Overview
ISO 17072-2:2022 - Leather - Chemical determination of metal content - Part 2: Total metal content defines a laboratory method to determine the total metal content in leather. The standard covers sample digestion (acid or microwave-assisted), followed by instrumental measurement using ICP-OES, ICP-MS, AAS or atomic fluorescence spectrometry (SFA) for mercury. The method reports total metal amounts on a dry-matter basis and is not compound- or oxidation-state specific.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope of metals: Applicable to Al, Sb, As, Ba, Cd, Ca, Cr (except chromium‑tanned leathers), Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Se, Si, Sn, Ti, V, Zn, Zr and also suitable for Boron (B).
- Digestion techniques:
- Open acid digestion using a ternary mixture (nitric, sulfuric, perchloric acids) with precautions for perchloric acid hazards.
- Microwave-assisted digestion (MAD) or other validated digestion procedures for complete mineralization.
- Annex B provides a specific digestion procedure for complete determination of aluminium (Al) and titanium (Ti).
- Instrumental analysis:
- ICP-OES (ISO 11885) and ICP-MS (ISO 17294-2) for multi-element quantification.
- Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) (ISO 15586) including graphite furnace and hydride-generation options.
- Atomic fluorescence (SFA) (ISO 17852) recommended for mercury.
- Sampling and sample prep:
- Sampling in accordance with ISO 2418; test-piece preparation per ISO 4044; dry matter determination per ISO 4684.
- Use procedural blanks to control acid and lab contamination; select trace-metal‑clean glassware or inert materials for Al-sensitive analyses.
- Reporting:
- Results expressed on a dry‑matter basis; include method, digestion type, instrumentation, calibration and detection/quantification limits. Annex A summarizes interlaboratory results and achievable quantification limits (ICP‑OES).
Applications and users
ISO 17072-2:2022 is used by:
- Leather testing laboratories and quality control departments in tanneries.
- Manufacturers of leather goods, footwear and apparel for regulatory compliance and product safety.
- Environmental and consumer safety analysts assessing metal contamination in finished leather.
- Research labs developing leather chemistry, tanning process controls or material safety data.
Practical benefits include standardized, comparable metal analysis across laboratories, support for compliance with chemical safety limits, and guidance for selecting appropriate digestion and instrumental techniques.
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