ISO 15587 Acid Digestion of Food Samples for Trace Element Analysis
The ISO 15587 method is a cornerstone in the analysis of trace elements in food samples. This standardized procedure ensures accurate and reliable measurement of essential minerals, heavy metals, and other critical nutrients that are often present at low concentrations. The method’s primary application lies in ensuring product safety, regulatory compliance, and quality control within the food sector.
Food products can contain a wide range of trace elements necessary for human health, such as iron, zinc, copper, selenium, and iodine. However, these elements must be present in controlled amounts to prevent deficiencies or toxicity. The ISO 15587 method allows laboratories to precisely measure the levels of these elements after acid digestion, which breaks down food matrix components into simpler compounds for easier analysis.
The digestion process involves dissolving the sample with a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids at elevated temperatures. This step is critical because it ensures that all the trace elements are released from their organic complexes within the food matrix. Once digested, the solution can be analyzed using various techniques such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS).
The significance of this method extends beyond ensuring product safety; it also plays a crucial role in research and development efforts aimed at improving food formulations. R&D engineers can use the results from ISO 15587 to optimize nutrient profiles, enhance fortification levels, or identify potential contamination sources.
For procurement teams, this service ensures that raw materials meet specified mineral content standards, thereby supporting supply chain integrity and quality assurance throughout the production process. Compliance officers rely on accurate trace element analysis to stay ahead of regulatory changes and ensure adherence to international food safety guidelines such as Codex Alimentarius.
The ISO 15587 method is widely recognized for its robustness and reproducibility across different laboratories, making it a reliable choice for both routine testing and complex analytical challenges. Its application in food testing underscores the importance of standardized procedures to maintain consistent quality standards globally.
Applied Standards
The ISO 15587 method is explicitly referenced in several international standards relevant to trace element analysis in foods, including:
- ISO 6585: Determination of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium and thallium in foodstuffs by atomic absorption spectrometry
- ISO 17032: General requirements for the competence of testing laboratories
- EN 14951: Determination of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel and selenium in foods by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
- ASTM E3628: Practice for Acid Digestion of Soil Samples
The use of these standards ensures that laboratories adhering to the ISO 15587 method maintain high levels of accuracy and precision, which is essential in the food testing sector.
Scope and Methodology
The scope of this service encompasses the entire process from sample preparation through digestion, analysis, and reporting. The primary objective is to provide accurate measurements of trace elements present in various types of food samples. This includes both raw materials and processed foods.
The methodology begins with selecting appropriate acid digestion reagents based on the type of matrix and the target analytes. Typically, a mixture of nitric (HNO₃) and hydrochloric (HCl) acids is used at specific concentrations to ensure efficient dissolution without causing irreversible decomposition of trace elements.
Once digested, the solution undergoes further processing steps depending on the analytical technique chosen for detection. For instance, if ICP-MS is utilized, the sample must be diluted and optimized according to instrument requirements before injection into the mass spectrometer. On the other hand, AAS requires spectral interference corrections post-digestion.
After completing all necessary calibration and quality control checks, the data obtained from each analytical run is compiled into a comprehensive report that includes detailed information about the sample, method parameters, results, and interpretations. Compliance officers can use these reports to make informed decisions regarding product formulation adjustments or process improvements.
