ISO 6490-1:1985

Overview

ISO 6490-1:1985 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that specifies a titrimetric method for the determination of calcium content in animal feeding stuffs. This part of ISO 6490 is designed for products with calcium levels greater than 1 g/kg. The procedure involves ashing the sample, treating the ash with hydrochloric acid, precipitating calcium as calcium oxalate, dissolving the precipitate in sulfuric acid, and performing a titration with a standard volumetric potassium permanganate solution.

This standard is essential for laboratories and quality control professionals working in the animal feed industry, ensuring consistency and reliability in calcium analysis across a wide range of feeding products.

Key Topics

• Applicability: The method is suitable for all animal feeding stuffs with more than 1 g/kg of calcium content.
• Sample Preparation: Samples are first ashed in a muffle furnace to destroy organic matter before analysis.
• Chemical Reagents Used:
  • Hydrochloric acid for treating ash
  • Sulfuric acid for dissolving precipitates
  • Potassium permanganate for titration
• Volumetric Analysis: Calcium is quantified via titration, a key volumetric analysis technique used in feed laboratories.
• Repeatability: The method specifies tight repeatability requirements, enhancing its reliability for routine quality assurance.
• Reporting: The method includes detailed guidelines for reporting and calculation, ensuring standardized documentation and compliance.

Applications

ISO 6490-1:1985 is widely used in the animal feed industry for:

• Quality Assurance: Ensuring proper calcium levels in formulated feed products is vital for animal health, particularly for livestock and poultry.
• Feed Formulation: Accurate calcium content determination helps manufacturers meet nutritional requirements and regulatory standards.
• Regulatory Compliance: Laboratories and feed producers use this standardized method to comply with national and international nutritional labeling regulations.
• Comparison Testing: The standardized protocol enables reliable comparison between different batches and suppliers.
• Research and Development: Used by researchers developing new feed mixtures or studying the bioavailability of calcium in various formulations.

Related Standards

• ISO 6490-2: Animal feeding stuffs - Determination of calcium content - Part 2: Atomic absorption spectrometric method. Recommended for samples with very low calcium content.
• ISO 6497: Animal feeding stuffs - Sampling. Specifies standard procedures for obtaining representative samples.
• ISO 6498: Animal feeding stuffs - Preparation of test samples. Provides guidance on preparing samples for analysis.

Practical Value

Implementing ISO 6490-1:1985 offers significant benefits:

• Consistency: Ensures uniformity in testing methods and results across laboratories and geographic regions.
• Accuracy: Provides a highly reliable method for determining calcium content, minimizing nutritional variability in feed.
• Compliance: Meets regulatory and customer requirements for traceability and transparency in feed production.
• Quality Control: Enhances feed safety and animal nutrition management through precise mineral analysis.
• International Recognition: As an ISO standard, it enables seamless communication of results in global trade and regulatory affairs.

Keywords: ISO 6490-1:1985, determination of calcium, animal feeding stuffs, titrimetric method, calcium analysis, animal feed standards, volumetric analysis, feed quality control.