LOGO

About TUNISIA

Situation:Tunisia occupies the oriental part of the Maghreb.Widely opened on the Mediterranean Sea, it isframed in the North by Sardinia and in northeast bySicily.

Borders:On the West, with Algeria; in the South, with Libya.

Coastline:1,300 km between Tabarka (north west) and RasAjdir (southeast).

Highest point:Jebel Chambi, 1544 m

Area: 163,610 km2

About TUNISIA

Administrative divisions:24 governorates subdivided into delegations and joint.

Capital:Tunis, 2.1 million inhabitants in 2003.

Religion:Islam

Languages:Arabic is the official language; but French is taught from primary school, isspoken by a majority of the population.

National currency:The Tunisian Dinar is worth about 0.55 euros in 2011.

About TUNISIA

On March 20, 1956 Tunisia gained independence and the republic was proclaimed on 25 July 1957. Bourguiba who was appointed President of the Republic.

He led the country ably until 1987 when he was deposed by Ben Ali. And since the country fell into dictatorship and corruption. 

End of 2010 the people, composed mostly of young people. Their only slogan was: dignity and freedom. He eventually scare away the dictator January 14, 2011.

About TUNISIA

petroleum, 

phosphates (sixth largest exporter), 

textiles,

olive oil, citrus, 

tourism

Main INDUSTRIES

About TUNISIA

Petroleum(4 MT), Gaz (2 millions of m3), 

Phosphate (8 MT), 5e rang mondial 

Cereal (1.94 MT), 

Olive oil(180 000T), 4e rang mondial 

Citrus (300 000 T), 

Dates (145 000 T), 

Fishery products (105 000 T)

About TUNISIA

Tunis ‐ Carthage ‐ Sidi Bou Saïd 

Hammamet ‐ Nabeul 

El‐Kantaoui ‐ Sousse ‐Monastir 

Jerba (ou Djerba) ‐ Zarzis 

Tozeur ‐Nefta ‐ Douz ‐Matmata 

Tabarka ‐ Aïn‐Draham

About TUNISIA

Vestige berber of Tunisia

El Jem amphitheatre

Neptune: Bardo musuem

About TUNISIA

Nefta, oasis of Chott El Djerid Sidi Bou Saïd

Ichkeul naturel Parc

Hot Tip

Aims of INRAP

Human and financial ressources

Equipments and  logistical resources

INRAP Activity

Metrology Service

PLAN

Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific ResearchNational Institute of Research and Physical and Chemical Analysis 

INRAP

January2001

INRAP

Date of creation : January 1995

Legal status : Crown Corporation

Human and financial resources :

Human resources : 149

Total investment : A total budget of 14,5 Million $ US, about 10,7 M $ US were dedicated

to scientific equipments and logistic supports.

An analytical center: Conduct complex analysis in different aspects of physical and

chemical fields.

Human resources

23 researchers (2P + 2 Asso. P + 1 Assis. P

28 Engineers + 31 Senior technician)

32 Administratives 

30 Workers 

39 Phd (14 masters & 25 Phd students)32 trainers 

INRAP(144 + 5) p. 71 np.

INRAP

A research and development institution : Study of complex analytical problems.

A technical maintenance center : Maintenance and reparation of scientific equipment.

A training center 

A documentation center related to different aspects of physical and chemical analysis.

A team of qualified researchers, engineers and technicians are at your 

service to assist you.

INRAP Organization

Research and developmentResearch and development

Research programs  ;

Results valorization;

Promote national and international partnerships.

Research programs  ;

Results valorization;

Promote national and international partnerships.

Service Delivery PlatformService Delivery Platform

Provide analytical services to companies;

Make new paid service contracts with private and 

public companies

Chemical expertise ;

Technical assistance for scientific equipments 

maintenance

Provide analytical services to companies;

Make new paid service contracts with private and 

public companies

Chemical expertise ;

Technical assistance for scientific equipments 

maintenance

Scientific monitoring and chemical analysis techniques  development

The European requirement of traceability represents abrake for our exports which must follow the samestandards.

Structure of research able to fulfill the normativerequirements which is under a perpetual development inorder to support the structures of control and:

•To protect forward our products under export;•To secure the Tunisian consumer opposite importedgoods and services

The existence of a technological survey to follow thenormative evolutions and the new international andregional law requirements.

The existence of a technological survey to follow thenormative evolutions and the new international andregional law requirements.

Equipments

INRAP surface is  3Ha Covered area: 6000 m²

Textural analysis

Areas of Analysis

Analytical platform of INRAP

Analytical platform of INRAPSeparation techniques

Liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Gas chromatography  (GC) 

Analytical platform of INRAPElementary inorganic analysis  

Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS)

Atomic emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES)

Analytical platform of INRAPMass spectrometry

GC‐HRMS GC‐MS

LC‐MS‐MS

Analytical platform of INRAPMolecular analysis

FTIR

UV‐Vis

Analytical platform of INRAPWater analysis

Karl Fisher, Spectrophotometer (Na, K, 

Ca, DCO, DBO5, Turbidity…)

Analytical platform of INRAPTextural analysis

DRXMEB

Analytical platform of INRAPOther techniques

CHNOS

X fluorescence ATD ATG DSC

NMR 500 Mhz

Analysis ActivitiesHigh Performance Liquid Chromatography Lab

HPLCUD‐DAD‐FLD‐RID

Food

Contaminants

   

Mycotoxin Pesticide  Antibiotic         PAH

Additives

PreservativeDye     

Antioxidant            Sweetening  agents    

Vitamins

Pharmaceutical

Quality control

Active ingredient impureties

Other

Sugar      Triglyceride 

PhospholipidesCatechine

HPLC Lab also develops and validates new analytical methods for his clients

Analysis ActivitiesGas Chromatography (GC)

