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Testing Methods for Fertilizers

(2016)

Incorporated Administrative Agency

Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection
Center
Introduction

“The Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers” stipulated by the Ministry of Agriculture,

Forestry and Fisheries is the only analysis method to assess main components and harmful
components in fertilizers in Japan and contributes to maintaining quality and securing safety
of fertilizers. However no new revision has been issued since “The Official Methods of
Analysis of Fertilizers 1992” was issued. Some quarters such as fertilizer manufacturers and
inspection instruction agencies have requested a revised edition of “The Official Methods of
Analysis of Fertilizers” since new kinds of fertilizers and its new components were added into
the public standard, and analysis instruments and technologies have progressed during the
period.
Incorporated Administrative Agency, Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Center
(FAMIC) has revised the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers by introducing the
analysis conditions and the analysis methods, etc. which meet the latest situation. Additionally,
FAMIC tried to study how to introduce the analysis methods or the new analysis instruments
to cope with new effective components or harmful components and new fertilizers which are
not documented in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers, and established new testing
methods. At the same time, FAMIC conducted a validity test according to the requirements of
ISO/IEC 17025 and opened the results and new testing methods which were discussed and
approved by “the Technical Committee for Fertilizers etc.” including outside experts on
FAMIC’s web site in 2008 as “The Testing Methods for Fertilizers 2008”. Since then, the
contents have been annually added and updated. In this year, ICP Atomic emission
spectrometry, etc. for response modifier within fluid fertilizers which have been studied anew
in FY2015 were merged, and the “Testing Methods for Fertilizes 2016” was opened on
FAMIC’s web site.
The “Testing Methods for Fertilizes” uses reagents and instruments which are stipulated in
JIS standards, etc. and its validity of the testing method is checked by referencing IUPAC
protocols and it is listed as an analysis method whose validity is checked in “The
Management Handbook of Heavy Metal in Sludge Fertilizers” published by the Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in August 2010. Therefore FAMIC would like people
engaged in the quality control and analysis of fertilizes to use this as a practical document.

July, 2016

Incorporated Administrative Agency

Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Center
General Director
Makoto Kimura

2
 The members of The Technical Committee for the Testing Methods for Fertilizers
(As of March, 2016)
(Without honorifics)

Mayumi AIZAKI National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations

Toshiaki IMAGAWA Japan Fertilizer and Feed Inspection Association

Akira KAWASAKI National Research and Development Agency: National Institute

for Agro-Environmental Sciences

Shigehiro NAITO National Research and Development Agency: National

Agriculture and Food Research Organization

Munetomo NAKAMURA Japan Food Research Laboratories

Akira NOGUCHI Incorporated Educational Institution: Nihon University

Kazuyuki YAZIMA Corporate Juridical Person: Niigata Prefectural Institute of Public

Health and Environmental Sciences

Akemi YASUI National Research and Development Agency: National

Agriculture and Food Research Organization

3
 Contents

Introduction ……2
1. General Rules ……9
1.1 Common Items ……9
1.2 Validity check of testing methods …..13
1.3 Adoption of testing methods …..13
2. Handling of samples …..14
2.1 Sampling …..14
2.2 Storage of samples …..15
2.3 Preparation of test samples …..16
2.3.1 Pre-drying …..17
2.3.2 Reduction (Separation) …..19
2.3.3 Grinding …..20

3. General tests …..22

3.1 Moisture or moisture content …..22
3.1.a Loss on drying method with drying apparatus …..22
3.1.b Loss on drying method by moisture analyzers …..26
3.2 Ash content …..29
3.2.a Ignition residue method …..29
3.3 pH …..30
3.3.a Glass electrode method …..30
3.4 Electrical conductivity …..32
3.4.a Measurement method with an electrical conductivity meter …..32
3.5 Granularity …..34
3.5.a Dry-type sieving testing method …..34
3.6 Oil content …..36
3.6.a Diethyl ether extraction method …..36

4. Main components, guaranteed components, etc. …..38

4.1 Nitrogen …..38
4.1.1 Total nitrogen …..38
4.1.1.a Kjeldahl method …..38
4.1.1.b Combustion method …..45
4.1.1.c Devarda’s alloy – Kjeldahl method …..50
4.1.1.d Reduced iron– Kjeldahl method …..56
4.1.1.e Calculation with ammoniac nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen …..62
4.1.2 Ammoniac nitrogen …..63
4.1.2.a Distillation method …..63
4.1.2.b Formaldehyde method …..70
4.1.3 Nitrate nitrogen …..76
4.1.3.a Devarda’s alloy - distillation method …..76
4.1.3.b Reduced iron- distillation method …..82
4.1.3.c Phenol sulfuric acid method …..88
4.2 Phosphoric acid …..92
4.2.1 Total phosphoric acid …..92
4.2.1.a Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis …..92
4.2.1.b Quinoline gravimetric analysis …..99
4.2.2 Soluble phosphoric acid …..102
4.2.2.a Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis …..102

