title: Novel concepts for preparation of reference materials as whole water samples for priority substances at nanogram-per-liter level using model suspended particulate matter and humic acids.
abstract: One of the unresolved issues of the European Water Framework Directive is the unavailability of realistic water reference materials for the organic priority pollutants at low nanogram-per-liter concentrations. In the present study, three different types of ready-to-use water test materials were developed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and tributyltin (TBT) at nanogram-per-liter levels. The first type simulated the dissolved phase in the water and comprised of a solution of humic acids (HA) at 5 mg L(-1) dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and a spike of the target compounds. The second type of water sample incorporated the particulate phase in water. To this end, model suspended particulate matter (SPM) with a realistic particle size was produced by jet milling soil and sediments containing known amounts of PAHs, PBDEs and TBT and added as slurry to mineral water. The most complex test materials mimicked "whole water" consequently containing both phases, the model SPM and the HA solution with the target analytes strongly bound to the SPM. In this paper, the development of concepts, processing of the starting materials, characterisation of the HA and model SPMs as well as results for homogeneity and stability testing of the ready-to-use test materials are described in detail.
authors.affiliation: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), Retieseweg 111, 2440, Geel, Belgium.
authors.forename: Saioa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elordui-Zapatarietxe
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fettig
authors.forename: Rosemarie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Philipp
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gantois
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lalère
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Swart
authors.forename: Panayot
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petrov
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goenaga-Infante
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vanermen
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boom
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Emteborg