The Certification of the Mass Fractions of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Tl, V and Zn in Fly Ash, BCR-176R

Abstract

This report describes the preparation and certification of the fly ash Certified Reference Material (CRM) BCR-176R. It replaces its exhausted predecessor, BCR-176. The CRM was processed and certified by the European Commission, Directorate General Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), Geel, Belgium. The CRM was prepared from a fly ash collected in the electrostatic filters of a city waste incineration plant. After milling the resulting powder was filled in glass bottles containing 40 g powder. Certification of the CRM included testing of the homogeneity and stability of the material as well as the characterisation using an intercomparison approach. The new CRM has been certified for its content of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Tl and Zn. Indicative values have been established for Hg, Mn, and V. This CRM is intended for use in quality assurance of measurements of heavy metals in fly ash and related matrices.