Development of candidates for multielement certified reference material in environmental matrices

• Grant number: 21/04858-6
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: March 01, 2022
• End date: February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Environmental Sanitation
• Principal Investigator: Tony Rogério de Lima Dadamos
• Grantee: Tony Rogério de Lima Dadamos
• Company: Airton Juliano Damaceno - ME
• CNAE: Fabricação de produtos químicos inorgânicos não especificados anteriormente ; Testes e análises técnicas ; Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais
• City: São José do Rio Preto
• Associated research grant: 19/01017-0 - Development of a candidate for cation certified reference material (cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel and lead) of annex XX for potability and Resolution CONAMA 420 for soil and water, AP.PIPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/01845-3 - Development of candidates for certificate reference material multi-elementary in environmental matrices, BP.TT; 22/01923-4 - Development of candidates for certificate reference material multi-elementary in environmental matrices, BP.TT; 22/01739-9 - Development of candidates for certificate reference material multi-elementary in environmental matrices, BP.PIPE

Abstract

The development and production of certified reference materials (MRC) is a major challenge, despite the high demand from the Brazilian market. The new norms and policies increasingly directed towards the quality management system (QMS) have demanded and the responsible bodies have supervised the appropriate use of these materials, increasing the demand and consequently the commercialization. However, few MRC producing units are found in Brazil and they are unable to meet the needs of the national market, requiring the importation of most of the MRCs consumed in the country. According to the latest report on the activities of REMEQ and organizations like Cetesb, they pointed out that the main problem in the environmental area is the use of inadequate standards for the sample being analyzed due to issues of matrix differences. The Reference Material Producers (PMR) in Brazil do not have accreditation for the proposed elements and matrices, with only one of them having inorganic measurands, in pure water solution, not in matrix. Among international PMRs, 10 of them have similar scopes of elements and can be considered competitors. During the PIPE Phase 1 project, two MRC candidates were developed with five cations each, one in a soil matrix and the other in a surface natural water matrix for the purpose of use for quality control of measurements in the laboratories. Sampling, processing, characterization for identification, homogeneity study, stability, characterization for property value assignment and uncertainty estimation steps were carried out, in addition to an interlaboratory test to test the materials developed with the participation of approximately 70 laboratories in Brazil and from Portugal. The developed materials showed good homogeneity and stability during the studied period, being able to be characterized as a reference material after certification by the National Metrology Institute - Inmetro. With this, a great market opportunity was identified, in view of the absence of major players in the national territory with the knowledge and all specialized training of SPR and very few certified reference materials with the same characteristics proposed in this 2nd phase. Therefore, the objective of this project is to sample, process, characterize, produce and certify candidates for certified reference material for agricultural and environmental soil (clayey and sandy), waters (surface, underground, minerals, reuse and saline) and aquatic sediments for quality control in ISO / IEC 17025 accredited and non-accredited chemical analysis laboratories. (AU)