4
 4.2.2.b Quinoline gravimetric analysis …..108
4.2.3 Citrate-soluble phosphoric acid …..112
4.2.3.a Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis …..112
4.2.3.b Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis (Fertilizers
containing phosphorous acid or phosphite) …..118
4.2.3.c Quinoline gravimetric analysis …..123
4.2.4 Water-soluble phosphoric acid …..126
4.2.4.a Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis …..126
4.2.4.b Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis (Fertilizers
containing phosphorous acid or phosphite) …..133
4.2.4.c Quinoline gravimetric analysis …..139
4.2.4.d ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry …..142
4.3 Potassium …..146
4.3.1 Total potassium …..146
4.3.1.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry or flame photometry …..146
4.3.1.b Sodium tetraphenylborate gravimetric analysis …..152
4.3.2 Citrate soluble potassium …..156
4.3.2.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry or flame photometry …..156
4.3.2.b Sodium tetraphenylborate gravimetric analysis …..160
4.3.2.c Sodium tetraphenylborate volumetric analysis …..163
4.3.3 Water-soluble potassium …..166
4.3.3.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry or flame photometry …..166
4.3.3.b Sodium tetraphenylborate gravimetric analysis …..173
4.3.3.c Sodium tetraphenylborate volumetric analysis …..177
4.3.3.d ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry …..180
4.4 Silicic acid …..183
4.4.1 Soluble silicic acid …..183
4.4.1.a Potassium fluoride method …..183
4.4.1.b Potassium fluoride method (Silica gel fertilizers, etc.) …..188
4.4.1.c Potassium fluoride method (Fertilizers containing silica gel fertilizers)
…..192
4.4.1.d Perchloric acid method …..198
4.4.2 Water-soluble silicic acid …..201
4.4.2.a Potassium fluoride method …..201
4.5 Lime, calcium and alkalinity …..205
4.5.1 Total lime …..205
4.5.1.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry …..205
4.5.2 Soluble lime …..211
4.5.2.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry …..211
4.5.3 Water-soluble calcium …..215
4.5.3.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry …..215
4.5.3.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry …..218
4.5.4 Alkalinity …..222
4.5.4.a Ethylenediamine tetraacetate method …..222
4.5.4.b Calculation from soluble lime and soluble magnesia …..228
4.6 Magnesia …..229
4.6.1 Soluble magnesia …..229
4.6.1.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry …..229
4.6.2 Citrate-soluble magnesia …..233
4.6.2.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry …..233
4.6.3 Water-soluble magnesia …..238
5
 4.6.3.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry ….238
4.6.3.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry ….242
4.7 Manganese ….245
4.7.1 Soluble manganese ….245
4.7.1.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry ….245
4.7.2 Citrate-soluble manganese ….248
4.7.2.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry ….248
4.7.3 Water-soluble manganese ….252
4.7.3.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry ….252
4.7.3.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry ….256
4.8 Boron ….259
4.8.1 Citrate-soluble boron ….259
4.8.1.a Azomethine-H method ….259
4.8.2 Water-soluble boron ….263
4.8.2.a Azomethine-H method ….263
4.8.2.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry ….267
4.9 Zinc ….270
4.9.1 Total zinc ….270
4.9.1.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry ….270
4.9.1.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry ….274
4.9.2 Water-soluble zinc ….278
4.9.2.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry ….278
4.9.2.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry ….282
4.10 Copper ….285
4.10.1 Total copper ….285
4.10.1.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry ….285
4.10.1.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry ….289
4.10.2 Water-soluble copper ….293
4.10.2.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry ….293
4.10.2.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry ….297
4.11 Organic carbon and carbon-nitrogen ratio ….300
4.11.1 Organic carbon ….300
4.11.1.a Dichromate oxidation ….300
4.11.1.b Combustion method ….304
4.11.2 Carbon-nitrogen ratio ….308
4.12 Sulfur ….309
4.12.1 Total sulfur content ….309
4.12.1.a Potassium permanganate analysis ….309
4.12.1.b Barium chloride gravimetric analysis ….311
4.12.1.c Transmitted light analysis <Reference method> ….316
4.13 Iron ….320
4.13.1 Water-soluble iron ….320
4.13.1.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry ….320
4.13.1.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry ….323
4.14 Molybdenum ….328
4.14.1 Water-soluble molybdenum ….328
4.14.1.a Sodium thiocyanate absorptiometric analysis ….328
4.14.1.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry ….333
4.15 Cobalt ….336
4.15.1 Water-soluble cobalt ….336
4.15.1.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry ….336
6
 4.15.1.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry ….338

