EN ISO 15587-2:2002

Foreword
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Term and definition
4 Principle
5 Reagents
6 Apparatus
7 Sampling
8 Procedure
9 Test report
Annex A (informative) Digestion is an open system using electrical
        heating
Annex B (informative) Digestion is an open system using
        microwave-assisted heating
Annex C (informative) Digestion is a closed system using
         microwave-assisted heating
Annex D (informative) Digestion is a closed system using an
        autoclave
Annex E (informative) Performance checks
Bibliography

This part of ISO 15587 specifies a method for extracting trace elements from a water sample using nitric acid as a digestion agent. The method is applicable to all types of waters with a suspended solids concentration of less than 20 g/l and a total organic carbon (TOC) concentration expressed as carbon of less than 5 g/l. The nitric acid digestion method is empirical and it might not necessarily release elements completely. However, for most environmental applications the result is fit for purpose.Nitric acid digestion is suitable for the release of: Al*, As, B, Ba*, Be*, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr*, Cu, Fe*, Hg, K, Mg*, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Se, Sr, Tl, V*, Zn (asterisk indicates a possible lower recovery compared to the aqua regia digestion method specified in ISO 15587-1). It is suitable for the release of Ag only if the sample is stabilized immediately after digestion. Nitric acid digestion is not suitable for Sb, Sn and for the digestion of refractory compounds such as SiO 2, TiO2 and Al2O3.The method is generic and may be implemented using a wide variety of equipment provided the digestion composition is unchanged, the digestion temperature is known, and the digestion duration is in accordance with this temperature.