ISO 17191:2026

• Abstract:

  This document specifies a method for the determination of polyacrylate (PA) superabsorbent materials in airborne dust by measurement of sodium (Na) by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). This method is applicable to the determination of collected superabsorbent powder in the range between 0,2 µg and 60 µg (limit of detection near 0,2 µg) of superabsorbent powders. It is applicable to polyacrylate superabsorbent materials, which occur in hygiene products including urine-absorbing aids for incontinent persons. The test methods are addressed to the material exclusively. They are not intended to be used, and are not applicable for use, with finished manufactured urine-absorbing aids.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 23-Jul-2026
• ICS: 11.180.20 - Aids for incontinence and ostomy
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 173/SC 3 - Aids for ostomy and incontinence
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 173/SC 3 - Aids for ostomy and incontinence
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 24-Jul-2026
• Due Date: 03-Oct-2026
• Completion Date: 24-Jul-2026

• Revises: ISO 17191:2004 - Urine-absorbing aids for incontinence — Measurement of airborne respirable polyacrylate superabsorbent materials — Determination of dust in collection cassettes by sodium atomic absorption spectrometry
• Effective Date: 28-Oct-2023

ISO 17191:2026 is an International Standard from ISO for measuring airborne respirable polyacrylate superabsorbent materials collected in dust cassettes. It specifies a sodium atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) method for polyacrylate (PA) superabsorbent powders used in hygiene products, including urine-absorbing aids for incontinent persons. The method is aimed at laboratories and material testers who need to quantify very low levels of this powder in collected airborne dust.

What does ISO 17191:2026 specify?

ISO 17191:2026 specifies a test method for determining PA superabsorbent material in airborne dust by measuring sodium (Na) with AAS. The document applies to the material itself, not to finished manufactured urine-absorbing aids.

The method is intended for collected superabsorbent powder in the range from 0,2 µg to 60 µg, with a limit of detection near 0,2 µg. That range matters in practice because the procedure is built for low-level contamination and dust measurement, not bulk material testing.

The document is organized into clauses on scope, normative references, terms and definitions, principle, reagents, apparatus, procedure, calculation, precision, and test report. It also includes a bibliography, one precision table, an example calculation, and figures for the cassette, drying unit, and washing stand.

What are the key requirements of ISO 17191:2026?

ISO 17191:2026 is built around contamination control, sodium extraction, and AAS measurement of very small sample amounts. In practice, the user needs clean cassettes, low-sodium reagents, and careful calibration to get usable results.

Measurement principle and sample handling

Clause 4 uses AAS to measure sodium in PA superabsorbent powders collected in air-monitoring cassettes with polytetrafluoroethylene filters and porous plastic backing pads. Sodium is released from the powder with potassium chloride (KCl) solution, then measured, and the collected PA mass is calculated after subtracting blank-cassette background. This means the sodium result is used as a proxy for the PA powder mass.

Reagents and calibration solutions

Clause 5 requires analytical-grade reagents and very low-sodium water. The standards and zeroing solution are prepared in KCl with isopropanol (IPA), and the reagents are pre-analysed for sodium before use. In practice, this keeps the calibration curve and the samples on the same chemical basis and reduces false background readings.

Apparatus and handling equipment

Clause 6 specifies an atomic absorption spectrometer with an air-acetylene flame, a sodium hollow cathode lamp, dedicated trace-level spray chamber and burner, polypropylene volumetric flasks, non-powdered plastic gloves, air-monitoring cassettes, a flatbed shaker, and a drying air filter. These items matter because trace sodium work is easily affected by contamination from ordinary lab surfaces and materials.

Cleaning and release of cassettes

Clause 7.1.1 sets out cassette cleaning before air monitoring: wet the filter with IPA, wash with 0,2 % KCl, rinse with deionized water, and dry with filtered air. A batch release check is required on 10 % of the cassettes, and if any of those contain over 0,17 µg sodium, the batch must be cleaned again. This is the document’s main control for blank quality.

Sample analysis and instrument checks

Clause 7.1.2 and 7.2 require the cassette to be prepared with IPA and KCl, shaken for extraction, and then analysed by aspirating directly from the cassette. The calibration uses sodium standards and a zeroing solution, and the instrument is checked after every five samples; if a standard changes by more than 5 %, the tube is treated as plugged and the setup is cleaned and recalibrated if needed. This keeps the readings stable when particles obstruct the aspiration path.