5. Harmful components ….341

5.1 Mercury ….341
5.1.a Cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry ….341
5.1.b Cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (Fluid sludge fertilizers) ….345
5.2 Arsenic ….349
5.2.a Hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry ….349
5.2.b Silver diethyl dithiocarbamate absorptiometric analysis ….355
5.2.c ICP Mass Spectrometry (Fluid sludge fertilizers) ….361
5.3 Cadmium ….366
5.3.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry ….366
5.3.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry ….370
5.3.c ICP Mass Spectrometry (Fluid sludge fertilizers) ….374
5.3.d ICP Mass Spectrometry ….379
5.4 Nickel ….383
5.4.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry ….383
5.4.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry ….387
5.4.c ICP Mass Spectrometry (Fluid sludge fertilizers) ….391
5.5 Chromium ….395
5.5.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (Fertilizers containing organic matters)
….395
5.5.b Flame atomic absorption spectrometry
(Fertilizers not containing organic matters) ….399
5.5.c Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (Calcined sludge fertilizer) ….400
5.5.d ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry ….404
5.5.e ICP Mass Spectrometry (Fluid sludge fertilizers) ….407
5.6 Lead ….411
5.6.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry ….411
5.6.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry ….415
5.6.c ICP Mass Spectrometry (Fluid sludge fertilizers) ….418
5.7 Sulfamic acid (amidosulfuric acid) ….422
5.7.a Ion Chromatography ….422
5.7.b High Performance Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometry ….426
5.8 Ammonium thiocyanate (Sulfurized cyanide) ….431
5.8.a Ion Chromatography ….431
5.8.b High Performance Liquid Chromatography ….435
5.9 Nitrous acid ….441
5.9.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography ….441
5.10 Biuret nitrogen ….446
5.10.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography ….446
5.11 Titan ….451
5.12 Sulfurous Acid ….452

6. Testing relating to the other limitations ….453

6.1 Dicyandiamide nitrogen ….453
6.1.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography (1) ….453
6.1.b High Performance Liquid Chromatography (2) ….458
6.2 Chlorine ….462
6.2.a Ion Chromatography ….462
6.2.b Silver nitrate method ….467
7
 6.3 Urea nitrogen ….469
6.3.a Urease method ….469
6.3.b High Performance Liquid Chromatography ….477
6.4 Guanidine nitrogen ….480
6.4.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography ….480
6.5 Cold buffer solution soluble nitrogen (water-soluble nitrogen) ….484
6.5.a Cold buffer solution method ….484
6.6 Heat buffer solution soluble nitrogen (hot water-soluble nitrogen) ….490
6.6.a Heat buffer solution method ….490
6.7 Activity coefficient of nitrogen ….496
6.7.a Buffer solution method ….496
6.8 Initial elution rate ….503
6.8.a Standing-in-water method ….503
6.9 Humic acid (Acid insoluble - alkali soluble component) ….506
6.9.a Gravimetric analysis ….506
6.10 Sulfate ….510
6.11 Carbon dioxide ….511

7. Nitrification inhibitor ….512

7.1 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM) ….512
7.1.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography ….512
7.2 1-amidino-2-thiourea (ASU) ….516
7.2.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography ….516
7.3 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride (ATC) ….520
7.3.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography ….520
7.4 N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid (DCS) ….523
7.4.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography ….523
7.5 Dicyandiamide (Dd) ….527
7.5.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography ….527
7.6 2-sulfanilamide thiazole (ST) ….532
7.6.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography ….532

8. Others ….537
8.1 Melamine and its degradation products ….537
8.1.a Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry ….537
8.1.b ….543
8.1.c High Performance Liquid Chromatography (Fertilizers not containing organic
matters) ….544
8.1.d High Performance Liquid Chromatography (Fertilizers containing organic
matters) ….549
8.2 Clopyralid and its degradation products ….554
8.2.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry ….554
8.3 Residue agrichemicals multi component analysis ….561
8.3.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry ….561
8.4 Sodium ….569
8.4.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry ….569
8.5 Guanylurea nitrogen ….572
8.5.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography ….572

Appendix. The procedure to validate characteristics of testing methods ….575

8
1. General Rule
1.1 Common Items
(1) Applicable range
The Testing Methods for Fertilizers stipulate the official method of analysis of fertilizers and
fertilizer materials. The type of samples in the tests is shown in the summary of respective test
items.
(2) General matters and terms in common
a) General notices: General matters common to analysis are according to JIS K 0050.
b) Definition: The definitions of major terms used in the Testing Methods for Fertilizers
are according to JIS K 0211, JIS K 0214, JIS K 0215, JIS Z 8101-1, JIS Z 8101-2 or JIS
Z 8101-3.
c) Main components or major components: The main components or major components
in fertilizers in Table 1 are stipulated as components to be calculated by a public notice
of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Table 1 Components to be calculated as main component

or major component in fertilizers
Main component or major
Component to be calculated
component
Phosphate Phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5)
Potassium Potassium oxide (K2O)
Silicate Silicon dioxide (SiO2)
Magnesium Magnesium oxide (MgO)
Manganese Manganese oxide (MnO)
Boron Boron oxide (B2 O3 )
Sulfur content Sulfur trioxide (SO3)
Lime Calcium oxide (CaO)

