The Certification of the Mass Fractions of Stilbenes in Bovine Urine - Certified Reference Materials ERM®-BB386 and ERM®-BB389

This report describes the preparation of the pork meat matrix reference materials ERM BB386 and ERM-BB389 and the certification of the content (mass fraction) of three stilbenes. The preparation and processing of the material, homogeneity and stability studies, and the characterisation are described hereafter and the results are discussed. Uncertainties were calculated in compliance with the ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) [1] and include uncertainties due to possible heterogeneity, instability, and characterisation.JRC.D.2-Standards for Innovation and sustainable Developmen

Certification of the crude Protein, Fat, Lactose and Ash Content of whole Milk Powder and the crude Protein and Fat Content of Skim Milk Powder, BCR-380R & BCR-685

This report describes the preparation of two milk powder reference materials and the measurement exercises that led to the certification of the content (mass fraction) of the crude protein (Kjeldahl-N x 6.38), fat, lactose and ash in whole milk powder (BCR-380R) and crude protein (Kjeldahl-N x 6.38) and fat in skim milk powder (BCR-685).JRC.D.2-Reference material

Intra-laboratory assessment of a method for the detection of TiO2 nanoparticles present in sunscreens based on multi-detector asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation

In this study, an intra-laboratory assessment was carried out to establish the effectiveness of a method for the detection of TiO2 engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) present in sunscreen containing nano-scale TiO2 and a higher nanometer-range (approx. 200-500 nm) Ti02, as well as iron oxide particles. Three replicate measurements were performed on five separate days to generate the measurement uncertainties associated with the quantitative asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) measurement of the hydrodynamic radius r(h, mode1) (MALS), rh,,odei (ICP-MS), r(h, mode2) (ICP-MS), and calculated mass-based particle size distribution (d(10), d(50), d(90)). The validation study demonstrates that the analysis of TiO2 ENPs present in sunscreen by AF4 separation-multi detection produces quantitative data (mass-based particle size distribution) after applying the sample preparation method developed within the NanoDefine project with uncertainties based on the precision (u(IP)) of 3.9-8.8%. This method can, therefore, be considered as the method with a good precision. Finally, the bias data shows that the trueness of the method (u(t) = 5.5-52%) can only be taken as a proxy due to the lack of a sunscreen standard containing certified TiO2 ENPs

High-speed, low drive-voltage silicon-organic hybrid modulator based on a binary-chromophore electro-optic material

We report on the hybrid integration of silicon-on-insulator slot waveguides with organic electro-optic materials. We investigate and compare a polymer composite, a dendron-based material, and a binary-chromophore organic glass (BCOG). A record-high in-device electro-optic coefficient of 230 pm/V is found for the BCOG approach resulting in silicon-organic hybrid Mach-Zehnder modulators that feature low UpL-products of down to 0.52 Vmm and support data rates of up to 40 Gbit/

Towards a review of the EC Recommendation for a definition of the term "nanomaterial": Part 3: Scientific-technical evaluation of options to clarify the definition and to facilitate its implementation

This report provides the JRC's scientific-technical evaluation of options to clarify the EC Recommendation on a definition of nanomaterial, published in 2011 (EC Recommendation 2011/696/EU). It is a follow-up report of two previous JRC publications, which compiled feedback on the experiences of stakeholders with the EC nanomaterial definition collected by JRC in 2013 and early 2014 (EUR 26567 EN, 2014), and provided an assessment of the collected information (EUR 26744 EN, 2014). The three JRC reports are part of the review process foreseen in the 2011 EC Recommendation. The evaluation shows that the scope of the definition regarding the origin of nanomaterials should remain unchanged, addressing natural, incidental as well as manufactured nanomaterials. Moreover, because of the regulatory purpose of the definition, there is little evidence to support deviating from size as the sole defining property of a nanoparticle or from the range of 1 nm to 100 nm as definition of the nanoscale. Besides the need for clarification of some terms used in the definition additional implementation guidance would be useful. The role of the volume specific surface area deserves clarification and a method to prove that a material is not a nanomaterial would be helpful. A strategy how to avoid unintended inclusion of materials and the list of explicitly included materials deserve also attention.JRC.I.4-Nanobioscience

Towards a review of the EC Recommendation for a definition of the term "nanomaterial" Part 2: Assessment of collected information concerning the experience with the defintion

This report provides the JRC assessment of feedback on the experiences of stakeholders with the EC nanomaterial definition, published in 2011 (EC Recommendation 2011/696/EU). The report is a follow-up report of the previous JRC report (EUR 26567 EN, 2014), which compiled feedback collected by JRC in 2013 and early 2014, partly through a dedicated survey. Based on the current report, JRC will prepare a set of recommendations for the revision of the EC nanomaterial definition, as part of the review process foreseen in the 2011 EC Recommendation.JRC.D.2-Standards for Innovation and sustainable Developmen

Identification of nanomaterials through measurements

This report addresses identification of nanomaterials according to the European Commission's Recommendation on the definition of nanomaterial (2011/696/EU) by measurements and discusses options and points to consider when assessing whether a particulate material is a nanomaterial or not. The primary criterion to identify nanomaterials is the median of the number-based distribution of the constituent particles’ external dimensions, regardless of whether these particles appear separate from one another or are parts of aggregates or agglomerates. The main steps in the nanomaterial identification process are collecting information on the material, acquiring knowledge of the measurement method(s), matching method(s) and material, sample preparation, measurement/analysis and decision (nanomaterial / no nanomaterial). Assessment of particle size measurements requires specification of the measurand, the physical principle of the measurement technique, the applied sample preparation protocol, the covered size range and the data analysis procedure to allow a reliable classification of a material according to the EC nanomaterial definition. A variety of screening and confirmatory techniques is available to analyse particle size distributions. Screening techniques do not measure directly the number-based distribution of the external particle dimensions, but they are fast and inexpensive and still allow to positively identify a material as a nanomaterial. Confirmatory techniques are usually more costly and time-intensive, but may provide a more reliable classification and allow resolving doubts or disputes. The volume specific surface area can serve as proxy to identify nanomaterials, provided that certain requirements are fulfilled. For a correct classification whether a material is a nanomaterial or not, a thorough knowledge of the applied measurement method is needed to correctly interpret the outcome of a measurement and to understand whether a specific technique is fit for the purpose. Reliable measurement results can be obtained if a reference measurement system is implemented, which is typically based on documented and validated methods and reference materials. Best practices should be applied when reference measurement systems are not available. This report provides examples and practical options for consideration, including a flowchart that can assist users with relevant technical knowledge in the identification of nanomaterials.JRC.F.2-Consumer Products Safet

Silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) integration and photonic multi-chip systems: Technologies for high-speed optical interconnects

Limitations of silicon photonics can be overcome by hybrid integration of silicon photonic or plasmonic circuits with organic materials or by photonic multi-chip systems. We give an overview on our recent progress regarding both silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) integration and multi-chip integration enabled by photonic wire bonding