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Organisationseinheit der BAM
The CCQM-K88 key comparison was organized by the Inorganic Analysis Working Group of CCQM to test the abilities of the national metrology institutes to measure the mass fraction of lead in lead-free solder containing silver and copper. National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ), National Institute of Metrology of China (NIM) and Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) acted as the coordinating laboratories. The participants used different measurement methods, though most of them used inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) or isotope-dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ID-ICP-MS). Accounting for relative expanded uncertainty, comparability of measurement results was successfully demonstrated by the participating NMIs for the measurement of the mass fraction of lead in lead-free solder at the level of 200 mg/kg.
It is expected that metals at mass fractions greater than approximately 100 mg/kg in lead-free solder containing silver and copper 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.
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.
The aim of this comparison was to demonstrate the capability of national metrology institutes to measure elemental mass fractions at a level of w(E) ≈ 1 g/kg as found in almost all mono-elemental calibration solutions. These calibration solutions represent an important link in traceability systems in inorganic analysis. Virtually all traceable routine measurements are linked to the SI through these calibration solutions. Every participant was provided with three solutions of each of the three selected elements chromium, cobalt and lead. This comparison was a joint activity of the Inorganic Analysis Working Group (IAWG) and the Electrochemical Analysis Working Group (EAWG) of the CCQM and was piloted by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB, Braunschweig, Germany) with the help of the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM, Berlin, Germany), the Centro Nacional de Metrología (CENAM, Querétaro, Mexico) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, Gaithersburg, USA).
A small majority of participants applied inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) in combination with a variety of calibration strategies (one-point-calibration, bracketing, calibration curve, each with and without an internal standard). But also IDMS techniques were carried out on quadrupole, high resolution and multicollector ICP-MS machines as well as a TIMS machine. Several participants applied titrimetry. FAAS as well as ICP-MS combined with non-IDMS calibration strategies were used by at least one participant. The key comparison reference values (KCRV) were agreed upon during the IAWG/EAWG meeting in November 2011 held in Sydney as the added element content calculated from the gravimetric sample preparation. Accordingly the degrees of equivalence were calculated. Despite the large variety of methods applied no superior method could be identified. The relative deviation of the median of the participants' results from the gravimetric reference value was equal or smaller than 0.1% (with an average of 0.05%) in the case of all three elements.
Within the scope of a project of the 'European Association of National Metrology Institutes' (EURAMET), a European metrological dissemination System (network) providing traceable reference values assigned to matrix materials for validation purposes is described and put to the test. It enables testing laboratories (TL) to obtain comparable results for measurements under the 'EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC' (WFD) and thus, to comply with a core requirement of this very directive. The dissemination system is characterized by the fact that it is available to all laboratories throughout Europe which intend to perform measurements in the context of the WFD and that it can ensure sustainable metrological traceability to the International System of Units (SI) as a reference point for the measurement results. This Dissemination system is set up in a hierarchical manner and links up the level of the national metrology institutes (NMI) with that of the TLs via an intermediate level of calibration laboratories (CL) by comparison measurements. The CLs are expert laboratories with respect to the measurement of the analytes considered here (within the project, the CLs are called potential calibration laboratories (PCL)) and are additionally involved in the organization of comparison measurements within the scope of regional quality assurance (QA) systems.
Three comparison measurements have been performed to support the approach. A total of about 130 laboratories participated in this exercise with the focus on the measurement of the priority substances Pb, Cd, Hg, and Ni defined in the WFD. The elemental concentrations in the water samples roughly corresponded to one of the established environmental quality standards (EQS), the annual average concentration (AA-EQS), which is defined in the daughter Directive 2008/105/EC of the WFD. It turned out that a significant number of TLs still need to improve their measurement methods in order to be able to fulfill the Minimum requirements of the WFD, in particular, with regard to the elements Cd and Hg probably due to their low EQS values.
Furthermore, it became obvious that the hierarchical Dissemination system suggested here actually corresponds to the measuring capabilities of the three participating Groups (NMIs, PCLs, and TLs).