d) Organic matters: Organic fertilizers, sludge fertilizers, compost, etc. Organic

compounds such as urea are excluded.
e) Laboratory sample: A sample transferred to a laboratory. Laboratory sample as
specified in JIS K 0211.
f) Test sample: A sample obtained from a laboratory sample after pretreatment such as
grinding. Test sample as specified in JIS K 0211.
g) Analytical sample: A sample measured from a laboratory sample or a test sample and
to be used in one test. Test sample or analytical sample as specified in JIS K 0211.
h) Sample: A sample in the Test methods indicates a laboratory sample, a test sample or an
analytical sample.
i) Actual article: A laboratory sample with in original state
j) Drying matter: The matter which remains after drying the actual article.
k) Dilution of solution: “Transfer accurately a predetermined amount (to a vessel)” means
the procedure to measure any volume of solution with a measuring instrument specified
in JIS K 0050 (into a vessel).
Also, “dilute accurately a predetermined amount (with solvent or solution)” means the
procedure to measure any volume of solution with a measuring instrument specified in
JIS K 0050 into a volumetric flask of arbitrary volume and fill up to the marked
line(with solvent or solution).(1)

9
 l) Preparation of a calibration curve: “Transfer A mL - B mL of the standard solution to
volumetric flasks step-by-step.” means the procedure to transfer a volume of 4 - 6 steps
(2)
in the range from A mL to B mL of the standard solution to respective volumetric
flasks step-by-step.
Prepare a calibration curve every time a test is conducted. Also, when the same test item
is measured under the same conditions for multiple samples continuously, measure the
standard solution at regular intervals to check the indicated value.
m) Notes, comments, figures, tables and formulae: Serial numbers for each test item
should be recorded in notes, comments, figures, tables and formulae.
n) Rounding numbers: Methods of rounding the numbers are according to JIS Z 8401.
o) Referential matters related to the validity of testing methods: Information related to
the validity of respective test methods such as quantification range (minimum and
maximum limits of quantification), mean recovery, repeatability, intermediate precision
and reproducibility is described in a Comment, etc. Note that the numerical values such
as Minimum Limit of Quantification, etc. are not standards to be targeted but examples.
p) Absorptiometric analysis: General rules for absorptiometric analysis are according to
JIS K 0115.
q) Atomic absorption spectrometry: Atomic absorption spectrometry includes flame
atomic absorption spectrometry, electrically heated atomic absorption spectrometry
(hereinafter referred to as “electrically heated atomic absorption spectrometry”) and
other atomic absorption spectrometry. General matters common to these are according
to JIS K 0121.
r) Gas chromatography: General matters common to gas chromatography are according
to JIS K 0114.
s) Gas chromatography/Mass spectrometry: General matters common to gas
chromatography/Mass spectrometry are according to JIS K 0123.
t) Electrical conductivity measuring method: General matters common to electrical
conductivity measuring methods are according to JIS K 0130.
u) Test sieving: General matters common to test sieving are according to JIS Z 8815.
v) High Performance Liquid Chromatography: General matters common to High
Performance Liquid Chromatography are according to JIS K 0124.
w) High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry: General matters
common to High Performance Liquid Chromatography/mass spectrometry are
according to JIS K 0136.
x) ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry: General matters common to ICP Optical
Emission Spectrometry are according to JIS K 0116.
y) ICP Mass Spectrometry: General matters common to ICP Mass Spectrometry are
according to JIS K 0133.
z) Ion Chromatography: General matters common to Ion Chromatography are according
to JIS K 0127.

