Metrological Support in the Field of Isothermal Titration Calorimetry: Prospects for the Development of Reference Materials

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) allows studying the thermal effects of various chemical and physicochemical processes, including dissolution processes. This method is relatively new. Therefore, the active expansion of the scope of its application has revealed a number of problems. For instance, the article raises the problem of insufficient metrological support for isothermal titration calorimeters, which leads to inconsistency of the results obtained on different models of calorimeters, as well as their inconsistency with literature data. The current electrical and chemical calibration procedures for calorimeters are not universal and have a number of limitations in their application.

The purpose of the research is to develop basic approaches to the creation of certified reference materials with a certified value of heat of physicochemical interactions with established metrological traceability to the base SI units.

In the course of the study, the analysis of the state of metrological support in the field of ITC measurements was carried out, the main requirements for candidate substances to RMs were formulated; the target uncertainty of the value of the integral heat of dilution of propanol-1 solutions was estimated by analyzing the characteristics of working measuring instruments, which made it possible to establish requirements for the measurement method applied to characterize RMs. A method for determining the certified value of the integral heat of dilution that provides traceability to the State primary special standard of the unit of heat in the field of dissolution calorimetry and reactions GET 133 has been proposed and tested.

In order to implement the project, it is necessary to continue research in order to obtain experimental data on the characterization, assessment of the homogeneity and stability of the material, processing the obtained results, and estimating the uncertainty of the certified value, which will make it possible to complete the development of reference materials.

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