Improvements in the determination of chlorobenzenes and chlorophenols through a stepwise interlaboratory study approach

A systematic quality control programme carried out by a number of laboratories from the European Union and from EFTA countries is described. The programme was designated to improve the analytical state of the art in the determination of selected chlorinated benzenes and chlorinated phenols in different environmental matrices. To that end a stepwise interlaboratory study approach was chosen, analysing, in consecutive order, a clean extract of soil, a raw extract and the soil itself. Eight analytes were selected for the study, i.e. three chlorobenzenes and five chlorophenols. During the programme significant improvements in analytical performance were achieved, as shown by a decrease in within-laboratory coeffficients of variation as well as by acceptable coefficients of variation in the mean value of laboratory means of all analytes in the final matrix analysed, i.e. a natural soil. The results of the programme prompted the European Union to embark upon a pentachlorophenol interlaboratory certification study to produce an industrial soil candidate Certified Reference Material (CRM) [1]. Received: 28 August 1997 / Revised: 15 October 1997 / Accepted: 21 October 1997     

Laboratory intercomparison study on the analysis of short-chain chlorinated paraffins in an extract of industrial soil

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) comprise a class of organic pollutants used in many industrial applications and released into the environment. The analytical determination of SCCPs is very challenging. Although there is at present no fully validated measurement procedure that might be applied in routine monitoring, the European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) has required regular monitoring of this class of compounds at river-basin scale since 2007.To assess the status quo of the analysis of SCCPs in relation to the requirements of the WFD, we organized an interlaboratory comparison on the quantification of SCCPs in an extract of an industrial soil. Six laboratories participated in the exercise using three different techniques [i.e. gas chromatography (GC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) in electron-capture negative ionization mode, GC with atomic emission detection, and carbon-skeleton GC-MS]. The results reported were in the range 8.5–3200 mg/L. This confirms that reliable quantification of SCCPs is still very difficult to achieve and that the comparability of SCCP data reported to the European Commission is at least questionable.     

Improvements in the determination of eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons through a stepwise interlaboratory study approach

A summarising account of a systematic stepwise approach based on interlaboratory studies carried out by a number of laboratories from European Union and EFTA countries is given. This approach has been designed to improve the analytical state of the art in the determination of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in different environmental matrices. The approach resulted in a certification exercise to produce a sewage sludge as Certified Reference Material (CRM). The results of the programme showed that HPLC and GC are equally reliable for PAH analysis at submicrogram to microgram per gram levels in various environmental matrices. Major improvements were achieved during the programme, resulting in reduced coefficients of variation and between-laboratory differences. Several recommendations emerging from the programme experience are presented.     

A programme to improve the quality of butyltin determinations in environmental matrices

One of the major prerequisites for the certification of various analytes in different Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) is that the analytical methods used are of verified performance and, hence, that no systematic errors have been left undetected. In the case of difficult measurements, research and feasibility studies are often necessary to ensure that the methods are operating under good quality control. The EC Standards Measurements and Testing Programme (SMT, formerly BCR) usually follows a step-by-step approach which consists in series of interlaboratory studies to assess and improve the quality of measurements prior to certification by comparing different analytical techniques. A programme following such stepwise approach has started in 1987 with the aim of improving the quality of butyltin determinations in environmental matrices. The project involved ca. 20 laboratories from different Member States of the European Union. The first interlaboratory study dealt with simple solutions containing mixtures of organotin compounds and a second exercise focused on the analysis of a tributyltin-spiked sediment. These exercises were continued by two certifications on butyltins in sediment, the first of which could not be successfully concluded owing to the high spread of results observed between the results of different techniques. The second certification allowed a CRM certified for its contents of di- and tributyltin (CRM 462) to be produced. This programme on Sn speciation is now focusing on the certification of butyltin and phenyltin compounds in candidate CRMs of mussel and sediment. This paper gives an account of the step-by-step approach followed and presents the results of the two certification exercises carried out so far. The preparation of the mussel candidate CRM is also described.     

