ISO 17191:2026

International
Standard
ISO 17191
Second edition
Urine-absorbing products for
2026-07
incontinence — Measurement of
airborne respirable polyacrylate
superabsorbent materials —
Determination of dust in collection
cassettes by sodium atomic
absorption spectrometry
Produits pour absorption d'urine — Dosage des particules
respirables de matériaux superabsorbants de polyacrylate en
suspension dans l'air — Dosage de la poussière dans des cassettes
par spectrométrie à absorption atomique du sodium
Reference number
© ISO 2026
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Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 1
5 Reagents . 2
6 Apparatus . 2
7 Procedure . 4
7.1 Sample preparation and precautionary measures .4
7.1.1 Preparation and cleaning of cassettes prior to air monitoring .4
7.1.2 Preparation of cassettes for sodium analysis after air monitoring .6
7.2 Sodium determination .6
8 Calculation . 6
9 Precision . 8
10 Test report . 8
Bibliography . 9

iii
Foreword
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 173, Assistive products, Subcommittee SC 3,
Products for ostomy and incontinence.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 17191:2004), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— clarification of test procedures.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
Introduction
This document was originally developed by the European Nonwovens Association (EDANA) as one of an
eleven-part series of test methods. It specifies a test method for determining the amount of airborne dust
emanating from polyacrylate superabsorbent material. The other test methods in the original EDANA
[1]
series have been transformed into International Standards as the ISO 17190 series . The documents in the
[1]
ISO 17190 series series differ from this document in that they cover test methods for the characterization
of polymer-based absorbent materials.
This test method has been in practical use for several years, and has proven to be reliable with respect to
common criteria of quality of test methods (validity, repeatability, etc.).

v
International Standard ISO 17191:2026(en)
Urine-absorbing products for incontinence — Measurement
of airborne respirable polyacrylate superabsorbent materials
— Determination of dust in collection cassettes by sodium
atomic absorption spectrometry
1 Scope
This document specifies a method for the determination of polyacrylate (PA) superabsorbent materials in
airborne dust by measurement of sodium (Na) by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).
This method is applicable to the determination of collected superabsorbent powder in the range between
0,2 µg and 60 µg (limit of detection near 0,2 µg) of superabsorbent powders.
It is applicable to polyacrylate superabsorbent materials, which occur in hygiene products including urine-
absorbing aids for incontinent persons. The test methods are addressed to the material exclusively. They are
not intended to be used, and are not applicable for use, with finished manufactured urine-absorbing aids.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 3696:1987, Water for analytical laboratory use — Specification and test methods
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http:// www .iso .org/ obp
4 Principle
Atomic absorption analysis (AAS) is used to determine the sodium content in polyacrylate (PA)
superabsorbent powders collected in air-monitoring cassettes.
PA dust samples are collected in polystyrene acrylonitrile air-monitoring cassettes with
polytetrafluoroethylene filters and porous plastic backing pads.
The sodium is determined after being released from the PA superabsorbent powder by exchange with
potassium in a potassium chloride solution. The amount of dissolved sodium is then determined using AAS,
and the mass of the PA superabsorbent powder collected is calculated after subtracting the background
sodium levels present in blank cassettes.
To minimize sodium contamination, cassettes are prewashed before collecting the airborne superabsorbent
powder. For the analysis, an aliquot of the potassium chloride solution is drawn from the cassette directly
into the atomic absorption spray chamber.

This test is designed to determine low levels of sodium and requires that very clean handling conditions be
observed. The use of deionized/distilled water containing very low sodium content is critical for successful
analysis.
5 Reagents
Use only reagents of recognized analytical grade, unless otherwise specified. Store all reagents and solutions
in plastic containers with the exception of KCl (5.1) and IPA (5.3). Store these in the glass containers in which
they are shipped.
Pre-analyse reagents and solutions specified in 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 for sodium (Na) using AAS, before using to
clean cassettes or for Na analysis.
5.1 Potassium chloride (KCl), KCl content 99,999 % minimum; Na concentration less than 10 μg/g.
5.2 Water, deionized or distilled, in accordance with ISO 3696:1987, Grade 1, containing < 0,1 mg/l of Na.
5.3 Isopropanol (IPA), analytical reagent grade.
1)
5.4 Sodium standard reference solution, r(Na) = 1 000 mg/l [1 000 ppm ].
5.5 Potassium chloride solution, r(KCl) = 2 000 mg/l.
Dissolve 2,0 g of potassium chloride (5.1) in 1 l of deionized water (5.2) in a polypropylene flask. The solution
shall contain < 0,1 mg/l of Na.
5.6 Sodium standard solutions, for AAS as follows: r(Na) = 0,1 mg/l, 0,5 mg/l, 1,0 mg/l, 2,0 mg/l.
Using polypropylene volumetric flasks, dilute the 1 000 mg/l sodium standard reference solution (5.4) with
the 2 000 mg/l potassium chloride solution (5.5) as required, and add isopropanol (5.3) to obtain a solutio
of 10 % by volume.
5.7 Atomic absorption zeroing solution.
Add isopropanol (5.3) to 2 000 mg/l potassium chloride solution (5.5) to obtain a solution of exactly 10,0 %
isopropanol by volume.
6 Apparatus
6.1 Atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS).
Use a single-beam spectrometer with air-acetylene flame, or equivalent, capable of photometric accuracy of
± 0,000 5 AU.
6.2 Spraychamber and burner.
Use a unit that is dedicated for trace-level sodium determination.
6.3 Hollow cathode lamp for sodium.
6.4 Pipette, capable of measuring 0,5 ml.
6.5 Pipette, capable of measuring 4,5 ml.
1) 1 mg/l = 1 ppm. The use of ppm is deprecated.

6.6 Plastic gloves, non-powdered.
6.7 V
...