TRM - Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Zn - Aqueous calibration solution ASTASOL® TUNE12

Significance of the Topic

Accurate quantification of trace elements in aqueous matrices is essential for environmental monitoring,
industrial quality control, and regulatory compliance. Multi-element calibration solutions like ASTASOL®
TUNE12 support robust and consistent performance across various analytical techniques.

Objectives and Study Overview

The purpose of this identification sheet is to present the preparation, certification, and performance
characteristics of ASTASOL® TUNE12, a reference material containing ten certified elements
(Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Zn) with defined concentrations and uncertainties at 20 °C.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The solution is formulated gravimetrically from high-purity primary standards in a 0.2% HNO3 matrix.
Traceability to NIST SRMs is achieved through a calibration chain using:

• AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrometry)
• AES (Atomic Emission Spectrometry)
• ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry)
• ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry)

Homogeneity and stability assessments confirm uniform distribution of analytes and stability
over the one-year shelf life under recommended storage conditions.

Main Results and Discussion

The certified concentrations (± expanded uncertainty, k=2) at 20 °C are:

• P: 10.0 ± 0.05 mg/L
• K, Ni: 5.00 ± 0.05 mg/L each
• Al, Cu, Mn: 1.00 ± 0.01 mg/L each
• Ba, Ca, Mg, Zn: 0.200 ± 0.002 mg/L each

Total trace impurities remain below 0.002 mg/L. The material demonstrates excellent homogeneity and
resistance to degradation when stored between 5–30 °C with minimal handling losses.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Reduces calibration time by providing a multi-element standard in a single solution.
• Ensures measurement accuracy and comparability across laboratories.
• Suitable for routine analysis in environmental, pharmaceutical, and food testing laboratories.

Future Trends and Applications

Ongoing developments may include advanced packaging to further enhance stability, digital QR-based traceability, and customized formulations matching complex matrices.

Conclusion

ASTASOL® TUNE12 offers a validated, traceable, and stable calibration solution for diverse aqueous elemental analyses. Its certified values and low uncertainty support high-quality data generation and regulatory compliance.

References

• ANALYTIKA® Identification Sheet ASTASOL® TUNE12, Version 01, 05.12.2023