The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 11 No 1 (2007): 17 – 22

 

 

CERTIFIED REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR ANALYTICAL QUALITY CONTROL IN NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS

 

Wee Boon Siong, Abdul Khalik Hj. Wood, Mohd. Suhaimi Hamzah, Shamsiah Abdul Rahman, Md. Suhaimi Elias, and Nazaratul Ashifa Abd. Salim

 

Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT) Bangi,

43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.

 

Abstract

Analytical quality control in neutron activation analysis (NAA) requires the use of certified reference materials (CRM) in order to produce reliable analytical results.   It is essential to evaluate the performance of NAA method  when  analyzing various sample matrices.  Therefore, the CRM selected for an analysis should be suitable for the type of samples.  There are many aspects such as concentration range, matrix match, sample size, and  uncertainty, which need to be considered when selecting a suitable CRM.  Eventually, results of analysis of CRM were plotted into control charts in order to evaluate the quality of the data.   This is to ensure that the  results are within the 95% confidence interval as stipulated in the certificate of CRM.  Thus, this article aims to discuss the uses of certified reference materials for quality control purposes in NAA involving various sample matrices.

 

Keywords : certified reference materials, analytical quality control, neutron activation analysis.

 

References

1.         ISO Guide 30 (1992).  Terms and Definitions used in connection with reference materials, ISO, Geneva.

2.         R. Walker and I. Lumley (1999).  Pitfalls in terminology and use of reference materials.  Trends Anal. Chem. 18, 594 – 616.

3.         B. King (1997).  Traceability of chemical analysis.  Analyst 122, 197 – 204.

4.         P. Bode and C.P. van Dijk (1997).  Operational management of results in INAA utilizing a versatile system of control charts.    J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 215, 87 – 94.

5.         W.B. Siong, H.M. Dung, A.K. Wood, N.A.A. Salim and M.S. Elias (2006).  Tes ting the applicability of k0-INAA at the MINT’s TRIGA MK II reactor.  Nucl. Instr. & Meth. A 564, 716 – 720.

6.         M. Thompson (2000).  Recent trends in inter-laboratory precision at ppb and sub-ppb concentrations  in  relation to fitness for purpose criteria in proficiency testing.    Analyst 125, 385 – 386.

7.         R. Zeisler, E.A. Mackey, G.P. Lamaze, T.E. Stover, R.O. Spatz and R.R. Greenberg (2006).   NAA  methods for determination of  nanogram amounts of arsenic in biological samples.  J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 269, 291 – 296.

8.         J. Kucera, P. Bode and V. Stepanek (2000).  The 1993 ISO Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement applied to NAA.   J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 245, 115 – 122.