Chemical Metrology

The Chemical Metrology group provides a recognized, primary centre of reference in Canada for the accuracy and validity of chemical measurements in appropriate scientific and technological fields.

The main objectives of the Group are to:

• perform research and development in selected areas of organic and inorganic trace analysis, in collaboration with Canadian instrument manufacturers when possible;
• participate in comparisons with the national laboratories of other countries and cooperate with international organizations to ensure uniformity of chemical analysis procedures;
• maintain strong linkages with Canadian and foreign environmental analytical laboratories through production of environmental certified reference materials, and through technical support of laboratory proficiency testing and accreditation activities;
• operate a national facility for the elemental analysis of high purity materials by glow discharge mass spectrometry.

Chemical Metrology activities include development of reliable methodologies for inorganic and organic trace analysis with emphasis on environmental applications, development of new types of analytical instrumentation for potential commercialization, and provision of certified reference materials (CRMs) to verify procedures for the determination of inorganic and organic contaminants in environmental samples.

Core competencies include analytical atomic spectrometry and inorganic mass spectrometry, gas and liquid chromatography, organic mass spectrometry, and chemical separations for both organic and inorganic trace analysis.

• Publications
• Calibration Services
• Facilities
• Certified Reference Materials (CRMs)
• Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry (GD-MS)

On-line Sample Preparation for Atomic Spectrometry

Flow injection (FI) techniques are being pursued with the aim of automating many repetitive chemical processing steps in an effort to enhance output, minimize contamination, increase detection power, remove interferences and improve reliability of inorganic analytical measurements. [More]

Nano-scale Chemical Imaging

In collaboration with academic and government laboratories various approaches for the detection of engineered nanomaterials are being explored. [More]

Trace Element Speciation

The effect of trace elements in living systems, food and the environment, depends on the chemical form in which the element enters the system and the final form in which it is present. [More]

Fundamental Mass Spectrometry

Isotope methods cover a wide range of applications in analytical chemistry. Isotope ratio measurements are, for example, key to the determination of atomic weights or precise and accurate quantitation of amount of substance by isotope dilution mass spectrometry. [More]

Flowing Afterglow Plasmas

Desorption and ionization of compounds from solid surfaces utilizing soft plasma sources operating at atmospheric pressure permit real time detection by mass spectrometry of a variety of compounds, including explosives, drugs, organometallic species, agrochemicals and chemical warfare agents. [More]

Natural Health Products

To address aspects of the safety, quality and efficacy of Natural Health Products (NHPs) the Chemical Metrology Group is contributing to an international effort to validate analytical methodologies and provide Certified Reference Materials for the determination of biomarkers and active ingredients in NHPs. [More]

Volatile Element Generation

Vapour generation for analytical application includes: hydride generation, alkylation, UV generation, halide generation, generation of metal carbonyls and cold vapour generation. [More]

Related Information

Institutes:

• NRC Institute for National Measurement Standards