Note (1) When the dilution factor is large, accuracy should be secured by procedures such
as repeating the dilution procedure.
(2) Set according to the specification and operation method of the measurement
instrument used. There is no need to include the minimum and the maximum
values of the calibration curb range described in the Testing Methods for
Fertilizers.
(3) Water
a) Water: Water used in the Testing Methods for Fertilizers herein is water of A2 specified
in JIS K 0557 or water that is confirmed not to affect a quantitation value. However,
when otherwise specified in respective test items, use the specified water.
10
(4) Reagents
a) Reagents: When the reagent is JIS-specified, use one of highest quality among those
marked with the JIS symbol; when none of the reagent is marked with the JIS symbol,
use one of quality that will not cause a problem in the test. Use reference materials for
volumetric analysis specified in JIS K 8005 for the standardization of titration solutions.
b) Reference materials: The preparation of standard solutions or standardization of
titration solutions using reference materials 1) – 2) below other than materials specified
in respective testing items is possible.
1) Reference materials provided by National Metrology Institute: Reference
materials traceable to International System of Unit (SI) provided by National
Metrology Institute (NMI: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and
Technology NMIJ, NIST, BAM, etc.) which signed CIPM MRA (Global Mutual
Recognition Arrangement based on the Meter Convention)
2) Reference materials for volumetric analysis: Reference materials for volumetric
analysis specified in JIS K 8005.
c) Standard Solutions: In the cases of specifying in the comment in respective testing
items, the preparation of standard solutions for a calibration curve using the solution
which is traceable to the National Metrology of 1) – 3) below other than specified in
respective testing items is possible. However use standard solutions which do not cause
a problem in the test with the kinds and concentration of chemical compounds or added
acid used. In addition, in (2) c) Main components or major components, calculate main
components or major components using conversion factors specified in the comment of
respective items.
1) Standard Solutions provided by National Metrology Institute: Standard
solutions traceable to International System of Unit provided by National Metrology
Institute (NMI: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
NMIJ, NIST, BAM, etc.)
2) JCSS (Japan Calibration Service System) Standard Solutions: Standard
solutions prepared by JCSS (Japan Calibration Service System) the registered
provider for Chemical Analysis, Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, ICP or Ion
Chromatography traceable to specific reference materials based on Measurement
Act Article 134. In addition, it is recommended to use standard solutions which
indicate the uncertainty of concentration and factors.
3) Standard Solutions traceable to National Metrology: Standard Solutions
traceable to National Metrology (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science
and Technology NMIJ, NIST, BAM reference materials, etc. traceable to
International System of Unit) provide by National Metrology Institutes which
signed CIPM MRA, but at the same time they are standard solutions for Chemical
Analysis, Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, ICP or Ion Chromatography prepared
by the providers who obtained the certification of ISO Guide 34（JIS Q 0034：
General requirements for the competence of reference material producers）. In
addition, the use of standard solutions which indicate the uncertainty of
concentration and factors is recommended.
d) Titrant: A Titrant described in 1) is usable if it is specified in the comment of a testing
item. In addition, the titrant may be diluted to a predetermined concentration as
necessary. In this case, however, dilution treatment should be conducted when it is used
and factors of the titrant before dilution should be applied.
1) Titrant conforming to ISO/IEC 17025: A Titrant which is prepared and
standardized and whose factors are calculated by a laboratory which obtained an
accreditation (accredited range: JIS K 8001 JA.5 solutions for titration) based on
ISO/IEC 17205. In addition, it is recommended to use titrant which indicates the
11
 uncertainty of concentration and factors.
e) Concentration of reagent solution: Unless otherwise specified, the mass concentration
is expressed as g/L or mg/L, while the molar concentration is expressed as mol/L or
mmol/L. The concentration of the standard solution is expressed as the mass in 1 mL
(mg/mL, µg/mL or ng/mL) except for the ion-selective electrode method.
f) Concentration in parenthesis shown after the name of reagent solution: It indicates
that the solution is about that concentration except the standard solution. For example,
sodium hydroxide solution (0.1 mol/L) means that it is about 0.1 mol/L sodium
hydroxide solution. Also, the concentration shown in front of the name of solution
means that it is the accurate concentration. However, the concentration is generally
expressed as a round figure; calculate the factor separately.
g) Description of mixture solution: Mixture solutions are described as shown in 1) - 4).
1) Reagent + reagent: Describe as reagent name 1 - reagent name 2 (V1 + V2). In this
case, V1 volume of reagent name 1 is mixed with V2 volume of reagent name 2.
Example: acetonitrile-water (1+1), hexane-ethyl acetate (2+1), methanol-buffer
solution (3+1)
2) Reagent + water: Describe as reagent name 1 (V1+V2). In the case of reagents
described in Table 1 in JIS K 0050, it means V1 volume of reagent name 1 is diluted
by mixing with V2 volume of water.
Example: hydrochloric acid (1+1), sulfuric acid (1+2), ammonia solution (1+3)
3) Solution + reagent: Describe as solution name a (concentration) - reagent name b
[V1+V2]. In this case, it means V1 volume of solution name a of a certain
concentration is mixed with V2 volume of reagent name b.
Example: sodium hydroxide solution (4 g/L) - methanol [1+4]
4) Diluted reagent + reagent: Describe as reagents name a (V1+V2) - reagent name b
[V3+V4]. In this case, V3 volume of the solution in which V1 volume of reagent
name a described in Table 1 in JIS K 0050 diluted by mixing with V2 volume of
water, is mixed with V4 volume of reagent name b.
Example: hydrochloric acid (1+100) -methanol [2+3]
h) Water for reagent preparation: Use water in (3) a). However, when otherwise
specified in respective test items, use the specified water.
i) Reagent name: Unless otherwise specified, conform to the names by the chemical
nomenclature established by the Chemical Society of Japan [in accordance with the
International Union of Pure and Applicable Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature of
inorganic chemistry and nomenclature of organic chemistry] and the names of JIS
reagents.
j) Handling of reagents and liquid waste, etc.: Handle with care and in compliance with
relevant laws and regulations.
(5) Apparatus
a) Glass apparatus: Unless otherwise specified, use glass apparatus specified in JIS R
3503 and JIS R 3505. Also, when a heating procedure is involved, use borosilicate
glass-1 specified in JIS R 3503.
b) Non-glass apparatus: Unless otherwise specified, use plastic apparatus.
c) Desiccants for desiccators: Unless otherwise specified, use silica gel.
d) Porcelain crucibles and porcelain basins: Use ones specified in JIS R 1301 and JIS R
1302.
e) Platinum crucibles and platinum dishes: Use ones specified in JIS H 6201 and JIS H
6202.
f) Filter paper: Use that specified in JIS P 3801. However, the type of filter paper is
specified in respective test items.

