One of the main objectives of TÜBİTAK UME Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory involves method development and validation, including preparation of uncertainty budgets, in the area of measurements in inorganic chemistry. In this respect, the TÜBİTAK UME Inorganic Chemical Metrology Laboratory conducts and participates in research activity which aims to develop of measurement methods for better LOD’s and sensitivities for challenging parameters, which are becoming more important not only in Turkey but also in the international area.
The other objective of the laboratory is to produce certified reference materials to meet both national and international needs for establishing traceability in chemical measurements as well as to be used in method validation. In this scope, TÜBİTAK UME Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory supports the measurement activities of public and private institutions to ensure the reliability of chemical measurements in the scientific, legal and industrial areas. In order to improve the infrastructure for producing CRMs, the TÜBİTAK UME Chemistry Group, lead by the inorganic chemistry staff, has been implementing EU-funded projects one of which involves technical assistance and knowledge transfer on the production of certified reference materials. A second complementary project is being implemented to supply the necessary equipment and other systems that will be established at TÜBİTAK UME
The laboratory has been involved actively in international metrology projects (e.g. EMRP Projects). The group has been participating international comparisons since 2005. Particularly in recent comparisons, the group has achieved very successful. With the support of these comparison results, the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory published the first CMC entries of the chemical metrology group of TÜBİTAK UME in 2010.
Another objective of the laboratory is to undertake activities and studies to raise awareness of chemical metrology in the country and to support knowledge transfer to secondary laboratories to increase the quality of their measurements. For that reason, the training on method validation and estimation of measurement uncertainty in chemical measurements are organized in May and November each year by the TÜBİTAK UME Chemistry Group. TÜBİTAK UME is also a part of the TrainMiC program which is a training program implemented by EC JRC IRMM with the collaboration of European countries and supported by the European Union. TrainMiC activities in Turkey are organized by the TÜBİTAK UME Chemistry Group and there are qualified trainers from the inorganic chemistry group.
In order to support the industry, mostly accredited laboratories, in improving the reliability of their chemical measurement results, Proficiency Testing (PT) schemes are organized twice a year in April and September. The Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory pilots many of the PT schemes.