CRM Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb, Se, Sr, Te, Tl, U, V, Zn - Aqueous calibration solution ASTASOL® AN9104MN

Importance of Aqueous Calibration Solutions in Analytical Chemistry

Certified multielement solutions are essential for ensuring accuracy and comparability of measurements across laboratories. High-purity reference materials support reliable calibration of atomic spectrometry and other quantitative techniques, underpinning quality control in environmental, clinical and industrial analytics.

Objectives and Overview of ASTASOL® AN9104MN Certification

The ASTASOL® AN9104MN product is a water-based certified reference material containing over 30 elements at trace and macro levels. Its certification follows ISO Guide 31 and aims to provide users with precise concentration values, associated uncertainties and traceability to SI units. The material is designed for method validation and routine calibration.

Methodology and Used Instrumentation

Preparation of this solution was performed gravimetrically, ensuring direct linkage to the kilogram standard. Characterization involved both primary analytical techniques and instrumental methods. Key approaches included:

• Gravimetric and titrimetric determinations for elements such as silver, arsenic, barium and molybdenum
• Complexometric titrations with EDTA for many metals including calcium, magnesium and lead
• Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and atomic emission spectrometry (AES)
• Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

The matrix consists of 5% nitric acid in ultrapure water, filtered to 0.22 μm and prepared from sub-boiling distilled reagent.

Main Certified Values and Discussion

Concentrations at 20 °C are certified with expanded uncertainties (k=2): calcium at 1000 mg/L, selected macro and trace analytes at 100 mg/L and the remaining suite at 10 mg/L. The density of the solution is 1.0381 ± 0.0005 g/cm3. Homogeneity tests confirm uniform distribution of elements, and stability evaluations verify integrity over one year under recommended storage conditions. Impurity levels for elements not intentionally added were found below detection limits, ensuring suitability for sensitive calibrations.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The multi-element composition enables simultaneous calibration of diverse spectrometric instruments, reducing preparation time and potential errors. It supports applications in environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical analysis, food testing and industrial quality assurance. Reliable uncertainties and SI traceability enhance compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements.

Future Trends and Possibilities

Advancements may include expansion of certified element ranges and integration with digital calibration records. Development of matrix-matched CRMs for non-aqueous or complex sample types and coupling with high-resolution mass spectrometry could further improve analytical accuracy and traceability.

Conclusion

ASTASOL® AN9104MN represents a robust, well-characterized multielement standard ideal for precise calibration of modern analytical instrumentation. Its rigorous certification against international criteria ensures confidence in measurement results across diverse fields.

References

• ISO Guide 31, Reference Materials – Contents of Certificates
• ISO 17034, General Requirements for Reference Material Producers
• NIST Standard Reference Materials used for primary method calibration