A new standardized leaching test on stabilized wastes

A new long-term leaching test on stabilized and solidified waste material have been developed and standardized in the frame of the Standards, Measurements and Testing (SMT, formerly BCR) programme of the European Union (EU). The project was coordinated by Dr. H. A. Van der Sloot from ECN (Energy Research Foundation, The Netherlands). Twenty-five European laboratories from EU and EFTA countries participated in the intercomparison exercise. The solidification/stabilization treatment of municipal solid waste incinerator fly ashes, using cement as a matrix, was performed by INTRON B. V. (The Netherlands). The resulting solidified waste material was then used to produce the requested specimens for the intercomparison study. Before distribution to participants, specimen homogeneity was tested according to the state-of-the-art technology for physical-mechanical testing of cement samples as well as for consistency of chemical composition of the solid and stabilized waste. The results of tank leaching test for the above mentioned interlaboratory study are reported and the advantages of this new procedure for the study of the environmental impact of solidified wastes are discussed.     

An interlaboratory comparison on whole water samples

The European Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC requires monitoring of organic priority pollutants in so-called whole water samples, i.e. in aqueous non-filtered samples that contain natural colloidal and suspended particulate matter. Colloids and suspended particles in the liquid phase constitute a challenge for sample homogeneity and stability. Within the joint research project ENV08 “Traceable measurements for monitoring critical pollutants under the European Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC”, whole water test materials were developed by spiking defined amounts of aqueous slurries of ultra-finely milled contaminated soil or sediment and aqueous solutions of humic acid into a natural mineral water matrix. This paper presents the results of an European-wide interlaboratory comparison (ILC) using this type of test materials. Target analytes were tributyltin, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the ng/L concentration range. Results of the ILC indicate that the produced materials are sufficiently homogeneous and stable to serve as samples for, e.g. proficiency testing or method validation. To our knowledge, this is the first time that ready-to-use water materials with a defined amount of suspended particulate and colloidal matter have been applied as test samples in an interlaboratory exercise. These samples meet the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive. Previous proficiency testing schemes mainly employed filtered water samples fortified with a spike of the target analyte in a water-miscible organic solvent.     

IMEP in support of the comparability of measurement results across the Romanian chemical metrology infrastructure

On the basis of quantitative chemical measurements many important decisions are made in support of legislation or in industrial processes or social aspects. For this reason it is important to improve the quality of chemical measurement results and thus make them comparable and acceptable everywhere. The measurement quality is important to enable an equivalent implementation of the European Union regulations and directives across an enlarged EU. In this context, the European Commission–Joint Research Centre–Institute for Reference Materials and Measurement (EC-JRC-IRMM) set up a programme to improve the scientific basis for metrology in chemistry (MiC) in EU candidate countries in the framework of EU enlargement. Several activities were initiated, such as training, fellowships, sponsoring of seminars, conferences and participation in interlaboratory comparisons. To disseminate measurement traceability, IRMM provides through its International Measurement Evaluation Programme (IMEP) an interlaboratory tool to enable the benchmarking of laboratory performance. IMEP emphasizes the metrological aspects of measurement results, such as traceability and measurement uncertainty. In this way it has become a publicly available European tool for MiC. The Romanian Bureau of Legal Metrology – National Institute of Metrology (BRML-INM) actively supports the participation of Romanian authorized and field laboratories in IMEP interlaboratory comparisons. This paper describes the interest of Romanian laboratories participating in this programme, the analytical and metrological problems that became relevant during these exercises and some actions for improvement. The results from Romanian laboratories participating in IMEP-12 (water), IMEP-16 (wine), IMEP-17 (human serum) and IMEP-20 (tuna fish) are presented. To conclude, the educational and training activities at national level organized jointly by the Romanian National Institute of Metrology (INM) and IRMM are also mentioned.     