ApplicationsApplications

Food- FAME(S): Fatty Acids

Methyl Esters- Sterols

- Pesticide residue

Food- FAME(S): Fatty Acids

Methyl Esters- Sterols

- Pesticide residuePharmaceutical

industry- Analysis of active

ingredient- Solvent residue

- Organic impureties

Pharmaceuticalindustry

- Analysis of active ingredient

- Solvent residue- Organic impureties

Industrial sector- Solvent residue

- Organic acid - Organochlorine

compounds

Industrial sector- Solvent residue

- Organic acid - Organochlorine

compounds

Environment- PAH (hydrocarbon aromatic polycyclic)

- VOC (volatile Organic Compound)

Environment- PAH (hydrocarbon aromatic polycyclic)

- VOC (volatile Organic Compound)

Phytochemistry- Essential oïls

- Volatile fraction of plant extract

Phytochemistry- Essential oïls

- Volatile fraction of plant extract

Analysis ActivitiesMass Spectrometry Lab

ApplicationsApplications

Pharmacological, Biomedical and toxicological applicationsPharmacological, Biomedical and toxicological applications

Exact Mass measurement with HRMSExact Mass measurement with HRMS

Analysis of plant’s primary and secondary metabolitesAnalysis of plant’s primary and secondary metabolites

Research and Development activitiesResearch and Development activities

Prohibited substances in foodstuffsProhibited substances in foodstuffs

Residues analysisResidues analysis

Mass Spectrometry Lab of INRAP is equipped with:GC‐MSD: Mass Spectrometry Detector coupled to Gas Chromatography(quadripole analyser)GC‐HRMS:High Resolution Mass Spectrometry coupled to Gas ChromatographyLC‐MS‐MS:TandemMass Spectrometry coupled to Liquid Chromatography

Analysis ActivitiesElemental Microanalysis C, H, N, O, S

Percentage determination of C, H, N, S and O in organic and organo-metallic compounds

ApplicationsApplications

Combustion: At high

temperature under oxygene

Chromatographic separation of

gases:CO2, H2O…

Detector:Thermal

conductivity Detector

Duration:CHN < 7 mmCHNS < 10O< 5 mn

Measurement range (mg):C: 0.001 - 3.6 S:0.001 - 2.0H: 0.001 – 1.0 O:0.001 - 2.0N: 0.001 - 0.6

PerformanceMode Accuracy

CHN <0.2%CHNS <0.2%

O <0.2%

Applications:• Food• Plants• Soils• Polymers and materials

Analysis ActivitiesUV‐Visible Spectrometry

Areas of useAreas of use

Colorimetric determination of

phosphorus (vanadomolybdic

method)

Colorimetric determination of

phosphorus (vanadomolybdic

method)

Anisidine value determinationAnisidine value determination

Determination of total

Polyphenols

Determination of total

Polyphenols

Spectrometric determination

of color

Spectrometric determination

of color

Kinetic study: compound

degradation monitoring

Kinetic study: compound

degradation monitoring

UV absorbance determination, expressed as specific UV extinction

UV absorbance determination, expressed as specific UV extinction

Analysis ActivitiesInductively Coupled Plasma ICP‐OES and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Heavy metals are tracked at trace and ultra trace levels because of their wellknown toxic effects and negative impact on environment and health. On the otherhand, traces elements such as Zn, Se, Fe, Cu…, are benefic to humans and livingorganisms at controlled concentrations.

All these elements could be analyzed at the INRAP Thanks to:

An atomic absorption spectrometer ICP-OES equipped with a CCD camera detector

Many analysis are developed according to standards and validated methods:

• Environment• Food and beverages• Metallurgy• Biological tissues and matrixes• Research and development

Analysis ActivitiesX‐ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

X‐ray Fluorescence (XRF) is a well‐established method of qualitative and quantitative element analysis. In most cases, XRF meets a number of requirements for non‐destructive analysis of many samples and materials.

Applications

Petrochemical industryCement and clinker

Metallurgy

Heavy metals in different media and 

materialsGeological Samples

Cultural heritage Cultural heritage Materials

Laboratories Accreditation

Now :

• Preservative ( benzoic Acid & Sorbic Acid in juice matrix)

• Heavy metals ( Cu, Fe, Ca, Mg)

Actualy :

• Antibiotic

• Mycotoxin

•Volumetric : Micropipettes Future Program :

• Pesticide

• Hydrocarbure

• Vitamin

• Food Additive (Dye)

Metrology Service

INRAP is the National Laboratory of Chemical MetrologyMetrology chemistry in INRAP is composed of three sections

Inorganic metrology chemistry

•Development of primary methods for fabrication and certification of Single-element solutions exp : Cd, Fe, Ca..

•Development of primary methods for fabrication and certification of Single-element solutions exp : Cd, Fe, Ca..

Organic metrology chemistry

•Development of primary methods for contaminants analysis exp: pesticides & Mycotoxins

•Development of primary methods for contaminants analysis exp: pesticides & Mycotoxins

Electrochemical metrology

•Development of primary bench for pH and conductivitymeasurements

•Development of primary bench for pH and conductivitymeasurements

After our nomination as national chemistry metrology laboratory, we are interested to elaborate a cooperation project with NMISA (the reference metrology laboratory in South Africa).

Extend our participation to other Proficiency Testing scheme (PT) exp: PT of Analysis of Heavy Metals in Food.

Perspectives

LOGO