Monografie
(Przygotowanie i atestacja polskiego materiału odniesienia: POLISH VIRGINIA TOBACCO LEAVES (INCT-PVTL-6) dla potrzeb nieorganicznej analizy śladowej)
Zbigniew Samczyński, Rajmund S. Dybczyński, Halina Polkowska-Motrenko, Ewelina Chajduk,
Marta Pyszynska, Bożena Danko, Elżbieta Czerska, Krzysztof Kulisa, Katarzyna Doner, Paweł Kalbarczyk
Preparation, examination and certification of the new reference material of biological origin: Polish Virginia Tobacco Leaves (INCT-PVTL-6) is described. The raw material (dried tobacco leaves of the variety “Polish Virginia” grown in Poland) was cut and ground, followed by sieving through sieves 100 µm. The material was then homogenized by mixing in a polyethylene (PE) drum. After preliminary homogeneity testing by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) the material was distributed into PE bottles. Extensive homogeneity testing by neutron activation analysis (NAA) as well as inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) revealed, that INCT-PVTL-6 can be considered homogeneous for sample size >= 100 mg. To assure long-term stability the whole lot of the material was sterilized by electron beam radiation. Approximately 48 kg of INCT-PVTL-6 was prepared and certified on the basis of a worldwide interlaboratory study, in which 87 laboratories from 18 countries participated using various analytical methods. The method of data evaluation leading to assignment of certified values was essentially the same as that used previously in the Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology (INCT), but supplemented by additional evaluation of data from the analysis of the other certified reference material (CRM) sent to the participants and analyzed by them along with Polish Virginia Tobacco Leaves. Thoroughly tested previously criteria were employed to decide whether the overall mean can be given the status of certified or information value. The validity of certified values was confirmed for several elements using radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) primary reference measurement procedures (definitive methods) developed in the Department of Analytical Chemistry, INCT. Analytical, homogeneity, moisture determination and long-term stability uncertainties were quantified and included into the combined uncertainties of the certified values, according to the ISO guides. The entire process has resulted in certification of 36 elements and for further 13 information values were established.