12
 g) Absorbance measurement (absorptiometric analysis) absorbance cells: Unless
otherwise specified, use ones of 10 mm in optical path length.
(6) Washing of apparatus
a) Washing of apparatus: Wash containers with a detergent and tap water before usage
and wash sufficiently with water of A2 specified in JIS K 0577 or water that is
confirmed not to affect a quantification value. In case of sampling a sample to test a
metallic element and organic materials, after previous washing, dip with nitric acid
(1+9) or hydrochloric acid (1+9) as appropriate and further wash sufficiently with water
of A2, A3 or A4.

1.2 Validity check of testing methods

The Testing Methods for Fertilizers are methods which have been discussed and approved by
the Technical Committee for Fertilizers etc. or methods in the Official Methods of Analysis of
Fertilizers (1992) whose style was rewritten according to the Testing Methods for Fertilizers.
The Testing Methods for Fertilizers will be revised by adding, modifying, or deleting test
methods with the approval of the Technical Committee for Fertilizers etc. due to the needs
such as progress in analytical techniques and changing social situation.
The procedure for the testing methods validity check is shown in the Appendix of this Testing
Methods for Fertilizers. This procedure was made based on 5.4.5 Validation of methods in JIS
Q 17025 “General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories” or
2.4 Tests for validation requirements in “Guidelines for the design and implementation of
surveillance and monitoring and for the evaluation and publication of the results” which was
issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and with reference to the
guideline of Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), IUPAC protocol and the guideline of
AOAC INTERNATIONAL, etc. Validated test methods are methods which are conducted
according to this procedure and confirmed to conform to the standards such as required
accuracy (trueness and precision), quantification range (maximum and minimum limits of
quantitation) and so on.

1.3 Adoption of testing methods

A testing method which substitutes for the Testing Methods for Fertilizers can be used if it
conforms to criteria required in validation of a testing method. However, in case where the
result of the testing method do not agree with the result of the Testing Methods for Fertilizers
(1)
, the latter is used to make a final judgement. In addition, if multiple methods are described
for a testing component, it is recommended that a testing method for final judgement is
adopted in the following order: 1. A testing method which attains reproducibility. 2. A testing
method which attains intermediate precision. 3. Other testing methods.

Note (1) Refer to the separate sheet: “Criteria of trueness and precision in respective
concentration levels” or the reproducibility of respective testing methods” in order to
determine if there is mutual agreement.

13
2. Handling of samples

2.1 Sampling
Sampling is according to “2.1 Sampling in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(1992)”.

References
1) National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries: The Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers 1992, p.4 - 5,
Japan Fertilizers Analysis Association, Tokyo (1992)
2) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.12 - 17, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

14
2.2 Storage of samples
(1) Summary
Put a sample in a container suitable for its characteristics and form and seal it tightly, and then
store the sample at room or cold temperature. Care should be taken not to freeze it when it is
stored at cold temperature.

(2) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) Refrigerator: A refrigerator that can be adjusted to 1 ºC - 8 ºC.
b) Storage container for a sample: A storage container for a sample should be clean,
strong and completely sealed airtight. In particular, in case it contains sludge for raw
materials, the container should be made of non-degradable, non-absorbable material.
Additionally, it should be airtight, water-proof, vapor-proof and non-corrosive.

(3) Procedure: Conduct storage as shown below.

a) Store a relatively stable sample in a tightly sealed container to avoid direct sunlight.
b) Store a sample in a desiccator, etc. by tightly sealing it if test results are affected by
moisture absorption.
c) Store a sample in a tightly sealed container in a dark place at 1 ºC - 8 ºC if it is easily
deteriorated by moisture.

15
2.3 Preparation of test samples
(1) Summary
a) Prepare a test sample by pre-drying, reducing, and grinding laboratory samples as
necessary.
b) Conduct pre-drying if a laboratory sample is moist and hard to grind.
c) A laboratory sample made from such fertilizers as a fluid fertilizer or a particle-fertilizer,
etc. that is sufficiently homogeneous can be used as a test sample.
d) If contamination by apparatus affects a test result, procedures such as pre-drying,
reduction and grinding are prohibited.
e) Note that part of a test sample should not scatter, nor should surrounding fine particles
or other alien substances be mixed with the test sample being prepared

References
1) JIS M 8100: Particulate materials - General rules for methods of sampling (1992)
2) JIS K 0060: Sampling method of industrial wastes (1992)

16
2.3.1 Pre-drying
(1) Summary
Conduct pre-drying if a laboratory sample is moist and hard to grind, and measure the loss on
drying in this procedure. In addition calculate a conversion factor (actual article), if necessary,
to convert the component content obtained in respective tests to the component content in a
laboratory sample (actual article).

