ISO 16772-2004 PDF

Full title and description

Soil quality — Determination of mercury in aqua regia soil extracts with cold‑vapour atomic spectrometry or cold‑vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry. This International Standard specifies procedures for preparing an aqua regia extract of soil samples (in accordance with related ISO extraction methods) and for the subsequent determination of mercury using cold‑vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV‑AAS) or cold‑vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CV‑AFS).

Abstract

ISO 16772:2004 defines a standardized analytical method for measuring mercury concentrations in soils after extraction with aqua regia, employing cold‑vapour techniques (CV‑AAS or CV‑AFS). The method is intended for trace analysis in environmental and contaminated site investigations and has a stated limit of determination of at least 0,1 mg/kg.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard; confirmed following systematic review).
• Publication date: June 2004 (2004-06).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.080.10 (Soil quality).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2004).
• Number of pages: 8 pages.

Key bibliographic and life‑cycle details above are recorded on the ISO catalogue entry for this standard; the entry also notes that the standard was reviewed and confirmed in 2024.

Scope

ISO 16772:2004 covers the determination of mercury in an aqua regia extract of soil obtained using standard extraction procedures (references to ISO extraction methods are given in the standard). The procedures apply to mercury determinations by cold‑vapour atomic absorption spectrometry or cold‑vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry, and are intended to support soil‑quality assessments, monitoring and contaminated‑site investigations. The method specifies the analytical steps, performance characteristics (including a limit of determination of at least 0,1 mg/kg), and quality control measures.

Key topics and requirements

• Preparation of soil aqua regia extracts in accordance with referenced ISO extraction procedures.
• Determination techniques: cold‑vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV‑AAS) and cold‑vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CV‑AFS).
• Analytical performance: stated limit of determination of at least 0,1 mg/kg and procedures for calibration and quality control.
• Consideration of potential interferences, blank corrections and sample handling to minimise contamination and loss of volatile mercury species.
• Reporting requirements for results, units (mg/kg), and relevant method metadata (sample preparation, extraction conditions, instrument settings).

Typical use and users

Environmental testing laboratories, consultants and regulators conducting soil‑quality assessments and contaminated‑site investigations commonly use this standard to ensure consistent, comparable determinations of mercury in soils. Research laboratories, remediation project teams and national standards bodies may also reference it when developing protocols or interlaboratory studies.

Related standards

ISO 16772:2004 references and is used alongside other soil quality and extraction standards, notably ISO methods for soil treatment and extraction (for example, the aqua regia extraction procedures cited within the standard). It has also been adopted or mirrored in national standards (for example, adoption records show related national implementation). Users commonly consult complementary standards for sampling, sample handling and other metal‑analysis procedures in soil.

Keywords

mercury; Hg; soil quality; aqua regia extraction; cold‑vapour atomic absorption spectrometry; CV‑AAS; cold‑vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry; CV‑AFS; trace metals; environmental monitoring; contaminated sites.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 16772:2004 is an International Standard that specifies a method for determining mercury in aqua regia extracts of soil using cold‑vapour atomic spectrometric techniques.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers sample extract preparation (aqua regia), analytical determination by CV‑AAS or CV‑AFS, performance characteristics (including a limit of determination ≥ 0,1 mg/kg), calibration, quality‑control measures and reporting of results.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Environmental and analytical laboratories, remediation consultants, regulators and researchers involved in soil monitoring and contaminated‑site assessment use this standard to ensure consistent mercury analysis.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The ISO catalogue entry shows ISO 16772:2004 as published and subsequently reviewed and confirmed; the standard was confirmed in 2024 and remains the current edition. Users should check the ISO catalogue or their national standards body for any later amendments or replacements before relying on the standard for compliance purposes.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: ISO 16772:2004 is part of the body of ISO standards on soil quality developed under ISO/TC 190 (soil quality technical committee) and complements other soil‑quality methods and sampling standards. It cross‑references other ISO extraction methods used to obtain the aqua regia extract.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Mercury; aqua regia; soil extract; cold‑vapour; atomic absorption; atomic fluorescence; environmental monitoring; trace metal analysis.