Quality Alchemist (品質煉金術師): Seminar on Metrology in Chemistry 2010

2010年11月10日星期三

Seminar on Metrology in Chemistry 2010

I attended the Seminar on Metrology in Chemistry (MiC) which organized by the Government Laboratory of the HKSAR on 8 Nov 2010. It was the second time organized international symposia on Metrology in Chemistry. MiC 2010 aims to serve as a forum to support and promote the development of metrology in Chemistry in Hong Kong. The seminar was summarized for sharing below.

The first speaker was Dr. Robert Kaarls (President of Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance – Metrology in Chemistry (CCQM)) and his topic entitled “Importance of MiC in support of trade, public health, and food safety”.

Dr. Kaarls said reliable chemical and biochemical measurements were essential for monitoring climate change, environmental control, health care and food safety. Comparable measurement and test results, which were internationally recognized and accepted, could remove potential WTO technical barriers.

Then Dr. Kaarls introduced the international recognized organization and national metrological infrastructure. Moreover, CRM producers and Proficiency Testing (PT) providers were also discussed.

Finally, he concluded a clear need for comparability through traceability to SI unit or other internationally agreed references. Metrology was essential in value chain within quality system. It could be strengthen society, industry, SMEs by international recognition of measurement and testing capabilities.

The second speaker was Prof. Yadong Yu (Chairman of Asia Pacific Metrology Programme (APMP) and Deput Director of National Institute of Metrology, China) and his presentation was “The latest development of MiC in China & Asia Pacific Region”.

Prof. Yu briefed the long history of measurement in China. It could be traced from Y2600 BC. (e.g. The time of Dayu used of yardstick then bone ruler with decimal system in Shang Dynasty)

Then Prof. Yu briefed the Chinese MiC and CRMs relationship.

Lastly, Prof. Yu introduced the role of National Institute of Metrology (NIM) in development of MiC & CRMs in China.

The last speaker was Dr. Michael Sargent (Chief Chemical Metrologist of LGC, UK) and his topic named “Contribution of the academic sector to the development of MiC”.

Dr. Sargent explained what is MiC. There were included three points:

i) The development and application of an international infrastructure for traceable chemical measurements.

ii) All measurements depend on calibration standards

iii) The goal in using traceable standards or RMs was to ensure that measurement results were comparable.

Dr. Sargent said “comparable”, “equivalent” and “consistent” were commonly used in RMs.

The Dr. Sargent introduced the steps of method validation.

Dr. Sargent stated the academic sector had a key role in the development of MiC to ensure young scientists or technicians with sound knowledge of the fundamental topics and basic laboratory skills. The following diagram showed the requirements of analytical science.

Dr. Sargent concluded in three points below.

i) MiC did not replace traditional approaches to achieving compatible chemical measurements but it added a further requirement.

ii) Delivering the aims of MiC required scientific staff with a sound knowledge of analytical chemistry and measurement science, good laboratory skills and an understanding of the basic principles of metrology.

iii) Current and future trends in laboratories and in the academic sector would add to the difficulty of educating and training staff, who were both qualified and competent to make chemical measurements which were fit for purpose.

Q&A session

Dr. Choi (BUHK) questioned the difficulty of MiC on nano material. Prof. Yu answered that NIM were studying to development CRM.