CRM As, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Ti, Tl, V, Zn - Aqueous calibration solution ASTASOL® AN9098MN

Importance of the Topic

Aqueous multi-element calibration solutions play a critical role in ensuring accuracy and traceability in trace metal analysis across environmental, pharmaceutical, clinical and industrial laboratories. Certified reference materials (CRMs) such as ASTASOL® AN9098MN provide a robust basis for method validation, instrument calibration and quality assurance in atomic and molecular spectrometry.

Objectives and Overview of the Certificate

This document presents the certification of ASTASOL® AN9098MN, a CRM containing 20 trace elements at defined mass concentrations in a 5 % HNO₃ matrix. The aim is to supply users with a stable, homogeneous solution for calibrating techniques including AAS, AES, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, UV-Vis absorption and selected electroanalytical methods.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The primary preparation was carried out gravimetrically using high-purity starting compounds. Certification of individual element contents and uncertainties was established through:

• Gravimetric determination for As, Be, Mo, Ti
• Complexometric titration with EDTA for Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Tl, V, Zn
• Bromatometric titration for Sb
• Iodometric titration for Se
• ICP-OES for Cr

Traceability to SI units was maintained and cross-checked by instrumental methods (AAS, AES, ICP-OES) calibrated with NIST SRMs and in-house standards. Homogeneity and stability studies confirm consistency across production batches and shelf life.

Main Results and Discussion

ASTASOL® AN9098MN delivers certified element concentrations of 100.0 ± 0.2 mg/L (expanded uncertainty, k = 2) at 20 °C, corresponding to a mass fraction of 96.1 ± 0.3 mg/kg derived from density (1.0410 ± 0.0005 g/cm³). Batch 0006 was produced on 21 August 2023 with a 5-year unopened shelf life; post-opening stability extends 12 months. Informational impurity data show trace levels of over 60 elements below detection limits, ensuring minimal matrix interferences.

Benefits and Practical Application of the Method

• Provides a single-source CRM for multi-element calibration across diverse spectrometric platforms
• Ensures metrological traceability and comparability of analytical results
• Simplifies laboratory workflows by reducing the need for multiple single-element standards
• Supports method validation, performance verification and inter-laboratory comparisons

Future Trends and Applications

Future developments may include expansion to additional trace elements, lower concentration levels for ultra-trace applications, and combinatorial certification for isotopic or speciation analysis. Integration with hyphenated techniques (e.g. chromatography-ICP-MS) and new detector technologies will further enhance analytical sensitivity and reliability.

Conclusion

ASTASOL® AN9098MN represents a high-quality, SI-traceable CRM tailored for robust calibration and validation of multi-element analysis in aqueous media. Its stringent certification process, broad instrument compatibility and documented stability make it a versatile tool for laboratories committed to analytical excellence.

References

• NIST SRM 3103a (As)
• NIST SRM 3105a (Be)
• NIST SRM 928 (EDTA titrimetric standards)
• NIST SRM 3109a (Ca)
• NIST SRM 3108 (Cd)
• NIST SRM 3113 (Co)
• NIST SRM 3112a (Cr)
• NIST SRM 3114 (Cu)
• NIST SRM 3131a (Mg)
• NIST SRM 3132 (Mn)
• NIST SRM 3134 (Mo)
• NIST SRM 3136 (Ni)
• NIST SRM 3128 (Pb)
• NIST SRM 3102a (Sb)
• NIST SRM 3149 (Se)
• NIST SRM 3158 (Tl)
• NIST SRM 3165 (V)
• NIST SRM 3168a (Zn)
• In-house Ti standard