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Carbon monoxide proficiency testing scheme with metrological traceability

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Abstract

This paper details the activities carried out by the Chemical Metrology Department of LATU in the development of a national proficiency testing (PT) scheme aimed at assessing the competence of laboratories in air quality parameters analysis. In this PT scheme, environmental monitoring laboratories were required to determine the concentration of elements in quartz-grade microfiber filters and impinger solutions, as well as to determine the amount fraction of a carbon monoxide in nitrogen gas mixture, within the range of (800 to 1700) µmol/mol. The focus of the present paper is mainly devoted to the second phase of the test, which addresses the preparation of the gas cylinder distributed to each participant for measurement. A detailed description of this stage is provided, along with the evaluation of the results reported by participating laboratories. This test provided an effective tool for participating laboratories to assess their national technical competence, using their preferred analysis methods.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to the dedicated team at the Environmental Laboratory Division of DINACEA—Ministry of the Environment and the personnel from the Chemical Metrology Department of LATU.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Metrology Department, Technological Laboratory of Uruguay (LATU), Montevideo, Uruguay

    Florencia Almirón, Simone Fajardo, Victoria Gelabert & Elizabeth Ferreira

  2. Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRIM), Strada delle Cacce 91, 10135, Torino, Italy

    Michela Sega

  3. Analytical Chemistry Area, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad de La República, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Mariela Medina

Authors
  1. Florencia Almirón
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  2. Simone Fajardo
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  3. Victoria Gelabert
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  4. Elizabeth Ferreira
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  5. Michela Sega
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  6. Mariela Medina
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Contributions

F.A. wrote the manuscript and prepared figures and tables. F.A., S.F., V.G. and EF contributed to the study design, revised and edited the manuscript. M.S. provided expertise in gas metrology, reviewed and edited the manuscript. All authors revised and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Florencia Almirón.

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Conflict of interest

Michela Sega, co-author of this manuscript, is a member of the Intercontinental Advisory Board.

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Almirón, F., Fajardo, S., Gelabert, V. et al. Carbon monoxide proficiency testing scheme with metrological traceability. Accred Qual Assur (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-024-01600-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-024-01600-2

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