Department of Analytical Chemistry zaklad8@orange.ichtj.waw.pl

Head: Prof. Rajmund Dybczynski

Deputy Head: Dr Halina Polkowska-Motrenko

The main areas of activity of the Department of Analytical Chemistry include inorganic trace analysis as well as analytical and radiochemical separation methods. The research projects carried out in the Department are concerned with the development of various analytical techniques and deal also with general problems connected with quality assurance and certification of reference materials. New procedures of chemical analysis for various types of materials are also being developed. The elements are determined within wide range of concentrations, mostly however at trace levels from 10^-6 g/g to 10^-9 g/g and below.


The Department has been engaged for many years in the preparation and certification of the new certified reference materials (CRMs) for inorganic trace analysis, including those suitable for microanalytical techniques. Certification process applied is based on the world-wide interlaboratory comparison. Data evaluation is performed by means of the multifunctional software package, elaborated in the Department for processing, analysis and interpretation of large data sets coming form interlaboratory comparison. Finally certified and information values are assigned using several criteria formulated especially for this purpose.

Numerous procedures for the multielement determination of traces in various matrices by neutron activation analysis (NAA) both in instrumental (INAA) and radiochemical version have been worked out.

Several very accurate (definitive) methods of analysis, based on combination of neutron activation with selective and quantitative isolation of an indicator radionuclide by column chromatography followed by g-spectrometric measurement, have been elaborated. These methods are used for validation of other methods of trace analysis and certification of candidate reference materials.

Research on elimination of interferences in various techniques of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) has been carried out and a procedure for verification of accuracy of analytical results based on standard addition and successive dilution (SASD) was elaborated. A study on possibility of replacing sample pretreatment on the laboratory bench with appropriate manipulation of successive pyrolysis stages directly in a graphite cuvette has been carried out.

Classical methods of analysis are also used, particularly for highly accurate determinations of main components of materials. Special consideration is devoted to development of suitable sample preparation methods and to devising of the new efficient and selective separation methods with the special emphasis on ion exchange and extraction chromatography.

In the domain of organic analysis, research is centered around development of HPLC methods for the determination of organic environmental pollutants. These methods are also used in studying of degradation of organic pollutants in waters and wastes under the action of ionizing radiation. New solid-phase extraction methods for preconcentration of organic pollutants are being examined and chromatographic methods for the identification of natural dyes used in ancient textiles are being developed.

• neutron activation analysis with the use of a nuclear reactor,
• atomic absorption and emission spectrometry,
• UV/VIS spectrophotometry,
• HPLC, including ion chromatography.

• elaboration of analytical methods of quality control for industrial laboratories;
• elaboration and verification (with the aid of radioactive tracers) of separation methods used in chemical analysis, radiochemistry and technology;
• supervising Ph.D. and M.Sc. students (in analytical chemistry);
• designing of industrial analytical laboratories;
• training of staff for industrial analytical laboratories;
• analysis of various sorts of municipal and industrial wastes, chimney dusts, fly ashes, soils and sediments (determination of major and minor elements as well as heavy metals concentration together with their speciation);
• natural water and sludge analyses;
• food analysis for the content of heavy metals;
• analysis of high-purity materials;
• determination of heavy metals in biological and biomedical materials (tissues, body fluids).