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Estimation of uncertainty on pH measurement results: a direct pathway to quality assurance

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dc.contributor.supervisor Andersen, Jens E.T.
dc.contributor.author Menong, Mercy B.
dc.date.accessioned 2021-03-12T12:02:58Z
dc.date.available 2021-03-12T12:02:58Z
dc.date.issued 2020-06-23
dc.identifier.citation Menong, M. B. (2020) Estimation of uncertainty on pH measurement results: a direct pathway to quality assurance, Masters Theses, Botswana International University of Science and Technology: Palapye en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://repository.biust.ac.bw/handle/123456789/280
dc.description Thesis (MSc Analytical Quality Assurance)--Botswana International University of Science and Technology, 2020 en_US
dc.description.abstract A technique for estimation of measurement uncertainty of routine pH measurement using pH meters; Thermo scientific Orion Star and Basic 20 is presented. There are issues associated with pH measurements, what we actually measure is not usually what we would expect or even intend, and it is common practice that analysts just take the immediate reading without doing repetitions. The pH measurements made from one chemical laboratory are not consistent with those made in a different laboratory and, the pH meter readings generally do not agree closely with the calculated pH values. The result of first approach, that is single experiment (3 repetitions), uncertainty evaluation was done according to the guide to Quantifying Uncertainty in Analytical Measurement (QUAM) and/or the guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement (GUM) using uncertainty budget table as a tool. On second approach, we established correspondence between observed and predicted uncertainties with new derived equations to calculate the total uncertainty. At acidic pH -2.08 uncertainty was ± 0.02 and basic pH 13.3, the uncertainty was ± 0.01, the results of calculations similar on both approaches. Results of single experiment over a short period of time confirm that individual uncertainty values at particular pH values correspond to the manufacturer’s specification, but not to the expected pH values. Repeatability conditions and pooled calibration method were used for further assessment. Repeated analysis under similar measurement conditions and experimental detail were performed to measure pH of numerous buffers and sample solutions, and then, pooled calibration, the basic statistical calculations, the Horwitz equation, coefficient of variation (CV%) and the law of propagation of uncertainty (LPU) in a spreadsheet model were used for the analysis of uncertainty. Pooled calibration created a satisfactory correspondence between predicted pH values and those observed by experiment. The Horwitz equation constituted an expert judgment on the performance of the meters, it indicates poor performance at pH value -2.08. The results correspond to the CV% of [𝐻 +] and CV% of pH values as well. HorRat ratio showed significant difference between the coefficients of variation at pH -2.08. At pH 13.3, there was no significant difference between the coefficients of variation and variances are homogenous. en_US
dc.description.sponsorship Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) en_US
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.publisher Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) en_US
dc.subject Henderson Hasselbalch equation en_US
dc.subject Horwitz equation en_US
dc.subject Law of propagation of uncertainty en_US
dc.subject pH meter en_US
dc.subject Statistical calculations en_US
dc.subject Uncertainty en_US
dc.subject Uncertainty budget table en_US
dc.title Estimation of uncertainty on pH measurement results: a direct pathway to quality assurance en_US
dc.description.level msc en_US
dc.description.accessibility unrestricted en_US
dc.description.department cfs en_US


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