EN ISO 17294-2:2023
(Main)Water quality - Application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) - Part 2: Determination of selected elements including uranium isotopes (ISO 17294-2:2023, Corrected version 2024-02)
General Information
- Abstract
This document specifies a method for the determination of the elements aluminium, antimony, arsenic,
barium, beryllium, bismuth, boron, cadmium, caesium, calcium, cerium, chromium, cobalt, copper,
dysprosium, erbium, gadolinium, gallium, germanium, gold, hafnium, holmium, indium, iridium, iron,
lanthanum, lead, lithium, lutetium, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, neodymium, nickel,
palladium, phosphorus, platinum, potassium, praseodymium, rubidium, rhenium, rhodium, ruthenium,
samarium, scandium, selenium, silver, sodium, strontium, terbium, tellurium, thorium, thallium,
thulium, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium and its isotopes, vanadium, yttrium, ytterbium, zinc and
zirconium in water (e.g. drinking water, surface water, ground water, waste water and eluates).
Taking into account the specific and additionally occurring interferences, these elements can be
determined in water and digests of water and sludge (e.g. digests of water as described in ISO 15587-1
or ISO 15587-2).
The working range depends on the matrix and the interferences encountered. In drinking water and
relatively unpolluted waters, the limit of quantification (LOQ) lies between 0,002 μg/l and 1,0 μg/l for
most elements (see Table 1). The working range typically covers concentrations between several ng/l
and mg/l depending on the element and specified requirements.
The quantification limits of most elements are affected by blank contamination and depend
predominantly on the laboratory air-handling facilities available on the purity of reagents and the
cleanliness of glassware.
The lower limit of quantification is higher in cases where the determination suffers from interferences
(see Clause 5) or memory effects (see ISO 17294-1).
Elements other than those mentioned in the scope can also be determined according to this document
provided that the user of the document is able to validate the method appropriately (e.g. interferences,
sensitivity, repeatability, recovery).
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 24-Oct-2023
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 230 - Water analysis
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 230 - Water analysis
- Current Stage
- 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
- Start Date
- 25-Oct-2023
- Completion Date
- 25-Oct-2023
Overview
EN ISO 17294-2:2023 - “Water quality - Application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‑MS) - Part 2” - specifies an ICP‑MS method for the determination of a broad set of elements, including uranium isotopes, in waters and water digests. Endorsed by CEN (corrected version 2024‑02), this third edition updates the 2016 version and clarifies treatment of certain elements (e.g., mercury) and adds titanium to the scope.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope of elements: Method covers many trace and major elements (examples in the standard include Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Se, U and isotopes, Zn, Ti, etc.).
- Analytical principle: Application of ICP‑MS for quantitative determination in drinking water, surface water, groundwater, wastewater and eluates, and in digests of water/sludge.
- Limits of quantification (LOQ): Typical LOQs for unpolluted waters lie between 0.002 µg/L and 1.0 µg/L for most elements; working range spans ng/L to mg/L depending on matrix and element.
- Interference management: Detailed treatment of spectral (isobaric, polyatomic) and non‑spectral interferences and recommended correction strategies.
- Sample handling: Requirements for sampling, sample pre‑treatment (dissolved vs total concentrations; digestion methods), reagents and clean lab practice to minimise contamination and memory effects.
- Instrument operation: Calibration procedures, measurement of matrix solutions for correction factors, and procedural steps for routine measurement with ICP‑MS.
- Quality reporting: Calculation, test report contents, and annexed procedures (notably Annex A on uranium isotope determination).
- Safety and competence: Emphasis that testing must be conducted by suitably qualified staff and in accordance with laboratory safety practice.
Applications and practical value
- Environmental monitoring of trace metals and radionuclide isotopes in drinking water, surface water, groundwater and wastewater.
- Compliance testing for regulators and public‑health authorities assessing metal contamination and uranium isotopes.
- Routine and research laboratories performing sensitive multi‑element analyses where low ng/L detection is required.
- Sludge and digest analysis following appropriate digestion standards for total element determination.
