Overview
ISO/TS 19590:2024 - Nanotechnologies: Characterization of nano-objects using single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP‑MS) - provides practical guidance, parameters and minimal reporting requirements for reliable detection, characterization and quantification of nano‑objects in aqueous suspension by spICP‑MS. The Technical Specification focuses on key measurands such as particle number concentration, particle mass, particle mass concentration, spherical equivalent diameter and number‑based size distribution, and also covers determination of the dissolved element mass fraction from the same dataset.
Key Topics
- Principles of spICP‑MS: measurement concept, dwell time, ion cloud detection and elemental specificity.
- Calibration approaches: reference‑material dependent methods (particle frequency and particle size methods) and reference‑material free methods (dynamic mass flow and microdroplet calibration).
- Transport efficiency: procedures to determine the ratio of detected particle events to particles introduced - essential for accurate particle number concentration.
- Particle measurands: conversion of elemental mass signal to particle mass and, for assumed geometries, to spherical equivalent diameter (size calculation assumptions noted).
- Dissolved vs particulate analysis: how spICP‑MS enables simultaneous estimation of dissolved element fraction.
- Method development and sample preparation: guidance for aqueous suspensions, non‑aqueous media, powders and larger solids; selection of reference and quality control materials.
- Data treatment and reporting: minimal reporting requirements, data processing considerations and recommended metadata.
- Performance and uncertainty: system qualification, quality control, method performance criteria, precision and measurement uncertainty considerations.
Applications
ISO/TS 19590:2024 supports practical use of spICP‑MS across:
- Environmental monitoring (nanoparticle occurrence in water and waste streams)
- Materials and nanomaterial manufacturing quality control (particle size and concentration)
- Regulatory and compliance testing for consumer products (cosmetics, coatings, food contact materials)
- Research and toxicology studies requiring element‑specific particle characterization
- Pharmaceutical and biomedical development where metallic or metal‑containing nano‑objects are present
Who should use this standard
- Analytical and environmental laboratories implementing spICP‑MS
- Instrument manufacturers and software developers for spICP‑MS data processing
- Quality managers in nanomaterials production and R&D teams
- Regulators and standards bodies developing test protocols or conformity assessment
Related standards
This Technical Specification is a practical resource for labs and organizations applying spICP‑MS for robust, elemental‑specific nano‑object characterization and traceable reporting.