170135_inorganicventures_flipping

2:8 Planning the project

Construc)ng the Plan (cont.)

• The iden)ty of the analyte(s), together with the detec)on limit requirement(s), indicates the degree that contamina)on issues should be considered. This determines the need for

analy)cal blanks and special apparatus or a clean area / room. • The sample composi)on indicates poten)al interference issues.

• The sample composi)on or type indicates the uncertainty to be expected form the sample collec)on and/or the need to develop a sampling procedure and to determine sampling uncertainty. For example, the sample may be the only "world's supply", nega)ng the need for a sampling procedure. • The es)mated sampling uncertainty can be used to define the analy)cal measurement precision (i.e. -- reducing the analy)cal error to less than one third of the sampling error serves no purpose).

2:9 Planning the project

Construc)ng the Plan (cont.)

The basic informa)on can provide the analyst with poten)al analy)cal measurement technique(s), suspected interferences, contamina)on issues, and the number of sample measurements required per determina)on (measurement refers to a complete analysis including sampling, prepara)on, instrumental analysis and repor)ng the final result and uncertainty). At this stage of the planning process, the analyst can determine if a cer)fied reference material (CRM) should be obtained for method valida)on. In addi)on, the chemist can approximate the need for analy)cal reagents and apparatus and/or calibra)on standards.

Lastly, es)mate the )me and cost of the project and base your ini)al approach on these es)mates. Remember, there is always the possibility that more than one itera)on may be required before an acceptable approach can be developed.