08/21/2014
Round robin tests for trace analysis of heavy metals in drinking water
Trace analysis is becoming increasingly important. Contributing to that trend are ever tighter directives for maximum concentrations of contaminants. Regulations call for sensitive and reliable methods that can quantify minute amounts of substances harmful to human health and the environment.
The most commonly used techniques for such determinations are atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
For electrochemically active substances, Metrohm offers an inexpensive and simple solution: voltammetry. The method is part of various standards that regulate, among other things, the determination of a range of heavy metals in food and drugs, as well as in paints and coatings.
In recent years, the Metrohm subsidiary Metrohm Italiana has taken part in several nationwide round robin tests designed to evaluate the performance of the participating laboratories. In the tests, each laboratory determines the content of various metals in drinking water using a method of choice.