Filtern
Erscheinungsjahr
Dokumenttyp
- Vortrag (116)
- Zeitschriftenartikel (99)
- Posterpräsentation (25)
- Forschungsbericht (11)
- Beitrag zu einem Sammelband (9)
- Beitrag zu einem Tagungsband (7)
- Buchkapitel (3)
- Sonstiges (2)
- Corrigendum (1)
- Forschungsdatensatz (1)
Schlagworte
- Traceability (35)
- Metrology (33)
- IDMS (19)
- Absolute isotope ratio (18)
- Isotope ratio (17)
- Uncertainty (17)
- CCQM (11)
- Measurement uncertainty (11)
- ICP-MS (10)
- Reference material (10)
Organisationseinheit der BAM
- 1 Analytische Chemie; Referenzmaterialien (90)
- 1.1 Anorganische Spurenanalytik (90)
- P Präsident (4)
- P.0 Präsident und andere (4)
- 1.3 Instrumentelle Analytik (3)
- 1.4 Prozessanalytik (3)
- 1.6 Anorganische Referenzmaterialien (3)
- S Qualitätsinfrastruktur (3)
- S.1 Qualität im Prüfwesen (3)
- 1.7 Organische Spuren- und Lebensmittelanalytik (2)
Eingeladener Vortrag
- nein (116)
An ICP-MS equipped with collision cell, sector field and multi-collector technology has been applied to developing analytical procedures for Fe in terms of isotope ratio measurements and isotope dilution analysis. Therefore a detailed study on the reduction of molecular interferences by a variety of collision gases (He, Ar, Kr, H2, D2 and N2) was performed. The efficiency of the reduction has been checked by high resolution mass scans. The argon based interferences disturbing the determination of 54Fe and 56Fe could be completely removed when using Faraday detectors. The interferences on mass 57 could be reduced to a level which enables accurate measurements. Also, the 40Ar12C interference, which disturbs the chromium correction, could be completely removed. Reproducibilities of 0.01% could be reached for 54Fe/56Fe isotope ratios and 0.02% for 57Fe/56Fe isotope ratios. Under these measurement conditions a sensitivity of 1.2 V per 50 µg kg1 Fe is available. This corresponds to 1.5 × 109 cps per mg kg1. Based on these results highly accurate procedures for Fe isotope ratio determinations were set up, reaching a performance level superior to that of other ICP-MS instruments. Consequently, IDMS procedures were developed on this basis in order to perform certification measurements at the highest metrological level. The first application was the contribution to the Fe reference value by IMEP-12, an interlaboratory comparison with approximately 350 participants worldwide. The analysed Fe mass content is 0.2150 mg kg1 with its expanded uncertainty (k= 2) of 0.0012 mg kg1(0.56%), which is ten times less than the uncertainty of the second certification laboratory. Another application was the certification campaign of the two reference materials Tea Leaves and Polish Herbs. The results obtained with the ICP-MS procedure, 542 ± 11 mg kg1 and 543 ± 12 mg kg1, were compared with the results analysed by TIMS, 541 ± 12 mg kg1 and 541 ± 13 mg kg1, and agree very well within the stated uncertainties (k= 2). The results presented demonstrate quite well the suitability of the developed IDMS procedures for certification or reference measurements.
This article reviews the application of isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) to the field of reference material (RM) characterisation within the past 15 years, focusing on elemental and elemental species analysis. Emphasis is placed on liquid and solid RMs and IDMS measurements of the highest analytical quality. Basic principles, as well as the equation system, are being revisited. Different calibration strategies, such as single, double or triple IDMS, are critically reviewed and the achievable uncertainties are discussed. Differences in the application of thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are discussed as well as differences between different types of mass spectrometers, such as single collector versus multi-collector or quadrupole versus magnetic sector instruments. Possible sources of errors and bias are mentioned and correction models introduced and applied within the past years are discussed. Several examples for RM characterisations and inter-laboratory comparisons for elemental as well as elemental species analysis are shown, each demonstrating excellent analytical quality. In general, it can be stated that IDMS is the most important reference method for elemental and elemental species analysis, offering the highest accuracy and precision or smallest measurement uncertainties, when properly applied. Thus, IDMS represents by far the best suited reference method for RM characterisation. Owing to its universal applicability IDMS offers sufficient potential to follow future needs in analytical chemistry as well as in the RM sector.