Calculation and reporting

Clause 8 requires a second-order regression calibration, not a linear one, because the AAS response to sodium is non-linear. The measured sodium concentration is converted to apparent PA mass using a conversion factor that depends on the material’s degree of neutralization, then corrected by the mean blank and compared with the limit of detection. Results at or below the limit of detection are reported as ND.

What terms does ISO 17191:2026 define?

ISO 17191:2026 does not provide a formal term list, but it uses several key terms in the procedure.

• Polyacrylate (PA) superabsorbent materials - the absorbent polymer powders that the method measures.
• Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) - the analytical technique used to measure sodium in the extraction solution.
• Potassium chloride (KCl) - the salt solution used to release sodium from the collected powder.
• Isopropanol (IPA) - the solvent used to wet the filter and support cleaning and extraction.
• Air-monitoring cassettes - the cassettes that collect airborne dust for later analysis.
• Limit of detection (LOD) - the threshold below which the method reports none detected.
• Blank cassette - a cleaned cassette used to measure background sodium and correct sample results.

Who uses ISO 17191:2026?

ISO 17191:2026 is used by analytical laboratories, quality-control teams, and material suppliers working with PA superabsorbent powders. It is relevant to makers of hygiene products and urine-absorbing aids, as well as to labs that need to verify airborne dust from the material itself. It also supports product development and incoming inspection where very low sodium-based dust levels must be measured consistently.

What changed in ISO 17191:2026 from the previous edition?

ISO 17191:2026 is the second edition and it cancels and replaces ISO 17191:2004. The stated main change is clarification of the test procedures.

Which standards are used with ISO 17191:2026?

ISO 17191:2026 cites ISO 3696:1987 for water used in analytical laboratory work. That reference matters because the method requires low-sodium water of Grade 1 quality.

The introduction also places the document alongside the ISO 17190 series, which covers test methods for polymer-based absorbent materials. Those related standards help readers understand that ISO 17191 focuses on dust measurement for PA superabsorbent material, while the ISO 17190 series covers broader material characterization.

What does the ISO 17191:2026 document contain?

ISO 17191:2026 contains the principle of the method, detailed reagent and apparatus requirements, sample preparation steps, sodium extraction and AAS measurement instructions, and calculation formulas for apparent mass, blank correction, and detection limit. It also includes precision data from a recovery trial in Table 1 and an example showing how to turn sodium readings into reported PA mass or ND results.

The figures show the air-monitoring cassette, the cassette-drying unit, and the washing stand used in the procedure. The test report clause lists the information to record so the measurement can be traced and repeated.

International
Standard
ISO 17191
Second edition
Urine-absorbing products for
2026-07
incontinence — Measurement of
airborne respirable polyacrylate
superabsorbent materials —
Determination of dust in collection
cassettes by sodium atomic
absorption spectrometry
Produits pour absorption d'urine — Dosage des particules
respirables de matériaux superabsorbants de polyacrylate en
suspension dans l'air — Dosage de la poussière dans des cassettes
par spectrométrie à absorption atomique du sodium
Reference number
© ISO 2026
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 1
5 Reagents . 2
6 Apparatus . 2
7 Procedure . 4
7.1 Sample preparation and precautionary measures .4
7.1.1 Preparation and cleaning of cassettes prior to air monitoring .4
7.1.2 Preparation of cassettes for sodium analysis after air monitoring .6
7.2 Sodium determination .6
8 Calculation . 6
9 Precision . 8
10 Test report . 8
Bibliography . 9

iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 173, Assistive products, Subcommittee SC 3,
Products for ostomy and incontinence.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 17191:2004), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— clarification of test procedures.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
Introduction
This document was originally developed by the European Nonwovens Association (EDANA) as one of an
eleven-part series of test methods. It specifies a test method for determining the amount of airborne dust
emanating from polyacrylate superabsorbent material. The other test methods in the original EDANA
[1]
series have been transformed into International Standards as the ISO 17190 series . The documents in the
[1]
ISO 17190 series series differ from this document in that they cover test methods for the characterization
of polymer-based absorbent materials.
This test method has been in practical use for several years, and has proven to be reliable with respect to
common criteria of quality of test methods (validity, repeatability, etc.).