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 new method combining isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) and standard addition has been developed to determine the mass fractions w of different elements in complex matrices: (a) silicon in aqueous tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), (b) sulfur in biodiesel fuel, and (c) iron bound to transferrin in human serum. All measurements were carried out using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). The method requires the gravimetric preparation of several blends (bi)—each consisting of roughly the same masses (mx,i) of the sample solution (x) and my,i of a spike solution (y) plus different masses (mz,i) of a reference solution (z).
Only these masses and the isotope ratios (Rb,i) in the blends and reference and spike solutions have to be measured. The derivation of the underlying equations based on linear regression is presented and compared to a related concept reported by Pagliano and Meija. The uncertainties achievable, e.g., in the case of the Si blank in extremely pure TMAH of urel (w(Si)) = 90% (linear regression method, this work) and urel (w(Si)) = 150% (the method reported by Pagliano and Meija) seem to suggest better applicability of the new method in practical use due to the higher robustness of regression analysis.
Isotope ratio applications are on the increase and a major part of which are delta measurements, because they are easier to perform than the determination of absolute isotope ratios while offering lower measurement uncertainties. Delta measurements use artefact-based scales and therefore scale conversions are required due to the lack of the scale defining standards. Such scale conversions often form the basis for comparing data being generated in numerous projects andtherefore need to be as accurate as possible. In practice, users are tempted to apply linear approximations, which are not sufficiently exact, because delta values are defined by nonlinear relationships. The bias of such approximations often is beyond typical measurement uncertainties and its extent can hardly be predicted. Therefore, exact calculations are advised. Here, the exact equations and the bias of the approximations are presented, and calculations are illustrated by real-world examples. Measurement uncertainty is indispensable in this context and therefore, its calculation is described as well for determining delta values but also for scale conversions. Approaches for obtaining a single delta measurement and for repeated measurements are presented. For the latter case, a new approach for calculating the measurement uncertainty is presented, which considers covariances between the isotope ratios.
For the first time, an ab initio calibration for absolute Mg isotope ratios was carried out, without making any a priori assumptions. All quantities influencing the calibration such as the purity of the enriched isotopes or liquid and solid densities were carefully analysed and their associated uncertainties were considered. A second unique aspect was the preparation of three sets of calibration solutions, which were applied to calibrate three multicollector ICPMS instruments by quantifying the correction factors for instrumental mass discrimination. Those fully calibrated mass spectrometers were then used to determine the absolute Mg isotope ratios in three candidate European Reference Materials (ERM)-AE143, -AE144 and -AE145, with ERM-AE143 becoming the new primary isotopic reference material for absolute isotope ratio and delta measurements. The isotope amount ratios of ERM-AE143 are n(25Mg)/n(24Mg) = 0.126590(20) mol/mol and n(26Mg)/n(24Mg) = 0.139362(43) mol/mol, with the resulting isotope amount fractions of x(24Mg) = 0.789920(46) mol/mol, x(25Mg) = 0.099996(14) mol/ mol and x(26Mg) = 0.110085(28) mol/mol and an atomic weight of Ar(Mg) = 24.305017(73); all uncertainties were stated for k = 2. This isotopic composition is identical within uncertainties to those stated on the NIST SRM 980 certificate. The candidate materials ERM-AE144 and -AE145 are isotopically lighter than ERM-AE143 by 1.6 ‰ and 1.3 ‰, respectively, concerning their n(26Mg)/n(24Mg) ratio. The relative combined standard uncertainties are ≤0.1 ‰ for the isotope ratio n(25Mg)/n(24Mg) and ≤0.15 ‰ for the isotope ratio n(26Mg)/ n(24Mg). In addition to characterizing the new isotopic reference materials, it was demonstrated that commonly used fractionation laws are invalid for correcting Mg isotope ratios in multicollector ICPMS as they result in a bias which is not covered by its associated uncertainty. Depending on their type, fractionation laws create a bias up to several per mil, with the exponential law showing the smallest bias between 0.1 ‰ and 0.7 ‰.