(2) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are shown below.
a) Drying apparatus: A drying apparatus that can be adjusted to the pre-drying
temperature at ± 2 ºC.
b) Sample drying dish: Measure the mass to the order of 0.1g in advance. Additionally,
use materials of a quality that do not affect the measurement of test components.

(3) Procedure: Conduct pre-drying as shown below.

a) Transfer 250 g - 1 kg of a laboratory sample to a sample drying dish, spread uniformly
and measure the mass to the order of 0.1g.
b) Place a sample drying dish containing a laboratory sample in a drying apparatus and dry
(1)
.
c) Remove a sample drying dish from a drying apparatus and leave at rest at room
temperature until it is balanced with atmospheric temperature (2).
d) After leaving at rest, measure the mass of c) to the order of 0.1 g.
e) Calculate loss on drying in the pre-drying by the following formula (1). If necessary,
calculate a conversion factor (actual article) by the following formula (2).

Loss on drying (% (mass fraction)) = ((W1 - A)/W1) × 100 ………. (1)

Conversion factor (actual article) = A/W1 ………… (2)

W1: Mass (g) of the sampled laboratory sample

A: Mass (g) of the laboratory sample after drying

Note (1) Examples of drying temperature and drying time: About 70 hours at 40 ºC, no
less than 5 hours at 65 ºC.
(2) An example of time to leave at rest: About 20 minutes

Comment 1 When calculating major components in a laboratory sample (actual article)

such as compost and sludge fertilizers, etc. where the test sample is prepared
conducting pre-drying, convert component contents in the analytical sample
obtained in respective tests by the following formula.

Component content in a laboratory sample (actual article) = B ×C

B: Component content in an analytical sample obtained in each test

C: Conversion factor (actual article)

Reference
1) Mariko AIZAWA, Yuji SHIRAI, Yasushi SUGIMURA, Yuichi TAKAHASHI, Jun OKI,
Yukio FUKUCHI and Norio HIKICHI: Evaluation of Pre-drying Procedure to Prepare
Test Samples from Sludge Fertilizer, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 122 - 128
(2008)
17
(4) Flow sheet for pre-drying: The flow sheet for the pre-drying of a moist laboratory
sample is shown below.

250 g – 1 kg of Transfer to a sample drying dish and spread uniformly.

Laboratory sample Measure the mass to the order of 0.1 g

Drying Example: About 70 hours at 40 ºC, no less than 5 hours at 65 ºC

Standing to cool Room temperature

Measurement Measure the mass to the order of 0.1 g

Figure Flow sheet for pre-drying

18
2.3.2 Reduction (Separation)
(1) Summary
In order to distinguish a test sample from a sample for granularity test and physical
characteristics test, etc., reduce (separate) a laboratory sample with an increment reduction
method, a riffle sampler method or a conical quartering method.

(2) Apparatus
a) Scoop for increment reduction: A scoop for increment reduction specified in the
attached chart 1 of JIS M 8100.
b) Riffle sampler: A riffle sampler specified in the attached chart 3 of JIS M 8100.

(3) Procedure: Conduct reduction (separation) as shown below.

a) Increment reduction method: Conduct as indicated in 6.5.2 of JIS M 8100.
b) Riffle sampler method: Conduct as indicated in 6.5.3 of JIS M 8100.
c) Conical quartering method: Conduct as indicated in 6.5.4 of JIS M 8100.

19
2.3.3 Grinding
(1) Summary
In order to prepare a homogeneous test sample, grind a laboratory sample with an adequate
grinder until it completely passes through the designated granularity.

(2) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below.
a) Grinder: Use a grinder (3) of a type and suitability for the granularity and the physical
characteristics (1) of a laboratory sample. In addition the grinder apparatus which come
into contact with a laboratory sample should be made of materials (2) which do not affect
the analytical value.
b) Primary grinder: A grinder (3) that can primarily grind a large lump.
c) Cutter machine: A cutter that can cut long stems, etc.
d) Sieve: A sieve for the test specified in JIS Z 8801-1 or JIS Z 8801-2 or equivalents.

Note (1) The physical characteristics of a laboratory sample are defined by their solidity,
toughness, specific gravity and adhesiveness.
(2) (Ex.) Do not use stainless steel apparatus when preparing a test sample for
chromium or nickel.
(3) A centrifuging type grinder, a cutting mill, a vibration mill type grinder, etc.
(4) A blender with an attachable blade, etc.

(3) Procedure: Conduct grinding as shown below.

(3.1) Fertilizers except ones specified in (3.2): Conduct as specified in 6.4 of JIS M 8100
and as shown below.
a) Break or cut a laboratory sample with a primary grinder or a cutting machine as
necessary.
b) Grind with a grinding machine until it completely passes through a sieve of 500 µm - 1
mm aperture.
c) Mix ground samples to make the test sample.