The present paper describes the contribution of the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements to the certification of B, Cd, Mg, Pb, Rb, Sr, and U amount contents in a natural water sample, in round 9 of the International Measurement Evaluation Programme (IMEP-9). The analytical procedure to establish the reference values for B, Cd, Mg, Pb, Rb, Sr, and U amount contents was based on isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry used as a primary method of measurement. Applying this procedure reference values, traceable to the SI, were obtained for the natural water sample of IMEP-9. For each of the certified amount contents presented here a total uncertainty budget was calculated using the method of propagation of uncertainties according to ISO and EURACHEM guidelines. The measurement procedures, as well as the uncertainty calculations are described for all seven elements mentioned above. In order to keep the whole certification process transparent and so traceable, the preparations of various reagents and materials as well as the sample treatment and blending, the measurements themselves, and finally the data treatment are described in detail. Explanations focus on Pb as a representative example. The total uncertainties (relative) obtained were less than 2% for all investigated elements at amount contents in the pmol/kg up to the high 7mol/kg range, corresponding to low 7g/kg and mg/kg levels.
The present paper describes the certification of the amount content of Cd, Cr and Pb in two different polyethylene materials within the third phase of the Polyethylene Elemental Reference Material (PERM) project. The analytical procedure to establish the reference values for Cd, Cr and Pb amount contents in these materials is based on isotope dilution mass spectrometry used as a primary method of measurement. Cd and Pb were measured with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and Cr with positive thermal ionization-mass spectrometry. The decomposition of the polymer matrix was carried out using a high pressure asher. Reference values for amount content, traceable to the SI-system, have been obtained for these three elements in both of the polyethylene samples of PERM. For each of the certified amount content values an uncertainty budget was calculated using the method of propagation of uncertainties according to ISO and EURACHEM guidelines. The measurement procedures, as well as the uncertainty calculations, are described for all three elements. In order to keep the whole certification process as transparent as possible, the preparations of various reagents and materials as well as the sample treatment and blending are described in detail. The mass spectrometry measurements and the data treatment are also explained carefully. The various sources of uncertainty present in the procedure are displayed in the uncertainty budgets. The obtained combined uncertainties for the amount content values were less than 2% relative (k=1) for all investigated elements. The amount contents were in the ?mol/kg range, corresponding to mg/kg levels.
Comparative performance study of ICP mass spectrometers by means of U "isotopic measurements"
(2000)
The performance of four commercially available ICPMS instruments of three different types was compared by means of uranium "isotopic measurements". Examined were two quadrupole sector (different generation, different manufacturer), one single detector double focusing magnetic sector and one multiple collector double focusing magnetic sector instruments. The same samples of the IRMM-072 series were used under routine conditions to measure the 233U/235U and the 233U/238U ratios which, in these samples, vary over almost three orders of magnitude from ~ 1 to ~ 2 · 10-3. Within expanded (k = 2) uncertainties, good agreement was observed between the certified values and the data internally corrected for mass-discrimination effects. The magnitude of the evaluated uncertainties was different for each type of instrument. With the multiple collector instrument, expanded uncertainties varied from - 0.04% to- 0.24% for the 233U/235U ratio, and from - 0.08% to - 0.27% for the 233U/238U ratio. They were ~ 1 to 5 times larger with the single detector magnetic sector instrument, and ~ 10 to 25 times larger with both quadrupole sector instruments. With the multiple collector instrument, repeatability of the measurements seemed to be limited by the difficulty of correcting properly for instrumental background, whereas with the single detector magnetic sector instrument the counting statistics was the only limitation (on smallest ratios). Apparent mass-discrimination was clearly found to be larger but more reproducible (and hence easier to correct for) in the case of magnetic sector instruments than for both quadrupole sector instruments. If space charge effects were the main source of mass-discrimination for all instruments, these results are in contradiction with the hypothesis of the size of mass-discrimination decreasing with the acceleration voltage. With the single detector magnetic sector instrument in particular (when operated by changing the ion energy only), our results pointed at more than only one major source of mass-discrimination, with variable size depending on the ratios measured.
