Interlaboratory Proficiency – Test 10/2016 – Metals in waste water and recycled material

Abstract

Proftest SYKE carried out the proficiency test (PT) for analysis of metals in waste waters and fly ash from wood and recycled fuel in October-November 2016. The measurands for synthetic sample as well as municipal and industrial waste water samples were: Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V and Zn. For the fly ash sample, the measurands were: As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Pb, V and Zn. In total 26 participants joined in the PT. In this proficiency test 92 % of the results were satisfactory when deviation of 10 – 25 % from the assigned value was accepted. Basically, either the metrologically traceable concentration, calculated concentration, the robust mean or the mean of the results reported by the participants was used as the assigned value for the measurands. The evaluation of the performance of the participants was carried out using the z scores. In some cases the evaluation of the performance was not possible e.g. due to the low number of the participants. There, when possible, D% and En scores were calculated. Warm thanks to all the participants of this proficiency test