Monthly Archives: October 2021

  1. EPA Standards for Drinking Water

    The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA is an agency of the U.S government, creating and enforcing standards to control pollution. EPA standards were created as a result of ineffective and confusing state guidelines. EPA standards aimed to create a clear, cohesive set of standards that could enforce pollution control measures.

    Every human on the planet requires drinking water to survive, however, the water they consume may have harmful constituents inside. There are no standards that are internationally recognized, however, the EPA standards are in force across the United States.

    EPA Standards Ensure Clean Water

    EPA Standards set legal limits on more than 90 contaminants found in drinking water. The legal limit for contaminants is reflective of the maximum amount present that doesn’t negatively impact human health. The EPA standards also ensure that water systems can use the best technology available. EPA standards create water-testing schedules and t

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  2. Key Applications of pH Buffers

    PH buffers are unique solutions used to stop significant variations in pH levels. All pH levels have specific buffer capacity and buffer range. The capacity of specific pH buffers refers to the level of acid or base that can be added before the pH altering significantly. PH buffers can also be categorized using the amount of strong acid or base which must be added to edit the pH of a liter solution by a singular pH unit. Buffer ranges are the pH range in which a buffer can successfully neutralize acids and bases whilst still maintaining a steady pH. This is crucial for processes or reactions which require exacting pH ranges.

    PH buffers are also referred to as hydrogen ion buffers and are aqueous solutions that have entirely traceable pH values. PH buffers are typically made up using a mixture of a conjugate base and a weak acid that absorbs additional hydrogen atoms to maintain a stable pH value.

    PH Buffers in Biochemistry and Biology

    The concept of pH

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  3. Using Reference Materials for Sample Preparation

    In analytical chemistry, the term sample preparation refers to the manner in which a sample is treated before analysis. Sample preparation is a critical step in many analytical methods as often analytical methods do not work on the analyte in its standard form. This means that sample preparation must be carried out to ensure the analyte is in the optimum state for the technique.

    Sample preparation can involve extraction, reaction, dissolution, and pulverizing as well as a range of other methods. Treatment is carried out using reference materials to prepare the  sample into a form that is ready to be analyzed.

    Reference materials are a critical element of sample preparation as they provide a benchmark to measure samples against. This ensures they meet the correct specifications.

    What are Reference Materials

    Reference materials are a key element of sample preparation for chemical analysis. Ensuring the correct reference materials are selected is

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