Quick Links: Skip to main page content Skip to Search Skip to Topics Menu Skip to Section Content Menu Skip to Common Links
  • Decrease font size
  • Return font size to normal
  • Increase font size
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Food

  • Print
  • Share
  • E-mail
-

Elemental Analysis Manual: Section 3.1 Contamination Control

Version 1 (June 2008) Authors: William R. Mindak
Stephen G. Capar

Table of Contents

3.1.1 ENVIRONMENTAL

3.1.2 LABORATORY WARE

GLOSSARY

Clean laboratory procedures are necessary for trace element analysis. Efforts must be made to minimize the potential of contamination throughout the analytical procedure. Sources of contamination include air, containers, the analyst and reagents. Contamination control is a constant chore for a successful trace element analysis. Advice on controlling contamination is available in the literature1-3.

 

3.1.1 ENVIRONMENTAL

For trace element analyses the samples should be processed in Class 100 workbenches located in a clean room of at least a Class 10,000 type. This environment will minimize and control contamination of samples and method blanks and allow achievement of the best analytical limits. The analytical instrument's sample introduction system should be arranged to have Class 100 clean air conditions by having a suitable clean air module positioned around the system. Some advice on preparing a clean laboratory is available in the literature4-5.

 

3.1.2 LABORATORY WARE

Laboratory ware—All reusable laboratory ware (glass, polyethylene, PTFE, etc.) must be sufficiently clean for trace element analysis. The recommended cleaning procedure for all laboratory ware includes washing in clean-rinsing laboratory detergent, reagent water rinse, soaking at least 4 hrs in 10% nitric acid and final reagent water rinse. Rinse with 1% nitric acid immediately before use.

Disposable laboratory ware—All disposable laboratory ware such as autosampler cups and bottles/tubes for analytical solution storage should be rinsed with 1% nitric acid immediately before use. Disposable laboratory ware should be tested for contamination or pre-cleaned before using a particular lot.

Gloves—Use powder free vinyl, polyethylene, or nitrile. Do not use latex because of possible contamination. There are gloves manufactured for clean room use that are free from trace metals contamination.

Micropipettes—Air displacement micropipettes. Use with colorless disposable plastic tips since colored tips may be a source of contamination.

Note: Low-density polyethylene bottles are recommended for storage of standard and analytical solutions because of low cost and low trace metals contamination but other types of plastic bottles can be used such as high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, Teflon® etc. Teflon® FEP bottles are preferred from a contamination standpoint but high cost will usually limit their use to intermediate and standard solutions.

REFERENCES

  1. Knapp, G. and Schramel, P. (2003) Sources of Analyte Contamination and Loss During the Analytical Process, in Sample Preparation for Trace Element Analysis (Wilson and Wilson's Comprehensive Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 41), Z. Mester and R. Sturgeon, (Editors), Elsevier, Amsterdam, Chap 2, pp 23-45.
  2. Rhoades, C. B., Jr. (1996) Clean Laboratory Chemistry for the Microwave Assisted Digestion of Botanical Samples, J. Anal. At. Spectrom. 11, 751-757.
  3. Morton, S. (2001) Contamination Control in the Trace Metal Laboratory, Am. Lab. News 33 [January] 20, 22.
  4. Guidance on Establishing Trace Metal Clean Rooms in Existing Facilities, EPA 821-B-96-001. (Accessed April, 2008). Also available National Technical Information Service, Number PB96-193321.
  5. International Atomic Energy Agency (2003) Clean Laboratories and Clean Rooms for Analysis of Radionuclides and Trace Elements, IAEA Technical Document Series 1339 disclaimer icon [IAEA-TECDOC-1339]. (Accessed April, 2008).

 

-
-
-
-