Final report for CCQM-K17: pH determination on a phthalate buffer by Harned cell measurements

The second key comparison for the quantity pH, CCQM-K17, was carried out to assess the degree of equivalence of the national primary measurement procedures used to determine the pH of primary standard buffer solutions. The CCQM-K17 comparison allows estimations of the capability of ten national metrology institutes (NMIs) to determine the pH of a phthalate buffer of unknown concentration at different temperatures. The key comparison was co-ordinated by the CCQM Working Group on Electrochemical Analysis and piloted by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) with assistance from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Slovak Institute of Metrology (SMU). The measurement results of the NMIs agreed not at the same level as for the first key comparison on pH CCQM-K9. The results obtained by seven of the eleven participants agree very well within the uncertainty stated by the participants. Four participants obtained results somewhat lower. The two groups of results are most obviously evident at a measurement temperature of 37 °C. Main text. 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 kcdb.bipm.org/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA).