Recommendation 2 of the 17th CCQM (2011)

On the need to support established measurement techniques essential to metrology in inorganic chemistry

The Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance – Metrology in Chemistry (CCQM),

considering

• the fundamental requirement for primary calibrators of the chemical elements,
• the need for a range of complementary measurement techniques applicable to metrology in inorganic chemistry,

noting

• that the long-term stability and reproducibility of SI traceable values associated with reference materials are critical to all applications of chemical measurement,
• that few National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) have the capability to determine non-metallic impurities in pure metal primary standards,
• the lack of current research programmes to develop and extend metrological applications of established techniques for high purity metals, notably for the measurement of C, N, O, H and for measurements by glow discharge mass spectrometry (GD-MS),
• the uncertain future for NMI expertise in established techniques such as coulometry,
• the importance of complementary measurement techniques such as neutron and photon activation analysis in ensuring the validity of measurement results and hence the availability of high quality data,
• the recommendations and findings of the workshop on specialized techniques held by the CCQM Inorganic Analysis Working Group (CCQM/11-23),

invites the CIPM to take steps to draw the attention of NMIs to the need to

• review the use of inorganic instrumental analysis within their laboratories in order to identify activities where the present and future viability of the techniques is endangered by lack of essential R&D and/or continuity in maintaining specialized expertise,
• take action to address the potential loss of essential expertise and facilities,
• support facilities providing specialized measurement techniques which are essential to metrology in inorganic chemistry,
• consider the most effective mechanism to take forward the recommendations of the CCQM Inorganic Analysis Working Group in collaboration with other NMIs and/or expert institutes.

DOI : 10.59161/CCQM2011REC2E