Overview
EN ISO 17072-2:2022 - "Leather - Chemical determination of metal content - Part 2: Total metal content" is a CEN-endorsed ISO method for measuring the total metal content in leather. The standard (third edition, 2022) specifies sample digestion (acid or microwave mineralization) followed by instrumental determination using ICP-OES, ICP-MS, AAS or atomic fluorescence spectrometry (SFA). Results are reported on a dry-matter basis. The method is not compound-specific and does not distinguish metal oxidation states.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and applicability
- Determines total concentrations of a wide range of metals in leather, including Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr (except chromium‑tanned leather), Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Si, Sn, Ti, V, Zn, Zr and Boron (B).
- Not suitable for species- or oxidation-state-specific analysis.
- Sample preparation
- Sampling and sample preparation follow ISO 4044 and ISO 2418 guidance.
- Digestion options: ternary acid mixture (Kjeldahl-style) or microwave digestion for complete mineralization.
- Annex B provides a specific digestion procedure for accurate determination of Aluminium (Al) and Titanium (Ti).
- Analytical techniques
- Quantification using ICP-OES, ICP-MS, atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), or spectrometry of atomic fluorescence (SFA) (mercury by SFA).
- Instrument-specific requirements and references (ISO 11885, ISO 17294-2, ISO 15586, ISO 17852) are cited.
- Quality and safety
- Use ultrapure reagents and trace‑metal‑clean apparatus; blank tests recommended (e.g., aluminium leaching from glass).
- Strong acid warnings - appropriate lab safety and ventilation required.
- Reporting
- Results expressed per dry matter; interlaboratory performance data and quantification limits (ICP-OES) are provided in informative Annex A.
Applications and users
- Who uses it
- Leather testing laboratories, quality control teams in tanneries, product safety and compliance officers, environmental laboratories, and R&D groups developing leather processes or products.
- Use cases
- Regulatory compliance (restricted metals verification), supplier quality control, material characterization, contamination investigations, and comparative testing across production batches or suppliers.
Related standards
Keywords: EN ISO 17072-2:2022, total metal content, leather testing, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, AAS, atomic fluorescence, digestion, metals in leather, analytical standard.
