This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of trace elements, heavy metals and other elements in animal feed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The method is used to determine As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Pb, Se, Tl, U and Zn in the extraction solution after pressurized digestion. For the determination of extractable lead in minerals and feeds containing phyllosilicates (e.g. kaolinite clay) wet digestion with nitric acid should be used. The method described is suitable for use in quadrupole instruments equipped either with or without additional technology to reduce molecular ion interferences (e.g. collision or reaction technologies) as well as in high-resolution sector-field systems.
The method was fully statistically tested and evaluated in a collaborative trial comprising eight animal feeding stuff samples for the elements As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Pb, Se, Tl, U and Zn. For elements with a HORRAT value higher than 2 (e.g. mercury, see Annex A) the method is more applicable as a screening method and not for confirmatory purposes. High-resolution sector-field ICP-MS was not tested in the validation ring trial.
The limit of quantification for each element is dependent on the sample matrix as well as the instrument. For the elements Co, Mn, Mo, Pb, Tl, U a limit of quantification of 0,10 mg/kg should normally be obtained, for the elements Fe and Zn 5,0 mg/kg, while for Cd 0,03 mg/kg, Hg 0,04 mg/kg and As 0,05 mg/kg should normally be quantifiable.
Details on the successfully tested working range for each element are described in this standard.