Synthetic reference material

Zaichick, VYe (1995) Application of synthetic reference materials in the Medical Radiological Research Centre. Fresenius J Anal Chem 352 219-223. 

For relatively simple matrices, such as pure metallic CRMs synthetic reference materials for direct calibration were prepared and used, for example Bi, Cd, Hg, Pb and T1 in high purity gallium (HUtenkamp and Jackwerth 1988), Ag in copper (Pau-wels et al. 1990) and Au and Pd in silver (Hinds 1993). Direct calibration by solid biological materials with added analyte belongs also to these quite successfully applied techniques (Hofmarm et al. 1992). 

Analysis of Standards The analysis of a standard containing a known concentration of analyte also can be used to monitor a system s state of statistical control. Ideally, a standard reference material (SRM) should be used, provided that the matrix of the SRM is similar to that of the samples being analyzed. A variety of appropriate SRMs are available from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). If a suitable SRM is not available, then an independently prepared synthetic sample can be used if it is prepared from reagents of known purity. At a minimum, a standardization of the method is verified by periodically analyzing one of the calibration standards. In all cases, the analyte s experimentally determined concentration in the standard must fall within predetermined limits if the system is to be considered under statistical control. 

For exposure of reasons of observable discrepancy of results of the analysis simulated experiment with application synthetic reference samples of aerosols [1]. The models have demonstrated absence of significant systematic errors in results XRF. While results AAA and FMA depend on sort of chemical combination of an elements, method of an ashing of a material and mass of silicic acid remaining after an ashing of samples. The investigations performed have shown that silicic acid adsorbs up to 40 % (rel.) ions of metals. The coefficient of a variation V, describing effect of the indicated factors on results of the analysis, varies %) for Mn and Fe from 5 up to 20, for Cu - from 10 up to 40, for Pb - from 10 up to 70, for Co the ambassador of a dry ashing of samples - exceeds 50. At definition Cr by a method AAA the value V reaches 70 %, if element presences an atmosphere in the form of Cr O. At photometric definition Cr (VI) the value V is equal 40%, when the element is present at aerosols in the form of chromates of heavy metals. 

Laser based mass spectrometric methods, such as laser ionization (LIMS) and laser ablation in combination with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) are powerful analytical techniques for survey analysis of solid substances. To realize the analytical performances methods for the direct trace analysis of synthetic and natural crystals modification of a traditional analytical technique was necessary and suitable standard reference materials (SRM) were required. Recent developments allowed extending the range of analytical applications of LIMS and LA-ICP-MS will be presented and discussed. For example ... 

The set of Glass Standard Reference Material NIST SRM 610 - 614 was used for quantification of amount up to 45 trace elements in the synthetic oxide single crystals and natural quartzites. 

Rossbach M, Ostapczuk P, Emons H (1998) Microhomogeneity of candidate reference materials Comparison of solid sampling Zeeman-AAS with INAA. Fresenius J Anal Chem 360 380-383. Rossbach M, Stoeppler M (1987) Use of CRMs as mutual calibration materials and control of synthetic multielement standards as used in INAA. J Radioanal Nud Chem Artides 113 217-223. Sargent M (1995) Development and application of a protocol for quality assurance of trace analysis. Anal Proc 32 71-76. 

Automated Extraction of Interference Functions. For the classical synthetic polymer materials it is, in general, possible to strip the interference function from the scattering data by an algorithm that does not require user intervention. Quantitative information on the non-topological parameters is lost (Stribeck [26,153]). The method is particularly useful if extensive data sets from time-resolved experiments of nanostructure evolution must be processed. Background ideas and references are presented in the sequel. 

In the analysis of solid samples (e.g., LA-ICP-MS, SEM), synthetic standards cannot easily be prepared to the required concentrations, and accurate calibration of such techniques is often challenging. In some cases (e.g., SEM) pure element or single mineral standards are used, ideally with an appropriate standard for each element to be quantified. (It is possible in SEM, within limits, to use fewer standards than the number of elements to be determined, with the calibration for other elements being predicted from the response of the nearest element.) More often, however, multielement primary standards are used as the means of calibrating the instrument, e.g., for LA-ICP-MS of glasses, volcanics, and ceramics, two glass standards, NIST 610 and 612 (Pearce et al. 1996), are often used. It is always advisable to use more than one multielement standard in order to cover as wide a range of concentrations as possible, and to use at least one additional independent reference material as an unknown, for quality assurance purposes (see below). 

An outline laboratory QA procedure would need to include the following. In addition to the use of freshly made synthetic calibration standards, in-house standards, internationally recognized reference materials, and method blanks, as described above, it should include ... 

Reference Material Material or substance whose property values are sufficiently homogeneous and well-established so as to be used for the calibration of an apparatus, the assessment of a measurement method, or for assigning values to materials. (Note A reference material may be in the form of a pure or mixed gas, liquid, or solid. Examples include synthetic mixtures such as calibration solutions used in chemical analysis as well as materials based on natural environmental samples such as sediments.)... 

A synthetic certified reference material based on an acidic solution containing 232Th (ca. 20 Bq/g) with daughters in secular equilibrium through 224Ra. 

Probably the most important step in the prodnetion proeess of a eertified reference material is the assignment of the reference valne(s). This, in the case of a reference material, is done by designation bnt in the case of a certified reference material by measnre-ment. Even when nsing synthetic preparation, measnrements are still needed for confirmation of the preparation process. 

Preparation of Direct-Reading Spectrometric Standards. No certified standards are yet available for trace elements in coal, although the National Bureau of Standards is conducting an inter laboratory evaluation of a composite coal sample for use as a Standard Reference Material (11). It was necessary, therefore, to prepare synthetic standards. 

Jones, T. E. "Reference Material Chemistry, Synthetic Groundwater Formulation, RHO-BW-ST-37 P, Rockwell Hanford Operations, Richland, Washington, 1982. 

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