v
International Standard ISO 17191:2026(en)
Urine-absorbing products for incontinence — Measurement
of airborne respirable polyacrylate superabsorbent materials
— Determination of dust in collection cassettes by sodium
atomic absorption spectrometry
1 Scope
This document specifies a method for the determination of polyacrylate (PA) superabsorbent materials in
airborne dust by measurement of sodium (Na) by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).
This method is applicable to the determination of collected superabsorbent powder in the range between
0,2 µg and 60 µg (limit of detection near 0,2 µg) of superabsorbent powders.
It is applicable to polyacrylate superabsorbent materials, which occur in hygiene products including urine-
absorbing aids for incontinent persons. The test methods are addressed to the material exclusively. They are
not intended to be used, and are not applicable for use, with finished manufactured urine-absorbing aids.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 3696:1987, Water for analytical laboratory use — Specification and test methods
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http:// www .iso .org/ obp
4 Principle
Atomic absorption analysis (AAS) is used to determine the sodium content in polyacrylate (PA)
superabsorbent powders collected in air-monitoring cassettes.
PA dust samples are collected in polystyrene acrylonitrile air-monitoring cassettes with
polytetrafluoroethylene filters and porous plastic backing pads.
The sodium is determined after being released from the PA superabsorbent powder by exchange with
potassium in a potassium chloride solution. The amount of dissolved sodium is then determined using AAS,
and the mass of the PA superabsorbent powder collected is calculated after subtracting the background
sodium levels present in blank cassettes.
To minimize sodium contamination, cassettes are prewashed before collecting the airborne superabsorbent
powder. For the analysis, an aliquot of the potassium chloride solution is drawn from the cassette directly
into the atomic absorption spray chamber.

This test is designed to determine low levels of sodium and requires that very clean handling conditions be
observed. The use of deionized/distilled water containing very low sodium content is critical for successful
analysis.
5 Reagents
Use only reagents of recognized analytical grade, unless otherwise specified. Store all reagents and solutions
in plastic containers with the exception of KCl (5.1) and IPA (5.3). Store these in the glass containers in which
they are shipped.
Pre-analyse reagents and solutions specified in 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 for sodium (Na) using AAS, before using to
clean cassettes or for Na analysis.
5.1 Potassium chloride (KCl), KCl content 99,999 % minimum; Na concentration less than 10 μg/g.
5.2 Water, deionized or distilled, in accordance with ISO 3696:1987, Grade 1, containing < 0,1 mg/l of Na.
5.3 Isopropanol (IPA), analytical reagent grade.
1)
5.4 Sodium standard reference solution, r(Na) = 1 000 mg/l [1 000 ppm ].
5.5 Potassium chloride solution, r(KCl) = 2 000 mg/l.
Dissolve 2,0 g of potassium chloride (5.1) in 1 l of deionized water (5.2) in a polypropylene flask. The solution
shall contain < 0,1 mg/l of Na.
5.6 Sodium standard solutions, for AAS as follows: r(Na) = 0,1 mg/l, 0,5 mg/l, 1,0 mg/l, 2,0 mg/l.
Using polypropylene volumetric flasks, dilute the 1 000 mg/l sodium standard reference solution (5.4) with
the 2 000 mg/l potassium chloride solution (5.5) as required, and add isopropanol (5.3) to obtain a solutio
of 10 % by volume.
5.7 Atomic absorption zeroing solution.
Add isopropanol (5.3) to 2 000 mg/l potassium chloride solution (5.5) to obtain a solution of exactly 10,0 %
isopropanol by volume.
6 Apparatus
6.1 Atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS).
Use a single-beam spectrometer with air-acetylene flame, or equivalent, capable of photometric accuracy of
± 0,000 5 AU.
6.2 Spraychamber and burner.
Use a unit that is dedicated for trace-level sodium determination.
6.3 Hollow cathode lamp for sodium.
6.4 Pipette, capable of measuring 0,5 ml.
6.5 Pipette, capable of measuring 4,5 ml.
1) 1 mg/l = 1 ppm. The use of ppm is deprecated.

6.6 Plastic gloves, non-powdered.
6.7 V
...