Measurement of PAHs in environmental matrices: results from an interlaboratory comparison on the different steps of the measurement procedure

Proficiency testing (PT) is becoming a feature of laboratory accreditation and the PT results are used to assess the technical competence of the participating laboratories. ISPRA (former APAT) plays an important role in supporting the Italian laboratories belonging to the network of the Regional Environmental Agencies to improve the quality of their analytical measurements. As a consequence, ISPRA organized an interlaboratory comparison to assess the performance of the laboratories on PAH measurement procedure. The interlaboratory comparison was drawn separating the different steps of the measurement (from the extraction to the instrumental measurement). Two matrix reference materials: (1) a polluted soil and (2) an extract reference material of the same polluted soil and a “blind” PAH mixture standard stock solution were distributed to 59 Italian laboratories. The results of interlaboratory comparison showed a significant dispersion of the PAH measurements that masks the effects of the different extraction and cleanup procedures used, but it is consistent with the results of other European interlaboratory comparisons.     

The EC Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme in support of the quality control of waste analysis

Projects funded within the EC Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme (SM&T) of the European Commission aim to contribute to the harmonization and improvement of methods and measurements carried out within the European Union and hence to the comparability of data necessary for e.g. trade activities, monitoring of environment, food and health control, etc. This goal may be achieved by e.g. the organization of interlaboratory studies and certifications of reference materials, the development of new methods and pre-normative research. Examples of projects undertaken in support of the quality of waste analysis are given in this paper, covering different aspects, namely interlaboratory study and certification of extractable trace metals in sewage sludge amended soil reference materials, pre-normative research for the characterisation of stabilized waste (interlaboratory study), and development of field-measurement device for the monitoring of waste water quality; this paper gives also an account of a network aimed at harmonising leaching/extraction tests used for environmental risk assessment. Finally, the main topics of the workshop on Standards, Measurements and Testing for Solid Waste Management are given in the annex, along with a list of participants.     

Analytical quality control for the determination of polychlorobiphenyls in environmental matrices

Analytical quality control procedures for ensuring reliable data in the determination of PCBs in environmental matrices are described. Several extraction procedures of PCBs from sediment samples are critically compared and recovery and reproducibility for PCBs determination in sediment and cod liver oil samples are evaluated. Extraction by 1:1n-hexane/acetone mixture in an ultrasonic bath and by supercritical fluids generally give a quantitative recovery and a coefficient of variation lower than 15%, while extraction by a Soxhlet system does not give such good results and requires much longer extraction times. Certified reference materials available from three international organizations, namely the Standards, Measurements and Testing programme of the European Union, the USA National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Research Council of Canada were used. Finally, the on-going European Union QUASIMEME programme aimed at improving the analytical quality of marine pollution monitoring measurements of European laboratories is addressed.     

Development of the Headspace SPME/ATR‐IR Method for Detection of Chlorinated Aromatic Compounds in Soils

In this paper, a new method based on attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR‐IR) spectroscopy was developed to detect chlorinated aromatic compounds in soil. To eliminate the problems associated in inspection of soil samples by the ATR‐IR method, chlorinated compounds were evaporated from soil matrices and detected in the headspace. The sensing device was constructed by an internal reflection element (IRE) coated with a hydrophobic film to attract and concentrate chlorinated compounds evaporated to the headspace. Factors that influence the analytical signals were studied such as the moisture content, volatilities of analytes, and effect of heating temperature. Results indicated that the addition of thermal energy to the soil sample resulted in an increase of IR signal. However, the IRE was also warmed up and caused a slight decrease of the IR signals after a long detection time. The studies of the influence of moisture indicated that a small amount of water present in soils could tremendously increase the intensity of detected IR signals. The further increase of moisture contents resulted in a decrease of the analytical signals, and the optimal signal was found when soil samples contained 5% (v/w) water. Results in analyses of compounds with different volatilities indicated that even with vapor pressure lower than 0.017 Torrs, quality IR spectra could still be obtained. Using the optimal conditions found in this work, the results in determination of five compounds in soil samples indicated that the linear regression coefficients (R‐square) were higher than 0.992 with detection limits around a few hundreds of ppb.     

