. Dazu gehören u. a. Reinstgase mit besonders hohen Anforderungen an ihre Reinheit, Gasgemische genau definierter Zusammensetzung und Isotopengemische. Wie genau kann man Gaszusammensetzungen heute messen? Wie schafft man es, dass alle dasselbe messen? Welche Techniken kommen dabei zum Einsatz?
CCQM-K118 was an international key comparison on natural gas composition with two types of gases, i.e., a low calorific hydrogen-enriched natural gas and a high calorific LNG type of gas. There were 14 participating laboratories. The traveling standards (i.e., 14 mixtures each) were obtained from an external source and checked for homogeneity and stability before and after the participants' measurements at the two coordinating laboratories. The data evaluation was performed using a consensus value and a laboratory effect model. The results of the participants were benchmarked against a key comparison reference value computed from the largest consistent subset (LCS) of the submitted results, adjusted for the differences between the travelling standards. For the first time in a key comparison in gas analysis, the model included a term to account for excess variability in the LCS. Most of the participants reported one or a few (slightly) discrepant results. Partly this is due to the heterogeneity and heteroscedasticity of the datasets. In all, the results in this key comparison demonstrate the good comparability of the national measurement standards for natural gas composition maintained by the participating NMIs.
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 (MRA).
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).
The traceabiiity requirements for certification analyses of reference materials are much more stringent than for routine analysis, where certified matrix reference materials (CRM) can be used for calibration and to establish traceabiiity. Although the ISO-Guides related to CRM production and certification are not fully clear concerning calibration, many established CRM-producers do not accept matrix-CRMs for calibration in case of certification analyses, e.g. to avoid circular reasoning. These requirements limit the methods used for certification to those that can be calibrated using Standards of known high purity and stoichiometry or mixtures of such Standards. Powerful solid sampling techniques such as glow discharge mass spectrometry (GD-MS) or spark-optical emission spectrometry (SOES), where usually compact CRMs are used for calibration, seem not be applicable for certification analyses. Especially GD-MS is a powerful tool for trace element determination of solid samples. Beside metallic impurities the use of specific gas mixtures enables also the determination of interesting nonmetallic impurities such as sulfur and phosphorus. Within BAM a calibration approach, was developed which enables to use mixtures of Standards of known high purity and stoichiometry also for GD-MS. Analogue to matrix adaption in solution based techniques, the calibration approach is based on doped pressed powder pellets.
Approach and application on the certification analyses of copper and Steel CRMs are presented.
The special importance of the analysis of non-metals in high purity metals, which will serve as national standards for elemental analysis in Germany, is illustrated for oxygen and nitrogen. The typical range of the mass fraction of oxygen and nitrogen in these materials is below 10.MU.g/g, often close to 1.MU.g/g. The two methods applied at BAM for these measurements are classical carrier gas hot extraction (HE) and carrier gas hot extraction after activation with photons (PAA-HE). The approach, the methods and their advantages and limitations are discussed. Comparative results from the measurement of oxygen and nitrogen in Cu, Fe, Ga, Pb, Sn and W are presented. (author abst.)