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Designing a formulation of synthetic wastewater as proficiency testing sample: a feasibility study on a laboratory scale

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Abstract

Monitoring water quality is very crucial for sustainability and availability of clean water on earth. Electrolytic conductivity is one of the important water quality parameters to be monitored according to American Environmental Protection Agency, World Health Organization and Ministry of Environment and Forests Republic of Indonesia. Testing laboratories have a significant role in producing the accurate measurement related to the water quality parameters including electrolytic conductivity. Therefore, participating in a proficiency testing (PT) is mandatory, especially for the accredited testing laboratories, to demonstrate the competency of laboratories in doing the measurement. As PT provider, Chemical Metrology Laboratory held annual PT round since 2013. In 2018 PT round, the Chemical Metrology Laboratory provided a PT to measure the electrolytic conductivity of synthetic wastewater. Before preparing the PT test samples, the feasibility study was conducted to determine the best formulation of synthetic wastewater. During this study, two different formulations were compared in terms of simplicity formulation, electrolytic conductivity value, total dissolved solid/electrolytic conductivity conversion value, homogeneity and stability of the synthetic wastewater. The results show that both candidates are sufficient to be used as PT test samples; however, only one candidate was selected due to its ease and simplicity formulation.

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Ms. Nurhani Aryana for her assistance in statistical calculation and fruitful discussion during this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Chemistry – Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Kawasan PUSPIPTEK, Building 452, Serpong, Tangerang Selatan, Banten, 15314, Indonesia

    Fransiska Sri Herwahyu Krismastuti

  2. National Standardization Agency of Indonesia, Kawasan PUSPIPTEK, Building 420, Serpong, Tangerang Selatan, 15314, Indonesia

    Nuryatini Hamim

Authors
  1. Fransiska Sri Herwahyu Krismastuti
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  2. Nuryatini Hamim
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Correspondence to Fransiska Sri Herwahyu Krismastuti.

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Krismastuti, F.S.H., Hamim, N. Designing a formulation of synthetic wastewater as proficiency testing sample: a feasibility study on a laboratory scale. Accred Qual Assur 24, 437–441 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-019-01399-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-019-01399-3

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