SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Determine the concentration of a substance by Ion Chromatography [IC]

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
110201	Determine the concentration of a substance by Ion Chromatography [IC]
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	13
REGISTRATION STATUS		REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE	SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		2018-07-01	2023-06-30	SAQA 06120/18
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

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 does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard.

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD

This unit standard will be useful to people who are responsible for determining the concentration of a substance by means of an ion chromatograph.

People credited with this unit standard are able to

demonstrate knowledge relating to ion chromatography; and

perform an analysis by means of an ion chromatograph.

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

Laboratory health, safety and environmental standards

Determine the mass of a substance

Perform measurements using volumetric glassware

UNIT STANDARD RANGE

The following statement is applicable to the entire unit standard:
This competency is applicable to laboratories where IC analyses are performed.

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

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Demonstrate knowledge relating to Ion Chromatography.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. Hazards and risks pertaining to the process are identified and explained with reference to team health and safety and environmental impact. The appropriate preventative measures are described in accordance to specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The basic principles of this technique are explained in terms of the ion exchange process between the mobile and the stationary phase.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The components of the ion chromatograph and ancillary equipment are identified and their functions described in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Components must include the following:

Injection system

Eluent

Columns

Detectors

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. The characteristics of a good chromatogram are described in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Characteristics of a chromatogram must include the following:

Resolution

Peak shape

Background

Retention time

Run time

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

5. 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 control, cost and lost time.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

6. The reasons for carrying out the analysis are explained in terms of customer requirements.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Perform an analysis by means of an ion chromatograph.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The required personal protective, health and safety equipment is available, operational, fit for purpose and used in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The samples, reagents and standards are identified, verified and prepared in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The instrument is calibrated and the determination is performed in accordance with specified requirements and quality control procedures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. Data is processed and reported in accordance with specified requirements and quality control procedures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

5. Common problems and their effect on the process are explained and/or dealt with in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Common problems must include the following:

Incorrect operating temperature

Incorrect column / packing material

Incorrect sample preparation

Sample deterioration

Contamination

Poor sample introduction technique

Incorrect standards

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

6. Work is conducted to meet health, safety and environmental standards in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Health, safety and environmental issues must include the following:

Housekeeping

Waste disposal

Storage

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7

7. The work is conducted in a manner that supports a smooth flow throughout the process.

UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS

1. Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

2. Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.

3. Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures.

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE

Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge, candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes to the standards described in the assessment criteria. 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.

UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME

N/A

UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES

N/A

Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO):

UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING

1. 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 candidates are required to accurately and clearly convey information to relevant personnel.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE

Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.

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.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015.

UNIT STANDARD NOTES

Terminology

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)

Mandatory Codes of Practice

SABS and other relevant standards

Chief Inspector of Mines` Directives

Site-Specific

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA)

Occupational Health and Safety Risk Management Programme

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
Elective	64950	Further Education and Training Certificate: Laboratory Analysis	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	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.

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