Final report for CCQM-K133: Low-polarity analytes in plastics-phthalate esters in polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Main text Phthalate esters (phthalates, PAEs) are widely used as plasticizers to enhance the durability, flexibility, and workability of plastics, especially Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Due to the nature of the physical binding of PAEs to polymers (via secondary molecular interactions), they can easily be released from various products. These compounds have become ubiquitous in water, sediment, as well as food products and are classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals because of their potential effect on wild animals and human beings. Recently, many countries prohibit or restrict the use of phthalates in electrical and electronic products, toys and children articles. Evidence of successful participation in formal, relevant international comparisons is needed to document measurement capability claims (CMCs) made by national metrology institutes (NMIs) and designated institutes (DIs). To enable NMIs and DIs to update or establish, the CCQM Organic Analysis Working Group sponsored CCQM-K133 "Low-Polarity Analytes in Plastics: Phthalate esters in Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)". Nine National Metrology Institutes participated in the Track C Key Comparison CCQM K133: Phthalate esters in PVC. Participants were requested to evaluate the mass fractions, expressed in mg/kg, of BBP in a low concentration PVC sample, and DBP, BBP and DEHP in a high concentration PVC sample, termed LCPVC and HCPVC. The consensus summary mass fractions for the four measurands are in the range of (95 to 905) mg/kg with relative standard deviation of (4 to 8) %. Successful participation in CCQM-K133 demonstrates the following measurement capabilities in determining mass fraction of organic compounds, with molecular mass of 100 g/mol to 800 g/mol, having low polarity pKow<-2, in mass fraction range from 10 mg/kg to 5000 mg/kg in plastics: (i) value assignment of primary reference standards; (ii) value assignment of calibration solutions; (iii) extraction of analyte of interest from the matrix; (iv) clean-up and separation of analyte of interest from other interfering matrix or extract components; (v) separation and quantification using techniques such as GC-IDMS, GC-IDHRMS, HPLC-DAD or LC-IDMS/MS. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report . Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/ . The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).