The production of powdered candidate biological and environmental reference materials in the laboratories of the Joint Research Centre

Abstract

The production of candidate biological and environmental reference materials in the laboratories of the Joint Research Centre, mainly on behalf of BCR, started in 1972 in Ispra and became concentrated in 1984 in Geel. Today, dedicated facilities for the transformation of biological and solid or liquid materials into dry powder samples are in use. The major guidelines followed in the conception of these facilities are described. Some typical examples of facilities developed or adapted to fulfil the specific requirements of professional CRM preparation are discussed, e.g. the whole-Teflon cryo-grinding equipment, the in-line controlled freeze-drier, the special facility for clean and dry handling of powders, the milling with classification equipment and the automation of bottling and labelling operations.