A thin-layer reference material for surface and near-surface analytical methods was produced and certified. The surface density of the implanted Sb layer was determined by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), and inductively coupled plasma isotope dilution mass spectrometry (ICP-IDMS) equipped with a multi-collector. The isotopic abundances of Sb (121Sb and 123Sb) were determined by multi-collector ICP-MS and INAA. ICP-IDMS measurements are discussed in detail in this paper. All methods produced values traceable to the SI and are accompanied by a complete uncertainty budget. The homogeneity of the material was measured with RBS. From these measurements the standard uncertainty due to possible inhomogeneities was estimated to be less than 0.78% for fractions of the area increments down to 0.75 mm2 in size. Excellent agreement between the results of the three different methods was found. For the surface density of implanted Sb atoms the unweighted mean value of the means of four data sets is 4.8121016 cm-2 with an expanded uncertainty (coverage factor k=2) of 0.0921016 cm-2. For the isotope amount ratio R (121Sb/123Sb) the unweighted mean value of the means of two data sets is 1.435 with an expanded uncertainty (coverage factor k=2) of 0.006.
The ?- branching ratio of 64Cu was determined by investigating the resulting decay products in copper doped by neutron transmutation. The numbers of 64Zn and 64Ni atoms were analyzed using isotope dilution analysis combined with thermal ionization mass spectrometry. A ?- branching ratio of (38.06±0.30)% was obtained, which agrees with the study of Kawada (Appl. Radiat. Isot. 37 (1) (1986) 7) to a higher accuracy. However, our result differs from the value cited in the NUDAT database of (39.0±0.3)%.
The present work describes the development of an existing TIMS procedure to a reference procedure for low sulfur concentration measurements in fossil fuels. With this enhanced procedure SI-traceable sulfur mass fractions below 10 mg kg-1 can be obtained. The achieved detection limit is approximately 0.2 mg kg-1. The procedure was validated by certified reference materials. The procedure was already applied to candidate reference materials and to samples analysed within projects of the Comité Consultatif pour la Quantité de Matière CCQM.
Additionally the influence of the isotopic composition on the results and its corresponding uncertainty was studied. Reference data published in the literature on the isotopic composition of sulfur were assessed.
The stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition of urine and milk samples from cattle under different feeding regimes were analysed over a period of six months. The isotope ratios were measured with isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). The δ13C values of milk and urine were dependent on different feeding regimes based on C3 or C4 plants. The δ13C values are more negative under grass feeding than under maize feeding. The δ13C values of milk are more negative compared to urine and independent of the feeding regime. Under grass feeding the analysed milk and urine samples are enriched in 13C relative to the feed, whereas under maize feeding the 13C/12C ratio of urine is in the same range and milk is depleted in 13C relative to the diet. The difference between the 15N/14N ratios for the two feeding regimes is less pronounced than the 13C/12C ratios. The δ15N values in urine require more time to reach the new equilibrium, whereas the milk samples show no significant differences between the two feeding regimes.
Gravimetric synthetic mixtures of seven enriched, purified cadmium isotope materials were used to determine the correction factors for mass fractionation (MC-TIMS) and mass discrimination (MC-ICP-MS). The isotope abundance ratios determined for various natural cadmium materials represents the isotope composition for natural cadmium materials. Correction of the isotope abundance ratios observed yielded isotope abundances of 106Cd 0.012450(8), 108Cd 0.008884(4), 110Cd 0.124846(16), 111Cd 0.127955(14), 112Cd 0.241110(38), 113Cd 0.122254(22), 114Cd 0.287439(60) and 116Cd 0.075183(32). The newly determined atomic weight of natural cadmium based on SI-traceable evaluation of the isotope abundance ratios is 112.41384(18). The cadmium material designated in the paper as Cd-2211 can be used as an isotope reference material with a δ(114Cd/110Cd)-value of 0. The results obtained show that the uncertainties for the isotope abundances and the atomic weight given as IUPAC values for cadmium are overestimated.
Isotope reference materials are essential to enable reliable and comparable isotope data. This article reviews the work in this field within the past years. The focus is on all stable elements, except for classical stable isotopes (H, C, N, O, S) and for radioactive elements. Currently available isotope reference materials are listed. The limitations of synthetic isotope mixtures being used to characterize these materials are discussed, as well as the limitations of the isotope reference materials, such as uncertainty and homogeneity. The needs for present research on isotope variations are being considered and are compared to the limitations of current isotope reference materials. This disagreement between both can only be solved by providing isotope reference materials defining a δ-scale for each element of interest. Such materials should be provided with additional data on isotope abundances whenever possible. As an outlook a possible outline for a new program on isotope reference materials is discussed.
