Characterization of calibration solution certified reference material for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by exact matching isotopic dilution mass spectrometry: a case study from the Brazilian Metrology Institute

Abstract

Recertification is a common practice in National Metrology Institutes whenever advances are made in certified reference material (CRM) characterization procedures, which play a key role in metrological traceability. This article compares measurements of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in toluene by gas chromatography isotopic dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) using either an calibration curve or the exact matching approach. The multi-point IDMS calibration curve was used on the original CRM certification and the exact matching approach was carried out on its recertification. The measurement uncertainties by exact matching approach (0.3%–1.0%) were approximately 5 times smaller than those obtained using the calibration curve (1.5%–4.4%) for all PAHs, reducing the uncertainty component due to characterization of PAH CRM. This new characterization study added reliability, increased accuracy and reduced the measurement uncertainty of the Inmetro CRM, with metrological traceability to the International System of Units. The exact-matching isotope dilution is an important technique to value assign organic compounds in CRMs, an action that consolidates the chemical metrology in the Brazilian Metrology Institute.