Recent progress in chemical measuring capabilities in INM as a result of EMRP/EMPIR Programme

New metrology capabilities in chemical area are of great interest as they underpin the traceability of measurement results reported in environment, health or food sectors. To develop such capabilities a consistent research work is needed. Since 2009, the European Metrology Research Program (EMRP) enabled the National Institute of Metrology (INM) from Romania to join several Joint Research Projects (JRPs) in chemical field. Main outcomes of this helped INM in developing and implementing measurement capabilities in gas chromatography (GC) and inductive couple plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Accordingly, a brief review of the best practice achieved at INM after participating in ENV08 and SIB09 is described. Further, the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR) facilitated expanding the existing metrology capabilities/infrastructure within the frame of two research potential projects (RPOT) in chemical field. Aspects regarding developing ICP-MS technique for measuring mass fractions of elements in natural matrix are presented in the frame of EMPIR RPOT1601. Also, some developments are presented in gas chromatography as a result of participating in the EMPIR RPOT1602.

Detection of Pb in Whitening Creams via Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Recently whitening creams have been widely used to protect UV light exposure due to the depletion of ozone layer. The demand attracts the rapid growth of various whitening creams in the market. The detection is required in order to determine the constituent of the whitening cream, whether it contains dangerous element like heavy metal (Pb, Hg or Cr). In this attempt, laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique was deployed to analyse the existence of heavy metal. Several whitening creams available in retail shop and open market were investigated. Cryogenically frozen technique was utilized to convert the emulsion into solid form. Lead Pb was detected in all the tested samples in the range of 2 - 5 ppm. The LIBS results were validated by Inductive Couple Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) technique. The high sensitivity, portable and in-situ LIBS system allow simple, faster and easy heavy metal detection. This enhances the procedure of inspection in cosmetic industries