Boron isotope compositions of crop plants: A new tracer for the origin and authenticity of food
(2009)
In this study, an analytical procedure for multi-element screening of 40 elements in milk and feed samples was developed. Three different digestion and two different calibration methods were tested for the best suitability. The analytical procedure for the quantification of minor and trace elements is based on sector field ICP-MS (SF-ICP-MS). The method validation revealed good agreement between the determined elemental mass fractions and the certified values of two milk and three feed reference materials. Milk samples of dairy cows at different feeding regimes were collected from two different farms. The results of our study showed significant differences of nine elemental mass fractions (Li, P, Mn, Co, Cu, Rb, Sr, Br, I) between milk from the two locations. Further, a correlation between the elemental mass fractions of milk and the ingested feed and water was observed.
The quantitative analysis of toxic metals in plastics is very important for different sectors of industry and daily life. Many routine procedures have been established based on X-ray fluorescence or inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. However, all of them require suitable reference materials to calibrate or validate. These reference materials ideally are being certified by reference procedures. The development of such reference procedures for sulfur and the four toxic elements cadmium, chromium, mercury and lead in plastics is described here. The procedures are based on double isotope dilution mass spectrometry including analyte–matrix separation. The applied mass spectrometric techniques are thermal ionization mass spectrometry as well as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Memory effects of mercury and dissolution of chromium(III) oxide have been considered especially. The expanded uncertainties have been improved from the percent range down to the per mill range during the development of the procedure from the early analysis of BCR-680/681 to the recent analysis of CCQM-P106. With the fully developed procedures expanded uncertainties (k = 2) between 0.1 and 0.4% for cadmium, chromium, lead and sulfur and around 1% for mercury can be achieved. The so developed procedures have been successfully applied to the certification of reference materials as well as to intercomparisons organized by CCQM.
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.
Isotopenanalytik an der BAM
(2007)
Twelve different samples were analyzed for their water content by the classical oven-drying method and a commercial moisture analyzer. Nominal values have been set by Karl Fischer titration and gravimetry. The decomposition during the drying process of samples containing organic compounds was checked by thermogravimetry coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometric and mass spectrometric detection. Summarizing all measurement results, the commercial moisture analyzer demonstrated an average bias for the determination of water contents, which is much smaller than the stated uncertainty and thus is negligible. Compared to the classical oven-drying method, the commercial moisture analyzer shows a smaller bias, more ease in handling and less time consumption per analysis. When validated by a reference procedure like Karl Fischer titration the commercial moisture analyzer is the method of choice for routine analysis.
Production of three certified reference materials for the sulfur content in gasoline (petrol)
(2007)
Directive 2003/17/EC of the European Parliament and the European Council stipulates that petrol (gasoline) with a total sulfur content below 10 mg kg-1 must be available in all European Union member states by 2009. Three certified reference materials were produced in support of this directive in a joint effort of the members of the European Reference Materials Initiative (ERM). Two of the materials were made from commercial petrol, while the third one was prepared from a blend of commercial petrols. Relative between-ampule heterogeneity of the materials was quantified and found to be below 2.5%. Potential degradation during storage and dispatch was quantified, and shelf lives based on these values were set. The three materials were characterized by three institutes using different variants of isotope-dilution mass spectrometry. The results from the three institutes were combined, and the final uncertainties of the respective sulfur mass fractions were estimated including contributions from heterogeneity, stability, and characterization. The following mass fractions were derived: ERM-EF211, 48.8 ± 1.7 mg kg-1; ERM-EF212, 20.2 ± 1.1 mg kg-1; and ERM-EF213, 9.1 ± 0.8 mg kg-1.
A comparison of different isotope dilution mass spectrometric (IDMS) procedures using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) and thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) was carried out to examine the degree of equivalence between the used procedures in terms of requirements for reference material certification. The comparison was based on the measurement results and their uncertainties. The sample used in this study is a pure zinc metal to be certified by the Bureau Communie de Référence (BCR) for amount contents of different trace elements. This study focuses on cadmium and thallium. The TIMS values contributed to the certified values. To guarantee identical conditions as far as possible for the procedures under investigation, the samples were split into subsamples after spiking and digestion took place. Thus, every IDMS procedure started with an identical set of samples. In total, four different IDMS procedures and one external calibration procedure using internal standardization as an example of routine analysis were applied. The IDMS procedures divide in a group with and a group without trace/matrix separation. Multicollector TIMS (TI-MC-MS) and multicollector ICPMS (ICP-MC-MS) were used in combination with trace/matrix separation, whereas quadrupole ICPMS (ICP-QMS) and ICP-MC-MS were also applied to nonseparated samples. All IDMS results agree well within their combined uncertainties, while some results from the external calibration procedure do not. IDMS results obtained by ICPMS without separation are comparable to those obtained by TI-MC-MS with separation regarding precision and accuracy. The smallest uncertainties were achieved using ICP-MC-MS in combination with trace/matrix separation.
