ISO 14869-3-2017 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 14869-3:2017 — Soil quality — Dissolution for the determination of total element content — Part 3: Dissolution with hydrofluoric, hydrochloric and nitric acids using pressurised microwave technique. Specifies a microwave‑assisted, pressurised acid dissolution procedure (HF, HCl, HNO3) for preparing soil and soil‑like materials for determination of total element contents.

Abstract

ISO 14869-3:2017 defines a microwave‑assisted dissolution method using a mixture of hydrofluoric, hydrochloric and nitric acids to dissolve soils for measurement of major, minor and trace elements (including Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Se, Sb, Sr, Tl, V and Zn). The method is intended for geological and pedological surveys; some very refractory mineral residues (for example SiO2, TiO2, spinel, Al2O3) can remain, in which case alkaline fusion (ISO 14869-2) is recommended. Solutions produced are suitable for analyses by FAAS, GFAAS, CVAAS, ICP‑OES and ICP‑MS, though the presence of chloride can limit some techniques.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard, confirmed).
• Publication date: February 2017 (published 16 February 2017; systematic review confirmed 30 October 2023).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.080.10 (Chemical characteristics of soils).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2017).
• Number of pages: 9.

(Core bibliographic and lifecycle details as published by ISO; the confirmation date indicates the edition remained current after review.)

Scope

Applies to the dissolution of soils and soil materials for determination of total element contents using a pressurised microwave digestion with an acid mixture of HF, HCl and HNO3. The procedure is intended for use with geological and pedological surveys and for preparing solutions suitable for a range of atomic spectrometric techniques. The method aims at near‑total dissolution of element-bearing phases; if refractory residues remain, alkaline fusion (ISO 14869‑2) can be used to determine true total content.

Key topics and requirements

• Microwave‑assisted pressurised digestion using hydrofluoric, hydrochloric and nitric acids.
• Target analytes: major, minor and trace elements including (but not limited to) Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Se, Sb, Sr, Tl, V, Zn.
• Applicability to a wide range of soil/soil‑like materials; recognition that some refractory mineral phases may remain undissolved.
• Recommendation to use ISO 14869-2 (alkaline fusion) when microwave acid digestion leaves refractory residues.
• Prepared solutions are compatible with common instrumental techniques (FAAS, GFAAS, CVAAS, ICP‑OES, ICP‑MS); users must consider chloride effects on specific analytical methods.
• Requires appropriate laboratory safety and HF handling precautions due to use of hydrofluoric acid.
• Includes validation/round‑robin data and performance references informing reproducibility and suitability for routine laboratories.

Typical use and users

Used by environmental and geochemical testing laboratories, pedologists, soil chemists, mineralogists, geological survey organizations, academic researchers and regulatory bodies needing reproducible preparation of soil samples for total element determination. Typical applications include regional geochemical surveys, contamination assessment and baseline studies where near‑total elemental recovery is required.

Related standards

Relevant and related standards include: ISO 14869-1 (dissolution with HF and perchloric acid), ISO 14869-2 (dissolution by alkaline fusion — recommended when refractory residues remain), ISO 12914 and ISO 11466 (aqua regia extraction / microwave aqua regia methods for aqua regia‑soluble fractions; note some of these have been subject to revision or withdrawal and users should check current status before application).

Keywords

soil quality, dissolution, microwave digestion, hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, total element content, alkaline fusion, ISO 14869, soil analysis, ICP‑MS, ICP‑OES, FAAS, sample preparation.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 14869-3:2017 is an ISO method defining a pressurised microwave acid digestion (HF/HCl/HNO3) procedure for preparing soil and soil‑like materials for determination of total element contents.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the reagents, apparatus and procedural steps for microwave‑assisted dissolution, the range of elements typically recovered, limitations (possible refractory residues) and suitability of the resulting solutions for common spectrometric analyses. It also notes when alkaline fusion (ISO 14869‑2) is preferable.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Environmental/analytical laboratories, geological and pedological survey teams, academic researchers and regulators requiring standardized sample pre‑treatment for total element analysis.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2017 edition (Edition 1) is published and was confirmed after systematic review (confirmation recorded 30 October 2023). Users should verify the status before use in regulated work, but as of the latest ISO lifecycle information this edition remains current.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 3 of the ISO 14869 series (dissolution methods for total element determination). Other parts include ISO 14869‑1 (HF/perchloric dissolution) and ISO 14869‑2 (alkaline fusion) which are complementary methods.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: soil quality; microwave digestion; hydrofluoric acid; hydrochloric acid; nitric acid; total element content; alkaline fusion; ICP‑MS; ICP‑OES; FAAS; sample preparation.