ISO 22036:2024

Overview

ISO 22036:2024 - Environmental solid matrices - Determination of elements using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‑OES) - specifies an ICP‑OES analytical method for determining a broad range of major, minor and trace elements in digests and extracts of environmental solid matrices. The method covers digests prepared with aqua regia, nitric acid, and HCl/HNO3/HBF4 or HF mixtures, and is validated for matrices including soil, compost/treated biowaste and various sludges. It is also applicable to other extracts (e.g., DTPA extraction, fusion, total digestion) and to eluates of construction products (EN 17200), provided applicability is verified by the user.

Keywords: ISO 22036:2024, ICP‑OES, environmental solid matrices, aqua regia digest, soil analysis, sludge, compost, trace elements.

Key Topics

• Scope and validated matrices: Method validated for sludge, compost and soil (see Tables A.1–A.3); applicable to other matrices after verification.
• Target elements: Includes a wide element set-from common elements (Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, K, Na) and contaminants of concern (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg, Se) to rare earths and noble metals (Ce, Nd, Pt, Au, etc.).
• Analytical principle: Quantification by ICP‑OES following appropriate sample digestion/extraction.
• Interferences: Detailed treatment of spectral and non‑spectral interferences and recommendations for inter‑element correction (Annex C).
• Instrument setup & optimization: Guidance on instrument performance parameters, wavelength selection, use of reference elements and long‑term stability checks.
• Calibration strategies: Linear calibration and standard addition approaches; blank and matrix‑matched solutions.
• Quality & performance: Instrumental and method detection limits (Annex B), repeatability/reproducibility data (Annex A), recovery checks and calibration verification.
• Procedures & reporting: Cleaning, reagent requirements, measurement procedure, calculation and test report content.

Applications

• Routine environmental monitoring of soils, sediments, sludges and treated biowaste.
• Compliance and risk‑assessment testing for contaminated land, waste management and remediation projects.
• Characterization of construction product eluates and material screening for heavy metals and critical elements.
• Research on element cycling, soil amendment effects and fertiliser/compost quality.

Who should use this standard

• Environmental testing laboratories performing multi‑element analysis.
• Soil scientists, environmental consultants and remediation contractors.
• Regulatory bodies and accreditation assessors specifying or auditing analytical methods.
• Manufacturers and testing labs for construction materials requiring eluate analysis (EN 17200 alignment).

Related standards

• EN 17200 (eluates of construction products) - referenced for applicability to construction product eluates.
• ISO 11074 (soil terminology) - referenced for terms and definitions used in sample handling and reporting.

ISO 22036:2024 provides a harmonized, validated ICP‑OES workflow to ensure robust, comparable multi‑element data for environmental solid matrices.