|
 |
ASTM Approves Method for
Water Analysis by CE
Many lab chemists in various industries work within regulated environments. The use of test methods
approved by regulatory bodies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the American Society
for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensures that data are
obtained according to the same analytical criteria. Before a new method is considered for approval by
one of these agencies, a number of prerequisites must be met. One is that a detailed interlaboratory
round-robin testing has to be performed to ensure accuracy, precision, and recovery from the tested
sample matrices.
Waters Corporation (Milford, MA, USA) sponsored such a collaborative study on the determination of dissolved
inorganic anions in aqueous matrices using capillary ion electrophoresis. Hewlett-Packard, parent company
of Agilent Technologies as a manufacturer of capillary electrophoresis equipment, was given the opportunity
to participate to increase the study's credibility.
|
Figure 1: Analysis of an ion standard (0.2 ppm, detection limit).
|
Figure 2: Analysis of wastewater from a municipal waste-treatment plant (bulky material removed;
0.1-3 ppm).
|
The collaborative chairman, Jim Krol (Waters Corporation), provided the pre-made chromate electrolyte,
samples and standards. Applying optimized method parameters for the use of the Waters IonSelectTM
High-Mobility Anion Electrolyte (also available to Agilent Technologies customers), the Agilent 3DCE
instrument met the requirements of equivalent performance (see Figure 1, analysis of a standard).
Quantitative data from twelve participating laboratories in reagent water, substitute wastewater,
as well as drinking and real wastewater (Figure 2) were presented to ASTM Subcommittee D19.05 and approved.
|
|
Products & Services
