ASTM E3171-21a

Standard Test Method for Determination of Total Silver in Textiles by ICP-OES or ICP-MS Analysis

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Silver may be used to treat consumer textile products to provide enhanced antimicrobial (fungi, bacteria, viruses) properties (3, 4). At any point in a textile product’s lifecycle, there may be a need to measure the amount of silver present. This standard prescribes a test method based on ICP-OES or ICP-MS analysis that manufacturers, producers, analysts, policymakers, regulators, and others may use for measurement of total silver in textiles. As described in Guide E3025, determination of total silver in a consumer textile product is one component of a tiered approach to determine if silver is present, possibly as nanomaterial(s) (one or more external dimensions in the nanoscale), prior to measuring the form and dimension of the Ag that is found. ICP-OES or ICP-MS analysis alone is not sufficient to determine whether a textile contains silver nanomaterial(s).
Note 4: There are many different chemical and physical forms of silver that are used to treat textiles and an overview of this topic is provided in Guide E3025.  
5.2 As described in Guide E3025, the amount of silver in a textile can decrease over time as silver metal and silver compounds can react with oxygen and other oxidation-reduction (redox) active agents present in the environment to form soluble ionic species which are released by contact with moisture (for example, from ambient humidity, washing, body sweat, rain, or other sources). Hence, if silver is measured in a textile, the result may only be indicative of that moment in the article’s life cycle and great care is necessary in drawing temporal inferences from the results.  
5.3 If silver is measured by ICP-OES or ICP-MS analysis, additional analyses are needed to elucidate the form of silver in the textile specimen. This step is necessary because ICP-OES or ICP-MS results are for total silver independent of chemical and physical form and textiles may be treated with silver in sizes that range from the nanoscale (for example, salt nanopartic...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the use of inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses for determination of the mass fraction of total silver in consumer textile products made of any combination of natural or manufactured fibers. Either ICP-OES or ICP-MS analysis is recommended as a first step to test for and quantify silver in a textile and results can be used to inform subsequent, more detailed analyses as part of the tiered approach described in Guide E3025 to determine if a textile contains silver nanomaterial(s).  
1.2 This test method prescribes acid digestion to prepare test sample solutions from samples of textiles utilizing an appropriate internal standard followed by external calibration and analysis with either ICP-OES or ICP-MS to quantify total silver.  
1.3 This test method is believed to provide quantitative results for textiles made of fibers of rayon, cotton, polyester, and lycra that contain metallic silver (see Section 17). It is the analyst’s responsibility to establish the efficacy (ability to achieve the planned and desired analytical result) of this test method for other textile matrices and forms of silver.  
1.4 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurements are included in this standard.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organiz...

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2021
• ICS: 59.080.01 - Textiles in general
• Technical Committee: E56 - Nanotechnology
• Drafting Committee: E56.06 - Nano-Enabled Consumer Products

