JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE

Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements

CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS
ERM®- EB324
UNALLOYED ZINC
Mass fraction
Element Certified value 1 Uncertainty 2
mg/kg mg/kg
Cd 48.6 1.1
Cu 9.87 0.18
Fe 58.5 1.6
Pb 26.1 0.5
Sn 9.8 0.5
Tl 19.9 0.5
1) The certified value is the unweighted mean value of the means of p accepted sets of data, each set being
obtained in a different laboratory and/or with a different method of determination (p varies between 8 and 11
for different elements; ref. certification report).

2) Estimated expanded uncertainty U with a coverage factor k=2, corresponding to a level of confidence of
about 95 %, as defined in the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM), ISO, 1995.
Uncertainty contributions arising from characterisation as well as from homogeneity and stability assessment
were taken into consideration.

This certificate is valid for five years after purchase.

Sales date:
The minimum sample intake is a probed volume of 10 mm³. For methods with smaller sample intake or
probed sample volume, the user must account for the inhomogeneity of the material, as described in the
certification report.

®
Accepted as an ERM , Geel, April 2004
Latest revision: November 2013
Signed:
Prof. Dr. Hendrik Emons
European Commission
Joint Research Centre
Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements
Retieseweg 111
B-2440 Geel, Belgium

All following pages are an integral part of the certificate.

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NOTE
®
European Reference Material ERM -EB324 was originally certified as BCR-324R. It was produced and certified
under the responsibility of the IRMM according to the principles laid down in the technical guidelines of the
®
European Reference Materials co-operation agreement between BAM-IRMM-LGC. Information on these
guidelines is available on the Internet (http://www.erm-crm.org).

DESCRIPTION OF THE SAMPLE

The CRM consists of one cylinder of about 60 mm diameter and 30 mm height.

ANALYTICAL METHOD USED FOR CERTIFICATION

- Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Sn, Tl)
- Graphite furnace (electrothermal) atomic absorption spectrometry (Pb, Sn, Tl)
- Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Pb, Sn, Tl)
- Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Sn, Tl)
- Isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry (Cd, Cu, Pb, Tl)
- Polarography (Cd, Cu, Pb, Tl)
- Spark source optical emission spectrometry (homogeneity measurements)
- Spectrophotometry (Fe, Tl)

PARTICIPANTS
- BUDELCO B.V., Budel, NL
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung (BAM), Berlin, DE
- Centre Technique Des Industries De La Fonderie (CTIF), Sèvres, FR
- EC-JRC-IRMM, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Geel (BE)
- Metaleurop Nord SAS, Noyelles-Godault, FR
- Metaleurop Weser Blei GmbH, Nordenham, DE
- NORZINK AS, Odda, NO
- Outokumpu Zinc, Kokkola, FIN
- THYSSEN KRUPP STAHL AG, Duisburg, DE
- Union Minière France, Auby, FR
- Union Minière NV, Overpelt, BE
- VAW aluminium AG, Bonn, DE

SAFETY INFORMATION
No particular hazards are associated with this Zinc-based CRM.

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
The material is mainly intended for calibration in (spark source) optical emission spectrometry (OES) and for
X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) with solid samples.
Before analysis the surface must be cleaned, eg by turning on a lathe with clean turning inserts. Keeping in
mind that CRMs and the user’s samples should be treated in the same way, an additional mechanical
cleaning or (in the case of XRF) polishing should be applied prior to the measurement, if usually done with
the user’s samples. It is recommended not to use the central part of the cylinder within a diameter of ~10
mm.
The certified values with their expanded uncertainties refer to the average value of any individual sample.
They are thus directly applicable as reference values for e.g. an XRF measurement with a large beam
diameter covering most of the sample surface. For analytical methods with a smaller sample intake or
probed sample volume, the user must account for the possible inhomogeneity of the material, either by
performing analyses in a sufficiently large number of different positions, or by increasing the uncertainty of
the certified values accordingly. For details see chapter 8 and Table 3 of the certification report.

STORAGE
The CRMs should be stored in clean and dry conditions at ambient temperature.

LEGAL NOTICE
Neither the European Commission, its contractors nor any person acting on their behalf:
(a) make any warranty or representation, express or implied, that the use of any information, material, apparatus,
method or process disclosed in this document does not infringe any privately owned intellectual property rights;
or
(b) assume any liability with respect to, or for damages resulting from, the use of any information, material,
apparatus, method or process disclosed in this document save for loss or damage arising solely and directly
from the negligence of the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements of the European Commission's
Joint Research Centre.

NOTE
A detailed technical report is available on www.irmm.jrc.be. A paper copy can be obtained from Joint
Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements on request.
European Commission - Joint Research Centre
Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM)
Retieseweg 111, B - 2440 Geel (Belgium)
Telephone: +32-14-571.722 - Telefax: +32-14-590.406

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