Analytical strategies to solve problems in industrial and official laboratories

Abstract

Scientific discoveries are present in all areas of our life. For this reason, promoting research is necessary since the knowledge acquired in this way is useful for different fields: from designing bridges to slowing climate change, developing new technologies or solving practical problems. A usual way of researching is to apply the concept of research and development (R&D), which involves the presence of an appreciable element of novelty and the resolution of problems and uncertainties using scientific or technological means. Nowadays, companies need R&D to compete internationally in order to succeed. This competence requires to introduce the concept of quality in their processes and products. Quality involves different perceptions and meanings, although its objective is meeting the expectations and needs of customers. The assurance of this parameter is commonly carried out by quality control procedures. Concretely, along this work, the research carried out has been focus on three tasks related to quality control procedures, being the main objective of this dissertation to employ analytical chemistry as a tool to provide solutions to different problems exposed by official and industrial laboratories, in order to improve the methods used up to now with the consequent economical and environmental benefits. The main objective has been fulfilled through next sub-objectives: -analytical validation of a method for inorganic anion analysis in different kind of water by capillary ion electrophoresis; -determination of anionic impurities in fluorinated inorganic acids by both capillary electrophoresis and ion chromatography; and -determination of some herbicides in surface water by ion chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry and post column addition of acetonitrile.