scope:

This document specifies a method for the determination of extractable metals in leather using extraction with an acid artificial-perspiration solution and subsequent determination with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) or spectrometry of atomic fluorescence (SFA).

This method determines extractable metals in leather; it is not compound-specific or specific to the oxidation state of the metals. This method is especially suitable for determining the extractable chromium in chromium-tanned leathers.

The method is applicable for the determination of many extractable metals, including:

Aluminium (Al)

Antimony (Sb)

Arsenic (As)

Barium (Ba)

Cadmium (Cd)

Calcium (Ca)

Chromium (Cr)

Cobalt (Co)

Copper (Cu)

Iron (Fe)

Lead (Pb)

Magnesium (Mg)

Manganese (Mn)

Mercury (Hg)

Molybdenum (Mo)

Nickel (Ni)

Potassium (K)

Selenium (Se)

Tin (Sn)

Titanium (Ti)

Zinc (Zn)

Zirconium (Zr)

Interlaboratory test results and the quantification limits possible with ICP-OES are given in Table A.1 and Table A.2 of Annex A.