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E3171 − 21a
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Total Silver in Textiles by ICP-OES or
1
ICP-MS Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3171; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 This test method covers the use of inductively coupled
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and induc-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
tively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
for determination of the mass fraction of total silver in
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
consumer textile products made of any combination of natural
or manufactured fibers. Either ICP-OES or ICP-MS analysis is
2. Referenced Documents
recommended as a first step to test for and quantify silver in a
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
textile and results can be used to inform subsequent, more
D123Terminology Relating to Textiles
detailed analyses as part of the tiered approach described in
D1193Specification for Reagent Water
Guide E3025 to determine if a textile contains silver nanoma-
D4210Practice for Intralaboratory Quality Control Proce-
terial(s).
dures and a Discussion on Reporting Low-Level Data
3
1.2 Thistestmethodprescribesaciddigestiontopreparetest
(Withdrawn 2002)
sample solutions from samples of textiles utilizing an appro-
D6413Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (Ver-
priate internal standard followed by external calibration and
tical Test)
analysis with either ICP-OES or ICP-MS to quantify total
D7035Test Method for Determination of Metals and Met-
silver.
alloids in Airborne Particulate Matter by Inductively
1.3 This test method is believed to provide quantitative Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-
results for textiles made of fibers of rayon, cotton, polyester, AES)
and lycra that contain metallic silver (see Section 17). It is the D7439Test Method for Determination of Elements in Air-
analyst’s responsibility to establish the efficacy (ability to borne Particulate Matter by Inductively Coupled Plasma-
achieve the planned and desired analytical result) of this test –Mass Spectrometry
method for other textile matrices and forms of silver. E288Specification for Laboratory Glass Volumetric Flasks
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
1.4 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
as standard. No other units of measurements are included in
E694Specification for Laboratory Glass Volumetric Appa-
this standard.
ratus
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
E1613Test Method for Determination of Lead by Induc-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
tively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
(ICP-AES), Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
(FAAS), or Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spec-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 3
trometry (GFAAS) Techniques (Withdrawn 2021)
1 2
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E56 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Nanotechnology and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E56.06 on contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Nano-Enabled Consumer Products. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2021. Published August 2021. Originally the ASTM website.
ɛ1 3
approved in 2021. Last previous edition approved in 2021 as E3171 – 21 . DOI: The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
10.1520/E3171-21A. www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E3171 − 21a
E2456Terminology Relating to Nanotechnology Plasma – Mass Spectrometry
7
E3025Guide for TieredApproach to Detection and Charac-
2.5 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations:
terization of Silver Nanomaterials in Textiles
16CFRParts1615and1616StandardsfortheFla
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
´1
Designation: E3171 − 21 E3171 − 21a
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Total Silver in Textiles by ICP-OES or
1
ICP-MS Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3171; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
ε NOTE—Editorial corrections were made throughout in May 2021.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the use of inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively
coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses for determination of the mass fraction of total silver in consumer textile
products made of any combination of natural or manufactured fibers. Either ICP-OES or ICP-MS analysis is recommended as a
first step to test for and quantify silver in a textile and results can be used to inform subsequent, more detailed analyses as part
of the tiered approach described in Guide E3025 to determine if a textile contains silver nanomaterial(s).
1.2 This test method prescribes acid digestion to prepare test sample solutions from samples of textiles utilizing an appropriate
internal standard followed by external calibration and analysis with either ICP-OES or ICP-MS to quantify total silver.
1.3 This test method is believed to provide quantitative results for textiles made of fibers of rayon, cotton, polyester, and lycra that
contain metallic silver (see Section 17). It is the analyst’s responsibility to establish the efficacy (ability to achieve the planned and
desired analytical result) of this test method for other textile matrices and forms of silver.
1.4 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurements are included in this
standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E56 on Nanotechnology and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E56.06 on Nano-Enabled
Consumer Products.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2021Aug. 1, 2021. Published May 2021August 2021. Originally approved in 2021. Last previous edition approved in 2021 as E3171
ɛ1
– 21 . DOI: 10.1520/E3171-21E01.10.1520/E3171-21A.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E3171 − 21a
D4210 Practice for Intralaboratory Quality Control Procedures and a Discussion on Reporting Low-Level Data (Withdrawn
3
2002)
D6413 Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (Vertical Test)
D7035 Test Method for Determination of Metals and Metalloids in Airborne Particulate Matter by Inductively Coupled Plasma
Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES)
D7439 Test Method for Determination of Elements in Airborne Particulate Matter by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass
Spectrometry
E288 Specification for Laboratory Glass Volumetric Flasks
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E694 Specification for Laboratory Glass Volumetric Apparatus
E1613 Test Method for Determination of Lead by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES),
Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS), or Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS) Techniques
3
(Withdrawn 2021)
E2456 Terminology Relating to Nanotechnology
E3025 Guide for Tiered Approach to Detection and Characterization
...