SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Quantify analyte concentrations in prepared samples by means of Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
9750  Quantify analyte concentrations in prepared samples by means of Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Mining and Minerals 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Fabrication and Extraction 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  3 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2005-04-13  2008-04-13  SAQA 0859/05 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2009-04-13   2012-04-13  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard is replaced by: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
256604  Quantify analyte concentrations in prepared samples by means of Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy  Level 4  NQF Level 04  3   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is for persons responsible for analysing samples by means of Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. A person credited with this unit standard can:
  • Demonstrate knowledge relating to Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.
  • Quantify analyte concentrations in prepared samples 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Sciences, Communications and Mathematics at ABET Level 4 or equivalent
  • Determine the mass of a substance
  • Perform measurements using volumetric glassware
  • Laboratory safety standards
  • Dissolve solid samples for analysis
  • Quantify analyte concentrations in prepared samples by means of Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
  • Computer Literacy 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria.

    This applies to any application of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy.
    Preparation of samples is not included in this standard. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Quantify analyte concentrations in prepared samples by means of Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption S 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Demonstrate knowledge relating to Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption. Spectroscopy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Quantify analyte concentrations in prepared samples. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate knowledge relating to Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Hazards and risks pertaining to the graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy determination are identified and explained with reference to team health and safety and environmental impact. The appropriate preventive measures are described. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Hazards and risks must include:
  • Gas selection
  • Chemicals and fumes
  • Waste disposal
  • Lack of cooling water
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The basic principle of atomic absorption is explained with reference to the analyses performed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The principal components of the Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer are identified and their primary functions are briefly described. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include the following components and parameters:
  • Hollow cathode lamp
  • Graphite tubes
  • Background correction
  • Furnace assembly
  • Sample injection
  • Monochromator
  • Readout systems
  • Detector
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. The effects of wavelength, analyte concentration, volume of injected sample and furnace temperatures are explained with reference to obtaining optimal absorbance. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. The relevance of releasing agents, matrix matching and ionisation suppressants are explained with reference to preparation of standard and sample solutions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. The purpose of the determination is explained in terms of customer requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    7. The consequences of non-compliance with specified requirements are explained with respect to personal and team health and safety, impact on the environment, production, quality, costs and lost time. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Quantify analyte concentration in prepared samples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The required personal protective and safety equipment are available, operational, fit for purpose, used and maintained in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The calibration standards are prepared and are appropriate with respect to sample matrix and concentration range for the particular sample solutions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The prepared samples are identified, verified and the analyte concentration is measured in accordance with specified requirements and quality control procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Data is recorded, analyte concentrations calculated and results reported in accordance with specified requirements within agreed turnaround times. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Common problems and their effect on the process are explained and/or dealt with. Appropriate preventive or corrective actions are briefly described. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include common problems associated with the following:
  • Incorrect gas flow-rate
  • Excessive curvature
  • Signal instability
  • Analyte concentration falls outside calibration range
  • Flickering lamp
  • Contamination
  • Insufficient lamp warm-up time
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Equipment is maintained in accordance with specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include the following accessories:
  • Furnace assembly
  • Lamp
  • Graphite tubes
  • Cooling water system
  • Gas cylinders
  • Windows
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    7. Work is conducted to meet health, safety and environmental standards in accordance with specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Health, safety and environmental issues include:
  • Housekeeping
  • Waste disposal
  • Storage
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    8. The work is conducted in a manner that ensures continuity, and supports a smooth flow throughout the process. The effect of non-compliance is explained in terms of turnaround time for analytical results. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    1. Does the accrediting body meet the necessary criteria and requirements to be accredited, i.e. has been registered as an accredited center by the relevant ETQA for the unit standard at hand?

    2. Are there mechanisms and means like right environment, correct machinery or tools and registered assessors to ensure proper assessments for this unit standards?

    3. Do the mechanisms meet the requirements for transparency, affordability and development of the field, sub-field and framework? 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate`s performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard.

    The following embedded knowledge is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard:
  • Report writing
  • Health and safety knowledge
  • Legal and site-specific requirements 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking.
  • Note: The ability of the candidate to identify technical problems, sub-standard and hazardous conditions, assess and take appropriate action. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.
  • Note: The candidate is required to maintain the link in the process in order to achieve production, health, safety and environmental targets. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Note: The candidate is required to prioritise and integrate the various activities in order to meet the set targets. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Note: The ability of the candidate to collect and evaluate information from numerical data and/or physical observations in terms of specified requirements. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and / or language skills in the modes of oral and / or written presentations.
  • Note: The candidate is required to accurately and clearly conveys information to relevant personnel.
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
  • Note: The candidate is required to use equipment responsibly to avoid environmental pollution and to safeguard team health. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.
  • Note: The candidate is aware of his/her role in the organization in terms of social, economic and environmental impact. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Assessors should keep the following principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.
  • Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.
  • Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.
  • The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.
  • The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.
  • All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard 256604, which is "Quantify analyte concentrations in prepared samples by means of Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy", Level 4, 13 credits.

    Terminology
    Specified Requirements

    Specified requirements include legal and site specific requirements and are contained in one or more of the following documents:

    Legal
  • Relevant Acts: e.g. Mine Health & Safety Act, 1996 (Act no 29/1996), and Minerals Act and Regulations, 1991 (Act no 50/1991)
  • Regulations
  • Mandatory Codes of Practice
  • SABS and other Standards
  • Chief Inspector of Mines` Directives
  • Material Safety Data Sheets

    Site Specific
  • Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA)
  • Occupational Health and Safety Risk Management Programme
  • Voluntary Codes of Practice
  • Managerial Instructions
  • Mine Standard Procedures
  • List of Recorded OH&S Risks
  • Working Guides
  • Equipment and Materials Specifications 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  58952   Further Education and Training Certificate: Laboratory Analysis  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Registered"     		 2008-08-05  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.