ISO 17294-2:2023

Overview

ISO 17294-2:2023 specifies a validated analytical method for determining a wide range of elements in water using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‑MS). It covers the measurement of trace and major elements - including uranium isotopes - in matrices such as drinking water, surface water, ground water, waste water and eluates, and in digests of water and sludge. Typical limits of quantification (LOQ) for most elements in relatively unpolluted waters lie between 0.002 µg/L and 1.0 µg/L, with working ranges from several ng/L up to mg/L depending on matrix and element.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Analyte scope: Aluminium, antimony, arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, mercury (treatment updated), uranium and its isotopes, titanium (added), and many lanthanides and transition metals.
• ICP‑MS principles: Instrument setup, mass calibration and internal standard use, and sensitivity considerations.
• Interferences: Detailed treatment of spectral (isobaric, polyatomic) and non‑spectral interferences and recommendations for mitigation (including use of collision/reaction cells where applicable).
• Sample handling and pre‑treatment: Guidance for dissolved vs total determinations; digestion approaches reference ISO 15587‑1 (aqua regia) and ISO 15587‑2 (nitric acid).
• Calibration and QA/QC: Calibration procedures, blank handling, limit of detection/quantification definitions, and the effect of blank contamination, reagent purity and laboratory cleanliness on LOQs.
• Uranium isotopes: Normative Annex A provides specific procedures for isotope determinations by ICP‑MS.
• Performance considerations: Working ranges depend on matrix and interferences; some limits are improved by collision/reaction cell technology.

Practical applications and users

ISO 17294‑2:2023 is intended for:

• Environmental and water testing laboratories performing routine and compliance monitoring of trace elements and isotopes.
• Regulatory authorities and public health agencies assessing water quality and contaminants of concern.
• Laboratory managers and ICP‑MS analysts needing standardized procedures for method validation, calibration and interference correction.
• Researchers analyzing trace metals and uranium isotopes in environmental studies.

Benefits include harmonized methodology for comparability of results, guidance to minimize contamination and interferences, and clear reporting and uncertainty considerations for regulatory and research applications.

Related standards

• ISO 17294‑1: General guidelines for ICP‑MS.
• ISO 15587‑1 / ISO 15587‑2: Digestion methods (aqua regia, nitric acid) for total element determination.
• ISO 5667‑1 / ISO 5667‑3: Sampling and sample preservation for water.
• ISO 8466‑1, ISO/IEC 17025: Calibration, method evaluation and laboratory competence.

Keywords: ISO 17294-2:2023, ICP‑MS, water quality, uranium isotopes, trace elements, limit of quantification, interferences, sample digestion, environmental monitoring.