title: Uncertainty evaluation of the diffusive gradients in thin films technique.
abstract: Although the analytical performance of the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique is well investigated, there is no systematic analysis of the DGT measurement uncertainty and its sources. In this study we determine the uncertainties of bulk DGT measurements (not considering labile complexes) and of DGT-based chemical imaging using laser ablation - inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We show that under well-controlled experimental conditions the relative combined uncertainties of bulk DGT measurements are ∼10% at a confidence interval of 95%. While several factors considerably contribute to the uncertainty of bulk DGT, the uncertainty of DGT LA-ICP-MS mainly depends on the signal variability of the ablation analysis. The combined uncertainties determined in this study support the use of DGT as a monitoring instrument. It is expected that the analytical requirements of legal frameworks, for example, the EU Drinking Water Directive, are met by DGT sampling.
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna , Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Institute of Soil Research, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, 3430 Tulln, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kreuzeder
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santner
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Prohaska
authors.forename: Walter W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Wenzel
mesh_terms: D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004058:Diffusion; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000592:standards; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D035501:Uncertainty