Stability studies and purification procedure for nitrite solutions in view of the preparation of isotopic reference materials

The lack of reference materials, accurately certified for nitrite, is a problem in view of the importance of this species for environmental and medical reasons. This work outlines a plan for the preparation of nitrite isotopic reference materials (IRMs) in the form of high purity solutions, certified for their nitrite–nitrogen isotopic composition and nitrite concentration. To achieve the desired accuracy (expanded uncertainty U with a coverage factor k=2 of ≤2%), primary methods of measurement such as isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS), gravimetry, and titrimetry must be used. The main difficulty is the stability of nitrite. Other problems expected in the preparation and certification of nitrite IRMs are described. Results from long term stability studies (up to 1.5 years) and a procedure for the purification of the candidate nitrite IRMs are presented. The purpose is to use these IRMs for high accuracy method calibrations and as anchor points for SI-traceable nitrite concentrations. Reference values linked to the SI system are useful to demonstrate the degree of international comparability of nitrite measurements in intercomparison programmes such as the IRMM—International Measurement Evaluation Programme (IMEP).