Who should use this standard
- Analytical chemists and laboratory managers in environmental and water‑testing labs
- Water utilities and wastewater treatment operators
- Environmental consultants and regulatory agencies
- Instrument vendors and method validation teams
Related standards
- ISO 17294‑1 (general ICP‑MS considerations, memory effects)
- ISO 15587‑1 / ISO 15587‑2 (digestion procedures for water and sludge)
- Other parts of the ISO 17294 series for complementary procedures
Keywords: EN ISO 17294-2:2023, ICP‑MS, water quality, uranium isotopes, trace elements, limit of quantification, water analysis, interferences, sample digestion.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 18-Jan-2023
- Effective Date
- 25-Aug-2026
- Refers
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 - General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories - Effective Date
- 25-Aug-2026
- Effective Date
- 25-Aug-2026
- Refers
ISO 5667-3:2018 - Water quality — Sampling — Part 3: Preservation and handling of water samples - Effective Date
- 25-Aug-2026
- Effective Date
- 25-Aug-2026
- Effective Date
- 25-Aug-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN ISO 17294-2:2023 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Water quality - Application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) - Part 2: Determination of selected elements including uranium isotopes (ISO 17294-2:2023, Corrected version 2024-02)". This standard covers: This document specifies a method for the determination of the elements aluminium, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bismuth, boron, cadmium, caesium, calcium, cerium, chromium, cobalt, copper, dysprosium, erbium, gadolinium, gallium, germanium, gold, hafnium, holmium, indium, iridium, iron, lanthanum, lead, lithium, lutetium, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, neodymium, nickel, palladium, phosphorus, platinum, potassium, praseodymium, rubidium, rhenium, rhodium, ruthenium, samarium, scandium, selenium, silver, sodium, strontium, terbium, tellurium, thorium, thallium, thulium, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium and its isotopes, vanadium, yttrium, ytterbium, zinc and zirconium in water (e.g. drinking water, surface water, ground water, waste water and eluates). Taking into account the specific and additionally occurring interferences, these elements can be determined in water and digests of water and sludge (e.g. digests of water as described in ISO 15587-1 or ISO 15587-2). The working range depends on the matrix and the interferences encountered. In drinking water and relatively unpolluted waters, the limit of quantification (LOQ) lies between 0,002 μg/l and 1,0 μg/l for most elements (see Table 1). The working range typically covers concentrations between several ng/l and mg/l depending on the element and specified requirements. The quantification limits of most elements are affected by blank contamination and depend predominantly on the laboratory air-handling facilities available on the purity of reagents and the cleanliness of glassware. The lower limit of quantification is higher in cases where the determination suffers from interferences (see Clause 5) or memory effects (see ISO 17294-1). Elements other than those mentioned in the scope can also be determined according to this document provided that the user of the document is able to validate the method appropriately (e.g. interferences, sensitivity, repeatability, recovery).
This document specifies a method for the determination of the elements aluminium, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bismuth, boron, cadmium, caesium, calcium, cerium, chromium, cobalt, copper, dysprosium, erbium, gadolinium, gallium, germanium, gold, hafnium, holmium, indium, iridium, iron, lanthanum, lead, lithium, lutetium, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, neodymium, nickel, palladium, phosphorus, platinum, potassium, praseodymium, rubidium, rhenium, rhodium, ruthenium, samarium, scandium, selenium, silver, sodium, strontium, terbium, tellurium, thorium, thallium, thulium, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium and its isotopes, vanadium, yttrium, ytterbium, zinc and zirconium in water (e.g. drinking water, surface water, ground water, waste water and eluates). Taking into account the specific and additionally occurring interferences, these elements can be determined in water and digests of water and sludge (e.g. digests of water as described in ISO 15587-1 or ISO 15587-2). The working range depends on the matrix and the interferences encountered. In drinking water and relatively unpolluted waters, the limit of quantification (LOQ) lies between 0,002 μg/l and 1,0 μg/l for most elements (see Table 1). The working range typically covers concentrations between several ng/l and mg/l depending on the element and specified requirements. The quantification limits of most elements are affected by blank contamination and depend predominantly on the laboratory air-handling facilities available on the purity of reagents and the cleanliness of glassware. The lower limit of quantification is higher in cases where the determination suffers from interferences (see Clause 5) or memory effects (see ISO 17294-1). Elements other than those mentioned in the scope can also be determined according to this document provided that the user of the document is able to validate the method appropriately (e.g. interferences, sensitivity, repeatability, recovery).
EN ISO 17294-2:2023 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 13.060.50 - Examination of water for chemical substances. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN ISO 17294-2:2023 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN ISO 17294-2:2016, ISO 17294-1:2004, ISO/IEC 17025:2017, ISO 15587-2:2002, ISO 5667-3:2018, ISO 15587-1:2002, ISO 8466-1:2021, ISO 5667-1:2023, EN 6051:2025, EN ISO 13017:2012, EN ISO 19111:2020/A2:2023, EN 12255-4:2023, EN 933-10:2009, EN 1097-8:2009, CLC/TS 50625-3-2:2016. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
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