Final report on key comparison CCQM-K59: Determination of nitrite and nitrate in calibration solutions

Abstract

In this key comparison anion calibration solutions of nitrate and nitrite were investigated. The mass fractions of the anions in both solutions were about 1 g/kg. For the nitrate comparison 8 participants provided results; 3 analytical techniques were used: ion chromatography, capillary electrophoresis and coulometry after ion exchange. The nitrite amount content was determined by 7 participants using one of the following 3 techniques: ion chromatography, titrimetry and capillary electrophoresis.The following institutes participated in this key comparison: INTI (Argentina), KRISS (Korea), LNE (France), NIM (Pepole's Republic of China), NIST (USA), NMIJ (Japan), SMU (Slovakia) and VNIIM (Russia).The variability (RSD) of the results is about 0.75% for both the nitrite and the nitrate solutions. Compared to the key comparison CCQM-K29 the results of CCQM-K59 were significantly worse. This is in part due to the measurement methods used, possibly also due to the standards used by the institutes.A pilot study (P89) was performed in parallel on the same calibration solutions used in this K59 comparison study by laboratories preferring to participate in the pilot study and on a seawater sample containing about 0.1 mg/kg nitrite and 1 mg/kg nitrate. The results of the pilot study are reported separately.Main text. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA).

Technical Feasibility Study for Development of Reference Material for Nitrate in Meat Product

“…The measurement of nitrite and nitrate is a mandatory part of quality control of meat products and the results obtained must be reliable and technically valid. The importance of guaranteeing the quality of measurements of nitrite and nitrate in food had already been highlighted within the worldwide scope of metrology by the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance: Metrology in Chemistry and Biology (CCQM) [4]. For this, it is necessary to adopt appropriate metrological tools such as reference materials (RMs) and certified reference materials (CRMs).…”