Improvement of quality control of speciation analysis using hyphenated techniques A decade of progress within the European Community

The awareness of a need for an improved control of environmental contamination levels has led to the development of new hyphenated techniques for the determination of a wide variety of chemical species (e.g., organotins, methyl-mercury, alkyl-lead compounds etc.). These techniques generally involve many analytical steps such as extraction, derivatisation, separation and detection which have to be carried out in such a way that the speciation is not changed during the abalytical process. The need for evaluating the method's performance has led the BCR programme of the European Commission (now Standards, Measurements and Testing programme) to conduct series of interlaboratory studies during the last decade. These projects followed a step-by-step approach for the evaluation of different steps of the analytical methods used, e.g., simple solutions to test the detection, cleaned extract to evaluate the separation, spiked samples to test the extraction and natural samples to evaluate the whole analytical procedures. These collaborative projects allowed most of the sources of errors related to either a technique or a laboratory to be detected and removed. This paper gives an account of discussions of possible errors occurring in speciation analysis and presents examples of technical scrutiny of hyphenated techniques using chromatography as applied to the determination of tributyltin, methyl-mercury and trimethyllead.     

Reflection–absorption infrared sensing device for detection of semivolatile aromatic compounds in soils

In this article, a new IR-sensing device is described for the examination of chlorinated aromatic compounds in soils. To prepare this sensing device, a 20-mL glass vial was modified for use in the analysis of soil samples by conventional Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. In this sampling device, an aluminium plate coated with a hydrophobic film was placed on top of the cap of the sample vial to absorb the analytes that evaporated from the soil matrix. After this absorption process was complete, the cap was placed in an FT-IR spectrometer, and the absorbed analytes were detected in the reflection–absorption (RA) mode. To accelerate the rate of evaporation of the analytes, the soil samples were heated to various temperatures. Meanwhile, other factors, such as the moisture content, sampling time, thickness of the hydrophobic film, and the volatilities and concentrations of the analytes, were also examined to optimize the analytical conditions. The results indicated that the time required to reach equilibrium conditions was short, and evaporation/absorption could be achieved within 10?min. With a water content of 10% (v/w) or less, the intensities of the analytical signals were increased greatly when compared with those of dry samples; when the water content was above 10% (v/w), these intensities decreased, partially as a result of the heating efficiency. After examining the compounds that had different vapour pressures, the analytical results indicated that this method was applicable to the examination of compounds that had vapour pressures below 1.0?Torr. Using the optimal conditions determined in this study, the detection limits for semivolatile aromatic compounds were lower than 100?ng/g, and the regression coefficients of the standard curves for compounds that had a vapour pressure lower than 1.0?Torr were larger than 0.99 in the concentration range of 1–100?µg/g.     

First European interlaboratory study of the analysis of benzoxazinone derivatives in plants by liquid chromatography

Six laboratories from four different countries participated in the first European interlaboratory comparison exercise within the framework of the "Fate and toxicity of allelochemicals (natural plant toxins) in relation to environment and consumer" (FATEALLCHEM) European Union Project. The study, organized between November 2002 and March 2003, involved the analyses of seven benzoxazinone derivatives in two standard solutions and one purified extract of root material. Results are reported from the first phase of the study that examined the variability associated with different detection methods and different laboratories. The analytical strategies were based on liquid chromatography (LC) with diode array detection, LC coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) and LC coupled to tandem MS. When data from all laboratories were pooled, the relative standard deviation values ranged from 2 to 14% for the determination of target compounds in standard solutions, and between 19 and 47% for the analysis in root material. Comparison of the three detection techniques leads to the conclusion that MS approaches are the most accurate and precise techniques for the determination of benzoxazinone derivatives at ng/microL level in plant material.     

