Projects / Programmes
Developments of basic Concepts of Traceability and Measurement Uncertainty in Metrology in Chemistry
Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
2.15.04 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Metrology |
Metrologies in areas |
Code |
Science |
Field |
P300 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Analytical chemistry |
P305 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Environmental chemistry |
metrology in chemistry, measurement and testing, traceability, comparability, measurement uncertainty, quality system
Researchers (10)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Every year many millions of chemical measurements are made in the EU. But sadly, all too often chemical measurement results are unreliable.In the last ten years, there is strong pressure from the public demand for more reliable results of chemical measurements as a result of increased globalisation of human activities. These ratings clearly require a corresponding quality of measurements. Quality of measurements requires traceability of the results to a stated reference point (normaly SI unit), as well as stated rules as the degree of reliability of laboratories results - target values for measurement uncertainty. Metrology in chemistry leads to international comparability of results with stated uncertainty of measurement in order to facilitate the border crossing use of them. We shall be in search of the basics of metrology in chemistry. The project is intended to be composed of several phases: establish the theoretical basis of metrology in chemistry and apply the theory of metrology in chemistry for different measurement procedures and different combinations analyte/matrix, establish traceability of results of measurements and evaluate uncertainty components, and relate procedures to quality systems. Traceability is the property of measurement results whereby it can be related through an unbroken chain of comparisons having stated uncertainties to an international standard or reference. Practical examples will be studied how traceability could be achived from reference laboratories to working level measurements. Traceability is closely linked to measurement uncertainty. The result of a measurement is only an estimate of the true value of the measurand, and therefore needs to be accompanied by an estimate of the uncertainty. Uncertainty of measurement depends on uncertainty of sampling and sub-sampling, uncertainty of measuring equipment and uncertainty of analytical procedure. The uncertainty estimation of results of measurements will be divided into four steps: specification, identification of uncertainty sources, quantification of uncertainty components and total uncertainty estimation.