THE PRODUCTION OF POWDERED CANDIDATE BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REFERENCE MATERIALS IN THE LABORATORIES OF THE JOINT RESEARCH-CENTER

The production of candidate biological and environmental reference mat erials in the laboratories of the Joint Research Centre, mainly on beh alf of BCR, started in 1972 in Ispra and became concentrated in 1984 i n Geel. Today, dedicated facilities for the transformation of biologic al and solid or liquid materials into dry powder samples are in use. T he major guidelines followed in the conception of these facilities are described. Some typical examples of facilities developed or adapted t o fulfil the specific requirements of professional CRM preparation are discussed, e.g. the whole-Teflon cryo-grinding equipment, the in-line controlled freeze-drier, the special facility for clean and dry handl ing of powders, the milling with classification equipment and the auto mation of bottling and labelling operations.