Multielement trace determination in SiC powders: assessment of interlaboratory comparisons aimed at the validation and standardization of analytical procedures with direct solid sampling based on ETV ICP OES and DC arc OES

The members of the committee NMP 264 “Chemical analysis of non-oxidic raw and basic materials” of the German Standards Institute (DIN) have organized two interlaboratory comparisons for multielement determination of trace elements in silicon carbide (SiC) powders via direct solid sampling methods. One of the interlaboratory comparisons was based on the application of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry with electrothermal vaporization (ETV ICP OES), and the other on the application of optical emission spectrometry with direct current arc (DC arc OES). The interlaboratory comparisons were organized and performed in the framework of the development of two standards related to “the determination of mass fractions of metallic impurities in powders and grain sizes of ceramic raw and basic materials” by both methods. SiC powders were used as typical examples of this category of material. The aim of the interlaboratory comparisons was to determine the repeatability and reproducibility of both analytical methods to be standardized. This was an important contribution to the practical applicability of both draft standards. Eight laboratories participated in the interlaboratory comparison with ETV ICP OES and nine in the interlaboratory comparison with DC arc OES. Ten analytes were investigated by ETV ICP OES and eleven by DC arc OES. Six different SiC powders were used for the calibration. The mass fractions of their relevant trace elements were determined after wet chemical digestion. All participants followed the analytical requirements described in the draft standards. In the calculation process, three of the calibration materials were used successively as analytical samples. This was managed in the following manner: the material that had just been used as the analytical sample was excluded from the calibration, so the five other materials were used to establish the calibration plot. The results from the interlaboratory comparisons were summarized and used to determine the repeatability and the reproducibility (expressed as standard deviations) of both methods. The calculation was carried out according to the related standard. The results are specified and discussed in this paper, as are the optimized analytical conditions determined and used by the authors of this paper. For both methods, the repeatability relative standard deviations were <25%, usually ~10%, and the reproducibility relative standard deviations were <35%, usually ~15%. These results were regarded as satifactory for both methods intended for rapid analysis of materials for which decomposition is difficult and time-consuming. Also described are some results from an interlaboratory comparison used to certify one of the materials that had been previously used for validation in both interlaboratory comparisons. Thirty laboratories (from eight countries) participated in this interlaboratory comparison for certification. As examples, accepted results are shown from laboratories that used ETV ICP OES or DC arc OES and had performed calibrations by using solutions or oxides, respectively. The certified mass fractions of the certified reference materials were also compared with the mass fractions determined in the interlaboratory comparisons performed within the framework of method standardization. Good agreement was found for most of the analytes.     

Development of a proficiency testing scheme for a limited number of participants in the field of natural water analysis

A proficiency testing (PT) scheme was developed for a limited number of analytical laboratories participating in the analysis of natural water in Israel. Three fit-for-intended-use reference materials (RMs) were prepared for a pilot PT from natural water: RM-blank and two in-house reference materials (IHRMs) with seven analytes fortified to achieve different levels of analyte concentrations. The measurands for the PT participants were the traceable spike values certified in the IHRMs, i.e., added mass concentrations of the analytes. The RM-blank and IHRMs were found to be homogeneous and stable over 11 days, the time necessary for the experimental part of the PT. The RMs were distributed to the PT participants as unknown test items similar to routine samples. The test results were evaluated using their deviations from the IHRM-certified values. Eight Israeli laboratories took part in the interlaboratory comparison. Individual laboratory performance and metrological compatibility of the PT results of the participants, as a local group of laboratories, were evaluated for every analyte.     