The development and implementation of a method for the certification of cadmium in blood samples at low ng g-1 and sub ng g-1 levels is described. The analytical procedure is based on inductively coupled plasma isotope dilution mass spectrometry (ICP-IDMS) applied as a primary method of measurement. Two different sample digestion methods, an optimized microwave digestion procedure using HNO3 and H2O2 as oxidizing agents and a high-pressure asher digestion procedure, were developed and compared. The very high salt content of the digests and the high molybdenum content, which can cause oxide-based interferences with the Cd isotopes, were reduced by a chromatographic matrix separation step using an anion-exchange resin. All isotope ratio measurements were performed by a quadrupole ICP-MS equipped with an ultrasonic nebulizer with membrane desolvator. This sample introduction set-up was used to increase sensitivity and minimize the formation of oxides (less MoO+ interference with the Cd isotopes).
Because of the very low Cd concentrations in the samples and the resulting need to minimize the procedural blank as much as possible, all sample-processing steps were performed in a clean room environment. Detection limits of 0.005 ng g-1 Cd were achieved using sample weights of 2.7 g. The method described was used to re-certify the cadmium content of three different blood reference materials from the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) of the European Commission (BCR-194, BCR-195, BCR-196). Cadmium concentrations ranged between ~0.2 ng g-1 and ~12 ng g-1. For these materials, SI-traceable certified values including total uncertainty budgets according to ISO and Eurachem guidelines were established.
The variation of isotope abundance ratios is increasingly used to unravell natural and technical questions. In the past the investigation and interpretation of such variations was the field of a limited number of experts. With new upcoming techniques and research topics in the last decades, such as provenance and authenticity of food, the number of published isotope data strongly increased. The development of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers (ICPMS) from an instrument for simple quantitative analysis to highly sophisticated isotope abundance ratio machines influenced this process significantly. While in former times only experts in mass spectrometry were able to produce reproducible isotope data, nowadays many laboratories, never been in touch with mass spectrometry before, produce isotope data with an ICPMS. Especially for such user isotope reference materials (IRM) are indispensible to enable a reliable method validation. The fast development and the broad availability of ICPMS also lead to an expansion of the classical research areas and new elements are under investigation. Here all users require IRM to correct for mass fractionation or mass discrimination or at least to enable isotope data related to a common accepted basis. Despite this growing interest suitable IRM are still lacking for a number of isotope systems such as magnesium.
The isotopic composition of boron is a well established tool in various areas of Science and industries. Boron isotope compositions are typically reported as 6"B values which indicate the isotopic difference of a sample relative to the internationally accepted isotope reference material NIST SRM 951. A significant drawback of all of the available boron isotope reference materials is that non covers a natural boron isotope composition apart from NIST SRM 951.
So-called spikes are solutions of isotopically enriched elements, which are used in isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) for the accurate quantification of element concentrations. Based on its proven records, especially in reference material certification IDMS is considered as one of the most powerful and most accurate methods for determining amounts of substance. Contrary to other calibration approaches, IDMS does not directly suffer from long-time changes or drifts in instrument sensitivity. Moreover, provided isotopic exchange between the sample and spike is ensured, losses of analyte do not affect the analytical result. Both advantages are based on the fact that largely unaffected by instrumental drift, setup or by matrix, unless an isobaric interference is present.
The measurement uncertainty is an indispensable quality criterion of isotope ratio data and sets important limits for the general use and geochemical interpretation of such data. Despite traceability to the International System of Units (SI) or an accepted standard an uncertainty statement allows the direct comparison of isotope data which have been obtained in different laboratories and/or using different procedures. To realise traceability and comparability of isotope data a realistic uncertainty statements should include uncertainty contributions from all influence quantities. In isotope geochemistry, however, often the term uncertainty is used for terms describing the statistical dispersion of measurement results such as precision, repeatability or reproducibility. Because an measurement uncertainty must include all influence quantities even the so-called external precision or reproducibility will underestimate the overall uncertainty. Without uncertainty statement traceability and comparability of measurement results cannot be established. In cases where no uncertainty for isotope ratio data is presented it is highly recommended that at least the measurement results of a quality control sample with known isotope composition are presented which can be used to evaluate the accuracy and roughly estimate uncertainty.
