ISO 10540-3-2002 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 10540-3:2002 — Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Determination of phosphorus content — Part 3: Method using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) optical emission spectroscopy. This part specifies a direct ICP‑OES procedure for quantifying phosphorus in oils with low phosphorus content and without visible turbidity or sediment; it is intended for a wide range of vegetable oils and many lecithins/phosphatides when phosphorus is present in a solubilized form.

Abstract

Specifies an ICP‑OES method for the determination of phosphorus in animal and vegetable fats and oils. The method is limited to samples of low phosphorus content that are clear (no turbidity or visible sediment). When phosphorus occurs as fine particulate matter (for example, bleaching earth) ICP‑OES gives poor recovery due to nebulization/atomization losses; in such cases an alternative non‑ashing direct method (graphite furnace AAS) is recommended.

General information

• Status: Published — international standard (confirmed in ISO systematic review process).
• Publication date: December 2002 (Edition 1, published 2002‑12).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 67.200.10 (Animal and vegetable fats and oils); Technical committee: ISO/TC 34/SC 11.
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2002).
• Number of pages: 8 pages (official ISO metadata).

Scope

Defines a procedure using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‑OES) to quantify phosphorus in animal and vegetable oils and fats. The scope is limited to oils with low phosphorus levels and samples that are free of turbidity or visible sediment; it covers many vegetable oil types (crude, degummed, refined, bleached, deodorized, hydrogenated) and most lecithins/phosphatides provided the phosphorus is in soluble form. The standard explicitly excludes direct ICP analysis of samples containing particulate phosphorus (e.g., bleaching earth residues) because of poor recovery.

Key topics and requirements

• Analytical technique specified: inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‑OES) for phosphorus determination.
• Sample suitability: applies only to clear, low‑phosphorus oils and soluble phosphorus species; not suitable for samples with visible sediment or turbidity.
• Preparation and dilution guidance: method describes acceptable dilution solvents and sample handling to achieve reliable nebulization/atomization for ICP analysis.
• Limitations and alternatives: warns of poor recovery for particulate phosphorus; recommends graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) (ISO 10540‑2) as the suitable non‑ashing direct method for such samples.
• Quality and validation: standard gives procedural controls and references for calibration and quality checks to ensure reliable quantification (as typical for ISO analytical methods).

Typical use and users

Used by analytical laboratories, quality control groups in edible oil and oilseed processing industries, food testing laboratories, research institutes and regulatory laboratories that perform compositional testing of fats and oils. The standard is intended for technicians and analysts familiar with ICP‑OES operation and wet chemical sample preparation in the fats and oils sector.

Related standards

ISO 10540 is a multi‑part series for determination of phosphorus in fats and oils. Closely related parts include: - ISO 10540‑1:2003 — Colorimetric method (Part 1). - ISO 10540‑2:2003 — Method using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (Part 2), recommended for samples with particulate phosphorus. These parts together provide alternative analytical routes depending on phosphorus level and the physical form of phosphorus in the sample.

Keywords

phosphorus determination, ICP‑OES, fats and oils, edible oils, lecithin, phosphatides, analytical method, ISO 10540, sample preparation, oil analysis

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 10540‑3:2002 is an ISO international standard that specifies an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‑OES) method for measuring phosphorus content in animal and vegetable fats and oils.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers sample types and step‑by‑step ICP‑OES procedures for low‑phosphorus, clear oil samples, including dilution and calibration recommendations, and documents limitations where particulate phosphorus may cause low recovery.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Analytical chemists and laboratory technicians in edible‑oil manufacturing, food testing and regulatory labs, and research groups working on oil composition and quality control.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: As of the latest ISO metadata, ISO 10540‑3:2002 is published and was last reviewed/confirmed in ISO’s systematic review process (confirmed in 2025), so this edition remains the current version. Users should check ISO or their national standards body for any post‑2025 revisions.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 10540 is a series. Part 1 covers a colorimetric method and Part 2 covers graphite furnace AAS; Part 3 is the ICP‑OES method described here. Together they offer alternative analytical approaches depending on sample matrix and phosphorus form.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Phosphorus, ICP‑OES, fats and oils, lecithin, phosphatides, ISO 10540, analytical method.