Reference materials for PAHs in foodstuffs: II. Results of a further intercomparison of methods in experienced laboratories

Summary An earlier study revealed a poor level of interlaboratory agreement in the determination of PAHs in foodstuffs. In this second cooperative study, also organised within the BCR programme, a considerable improvement in the precision and accuracy of the method used by fourteen European laboratories has been achieved for the measurement of five PAHs present at trace levels in a coconut oil matrix. The refined analytical procedures should now permit the accurate certification of coconut oil reference materials for low amounts of PAHs.Part I: see [8]     

Characterization of ARC/CL wheat flour, pork meat and skim milk powder reference materials for contents of toxic elements

Summary Wheat flour, pork meat and skim milk powder reference materials (RM) prepared and employed for the activities of the Sub-network on Trace Element Status in Food of the FAO European Cooperative Research Network on Trace Elements were subjected to an interlaboratory comparison study on the contents of Pb, Cd and Hg. The homogeneity of the above materials had earlier been shown to be within 2% for several essential elements and within 5 to 10% for Pb and Cd. An interlaboratory comparison study was conducted involving 17 reference laboratories recognized for their reliability and specialized in heavy metal determinations in biological materials. A total of seven methods based on four different analytical principles were employed to determine the contents of the above heavy metals. After the exclusion of outliers, the recommended concentration values expressed as the medians ±95% confidence limits were established. All of the recommended values reported here fell into category A, i.e. values recommended with a high degree of confidence according to the certification criteria established by Pszonicki. The present materials contain very low naturally occurring levels of all the heavy metals studied and have been successfully employed in the analytical quality control program of the above FAO study during the past five years.     

Development and validation of a liquid chromatographic-electrospray tandem mass spectrometric multiresidue method for anthelmintics in milk

A liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric multiresidue method for the simultaneous quantitative determination of the tetrahydroimidazole, levamisole and the benzimidazoles thiabendazole, oxfendazole, oxibendazole, albendazole, fenbendazole, febantel and triclabendazole in milk has been developed and validated. The anthelmintic residues were extracted with ethyl acetate. The liquid chromatographic separation was performed on a reversed-phase C18 column with gradient elution. The analytes were detected by tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry after positive electrospray ionisation by multiple reaction monitoring. The confirmatory method is very sensitive and each component can be detected at a residue level lower than 1 microgram/l. The method is validated according to the revised European Union requirements and all parameters were found conform the criteria. The evaluated parameters were linearity, specificity, stability, recovery, precision (repeatability and within-laboratory reproducibility) and analytical limits (detection limit, decision limit and detection capability). This analytical method is applied in the Belgian monitoring programme for classical anthelmintic veterinary drugs in raw farm cow's milk.     

Inter-laboratory comparison of liquid chromatographic techniques and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the determination of surfactants in wastewaters

Seven laboratories participated in an inter-laboratory comparison exercise within the framework of the PRISTINE, SANDRINE and INEXsPORT European Union Projects. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) methodologies were used for the extraction of target analytes from wastewaters. The analytical strategies were based on liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to mass spectrometric (MS) or to fluorescent (FL) detection in all cases with the exception of one laboratory using a test-tube enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Samples were spiked with the surfactants nonylphenolpolyglycol ether, coconut diethanolamide, linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, nonylphenolpolyglycol ether sulfate, alkylpolyglycol ether and secondary alkane sulfonate. After enrichment on previously conditioned SPE cartridges, the SPE cartridges were distributed among the participating laboratories without the information about the amount of spiked surfactants. In addition, SPE cartridges loaded with a real-world environmental sample containing a tannery wastewater were also analyzed. The results of the programme showed that SPE followed by LC-MS techniques are reliable for the surfactants determination at submicrogram to microgram per liter levels in wastewaters. Inter-laboratory precision values were calculated as the reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSD(R)) which was determined from the reproducibility standard deviation (sR) and the average concentration at a particular concentration level. When data from all laboratories were pooled, the RSD(R) values ranged from 5.1 to 28.3% for the determination of target analytes. The most accurate result corresponded to that given for linear alkylbenzene sulfonates. Taking into account that different methodologies were used (including non-chromatographic techniques) and the complexity of the samples analyzed, it can be considered that acceptable reproducibility values were obtained in this inter-laboratory study.