A two-step separation procedure for the quantification of Pd and Pt in automotive exhaust emissions using isotope dilution mass spectrometry was established using a combination of cation and anion exchange chemistry. AG 50W-X12 was used as cation exchange resin and DGA as weakly basic anion exchange resin. This procedure enabled the effective separation of Pd and Pt from the matrix and from interfering elements. Additionally Pd and Pt were collected in separate chromatographic fractions, which increased the precision of the isotope ratio determination by separate measurements using single collector sector field ICPMS. The analytical procedure was validated by analysing the synthetically prepared samples and the certified reference materials BCR-723 (road dust) and IAEA-450 (algae). For the SI-traceable results complete uncertainty budgets were calculated yielding relatively expanded uncertainties (k = 2) of ≈1% for analyte masses in the ng range. Procedure blanks of 55 pg Pd and 3 pg Pt were obtained. The detection limits were calculated as 12 pg for Pd and 7 pg for Pt. Additionally, Pd and Pt blank levels of different filter materials are presented as well as the first results for automotive exhaust particles collected on cellulose filters.
Measurement strategies
(2015)
Designing an appropriate measurement strategy for a particular analytical question is not always obvious, since a number of factors have to be considered, whereby some of them might be difficult to define. A set of key questions generally precede the experimental design in analytical measurements and help to choose the measurement strategy, which is fit for the intended use – in the particular case of the content of this book – either for quantification, elemental ratio or isotope ratio analyses, accordingly.
Thermal ionisation, also known as surface ionisation, was one of the first ionisation techniques developed for mass spectrometry, having been invented as early as 1918. The ionization process, described by the empirically derived “fractionation laws”, is widely understood. Isotope ratio measurements can be achieved with high precision and accuracy. Due to this, thermal ionisation has paved the way for great scientific achievements including: the discovery of new isotopes, the determination of radioactive half-lives and atomic weights of the elements, the accurate determination of the age of the earth and investigations on human society in the past such as mobility and trade. TIMS is still regarded as ‘golden standard’ in isotope ratio measurements. Thus the method is a reference technique that remains at the forefront of isotopic analysis particularly in the fields of metrology. A concise overview is given here of the technical background of thermal ionisation as well as the numerous applications of this technique in earth sciences, industry, metrology, and nuclear forensics.
CCQM-P149 - Purity determination of zinc to be used as primary standard for zinc determination
(2015)
The major source of the anthropogenic platinum group element (PGE) emission is attributed to the use of catalytic converters in automobiles. This paper describes the work performed by three National Metrology Institutes (Laboratoire national de métrologie et dessais, by the Physikalisch-technische bundesanstalt, Bundesanatalt für materialforschung und prûfung), in the framework of the Joint Research Project 'PartEmission' under the European Metrology Research Program. An analytical procedure based on a cationic exchange protocol and the isotope dilution or standard addition using an Inductived Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer, ICP-MS, for the quantification of the elements Pt, Pd and Rh from automotive exhaust emissions is described. Results obtained on a road dust certified reference (BCR 723) material showed a good agreement with the certified values, at ng/g levels, and relative expanded uncertainties within the range of 7–10%. Analysis of filters impacted with automotive exhaust particle emissions (from a diesel engine) showed the amount of collected PGE at levels of 10–1000 pg/filter. Their quantifications followed the developed analytical protocol that had been carried out with relative expanded uncertainties in the range of a few per cent up to 20% per filter. Nevertheless, a lack of homogeneity between the filters was observed, making the comparison between the project partners difficult in the sake of the validation of their analytical procedures on real samples.
Determination of the Pb isotopic composition in medieval pilgrim badges - Micro samples of approximately 1 mg or less were obtained from the backside of 12medieval pilgrim badges. After cleaning with water in an ultrasonic bath the samples were dissolved and the Pb was separated by chromtographic means. In the isolated Pb fractions the Pb isotope ratios were determined by thermal ionization mass spectrometry with expanded measurement uncertainties of less than 0.1 %. The determined Pb isotopic composition of the pilgrim badges spread over the whole range of the European and Mediterranean ore deposits. Nine of twelve pilgrim badges agree with Central European deposits, while three pilgrim badges show a different Pb isotopic composition covering either Mediterranean, or Aegean or Mid to Eastern European sources. Interestingly most of the ore deposits allocated by the Pb isotopic composition of the pilgrim badges do not agree with the known place of manufacture.