ISO/TS 16727:2013

TECHNICAL ISO/TS
SPECIFICATION 16727
First edition
2013-09-15
Corrected version
2013-10-01
Soil quality — Determination of
mercury — Cold vapour atomic
fluorescence spectrometry (CVAFS)
Qualité du sol — Dosage du mercure — Spectrométrie de fluorescence
atomique à vapeur froide (CVAFS)
Reference number
©
ISO 2013
© ISO 2013
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ii © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Principle . 1
4 Interferences . 1
5 Reagents . 2
6 Apparatus . 3
6.1 Usual laboratory apparatus . 3
6.2 Atomic fluorescence spectrometer (AFS) . 3
6.3 Automated sample introduction system . 3
7 Procedure. 4
7.1 Test sample solution . 4
7.2 Test blank solution . 4
7.3 Preparation of the calibration solutions . 4
7.4 Calibration . 4
7.5 Measurement of test sample . 4
8 Calculation and expression of results . 5
8.1 Calculation . 5
8.2 Expression of results . 5
9 Test report . 5
Bibliography . 6
Foreword
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The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 190, Soil quality, Subcommittee SC 3, Chemical
methods and soil characteristics.
In this corrected version, the status of the document was amended to Technical Specification on the
cover page. In addition, the page headings were changed to ISO/TS 16727:2013(E).
iv © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Introduction
ISO/TS 16727 is based upon CEN/TS 16175-2, Sludge, treated biowaste and soil — Determination of
mercury — Part 2: Cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CV-AFS), which was developed by
CEN/TC 400, Project Committee — Horizontal standards in the fields of sludge, biowaste and soil.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION ISO/TS 16727:2013(E)
Soil quality — Determination of mercury — Cold vapour
atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CVAFS)
WARNING — Persons using this Technical Specification should be familiar with usual laboratory
practice. This Technical Specification does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if
any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user to establish appropriate safety and
health practices and to ensure compliance with any national regulatory conditions.
IMPORTANT — It is absolutely essential that tests conducted according to this Technical
Specification be carried out by suitably trained staff.
1 Scope
This Technical Specification specifies a method for the determination of mercury in aqua regia or nitric
acid digests of sludge, treated biowaste and soil, obtained according to ISO 11466 or ISO 16729 using cold
vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The lower working range limit is 0,003 mg/kg (dry matter).
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 11465, Soil quality — Determination of dry matter and water content on a mass basis — Gravimetric method
ISO 11466, Soil quality — Extraction of trace elements soluble in aqua regia
ISO 16729, Soil quality — Digestion of nitric acid soluble fractions of elements
ISO 3696, Water for analytical laboratory use — Specification and test methods
3 Principle
Monovalent and divalent mercury is reduced to the elemental form by tin(II)-chloride solution or sodium
borohydride in acid medium. Elemental mercury is stripped off from the solution in a closed system,
by means of a stream of argon or nitrogen. The mercury vapour is injected into the cell of an atomic
fluorescence spectrometer where the mercury atoms are excited by radiation of a specific wavelength,
usually about 254 nm. The intensity of the fluorescence radiation is a function of mercury concentration.
The concentrations are calculated using a calibration curve.
NOTE The matrix of the solution analysed is dominated by the acids used in the digestion step. Tin(II)-chloride
as a reduction substance is recommended in this Technical Specification, because sodium borohydride reduces
many elements commonly found in soil, sludge and waste extract solutions, to the elemental state, which may
cause matrix problems under particular circumstances. However, it is still possible to use sodium borohydride as
reduction agent. The concentration range 0,1 µg/l to 10 µg/l in the digested solution, corresponding to 0,003 µg/g
to 0,3 µg/g of mercury, when a 3,0 g of sample has been digested, can be determin
...