Comment 1 If the sampling amount of an analytical sample is less than 1 g, use a test
sample which will completely pass through 500 µm aperture sieve. In
addition, in case a test sample which suits the aforementioned condition
cannot be obtained due to a deliquescent laboratory sample, etc. , make one
by crushing a test sample with a mortar and pestle, which completely passes
through 1 mm aperture sieve.

(3.2) Fused phosphate fertilizer, calcined phosphate fertilizer, silica fertilizer, calcareous
fertilizer, magnesia fertilizer, manganese fertilizers, etc.: Conduct as specified in 6.4
of JIS M 8100 and as shown below.
a) Grind a laboratory sample with a vibration mill type grinder.
b) Transfer the ground laboratory sample to a sieve of 212 µm apertures.
c) Incline the sieve about 20 degrees, supporting it with one hand or a bent arm, and tap
the sieve frame with the other hand at the rate of about 120 times per minute. During the
procedure, place the sieve in a horizontal position at the rate of 4 times per minute,
rotate it 90 degrees and tap the sieve frame firmly one or two times.
d) When fine powder attaches to the back side of a sieve screen, remove it gently from the
back side to make minus sieve.
e) Regarding the plus sieve of a sample, make them pass through by repeating the
procedure in a) - d).
f) Combine and mix the sample passed to make the test sample.
20
Comment 2 The procedures in b) - d) are the procedures in 6.1.3 (1.4) of JIS Z 8815.

21
3. General tests

3.1 Moisture or moisture content

3.1.a Loss on drying method with drying apparatus
(1) Summary
Use drying apparatus under conditions suitable for the kind of fertilizers to be measured to
heat analytical samples to measure loss on drying and obtain moisture in an analytical sample
or the moisture content of a quality labeling standard of a special fertilizer (herein after
referred to as “moisture”). Additionally, calculate a conversion factor (drying matter) to
convert component content obtained by respective tests to component content in a drying
matter as necessary. This test method corresponds to loss on heating in the Official Methods
of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992). In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown
in Comment 5.

(2) Apparatus and instruments: Use apparatus and instruments as shown below:
a) Drying apparatus: Drying apparatus that can be adjusted to the test temperature ± 2 ºC.
b) Ground-in stoppered weighing bottles (1): Low-form weighing bottles, 50 mm × 30
mm, specified in JIS R 3503. Dry by heating in advance in a drying apparatus at 75 ºC -
130 ºC, stand to cool in a desiccator, and measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.

Note (1) Aluminum weighing dishes described in the Handbook of the Feed Analysis
Standards -2009- can also be used.

(3) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer 2 g-5 g of an analytical sample to a ground-in stoppered weighing bottle,
spread so that the thickness is no more than 10 mm, and measure the mass to the order
of 1 mg.
b) Place the ground-in stoppered weighing bottle containing the analytical sample in a
drying apparatus at 100 ºC ± 2 ºC, and heat for 5 hours.(2)
c) After heating, fit the stopper into the ground-in stoppered weighing bottle, and
immediately transfer to a desiccator to let it stand to cool.
d) After cooling, remove the ground-in stoppered weighing bottle from the desiccator, and
measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.
e) Calculate loss on drying in the analytical sample by the following formula (1) as
moisture. If necessary, calculate the conversion factor (dry matter) by the following
formula (2):

Loss on drying (% (mass fraction)) = ((W1 - A)/W1) × 100 ……… (1)

Conversion factor (dry matter) = W1/A……………………………….. (2)

W1: Mass (g) of the sampled analytical sample

A: Mass (g) of the analytical sample after drying

Note (2) Heat simultaneously the slightly moved or removed stopper of the ground-in
stoppered weighing bottle.

Comment 1 When pre-drying a laboratory sample such as compost and sludge fertilizers
to prepare a test sample, calculate the moisture of the laboratory sample
(actual article) by the following formula:

22
 Moisture (% (mass fraction)) in the laboratory sample (actual article) = B + C ×
((100 - B)/100)

B: Loss on drying (% (mass fraction)) of the laboratory sample (actual article)

by the pre-drying procedure
C: Loss on drying (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample by moisture
measurement

Comment 2 When calculating harmful content in a drying matter of sludge fertilizers, etc.,
convert component content in a test sample obtained from respective tests by
the following formula.

Component content in a drying matter = D ×E

D: Component content in an analytical sample obtained in each test

E: Conversion factor (drying matter)

Comment 3 Use drying conditions in Table 1 for fertilizers of the types shown below:

Table 1 Drying conditions

Sampling amount of
Type of fertilizers Drying temperature Drying time
analytical samples
Superphosphate of lime, triple
superphosphate of lime, or About 5 g 100 ºC ± 2 ºC 3 hours
fertilizers containing these
Ammonium sulfate, sodium Until a constant
2 g- 5 g 130 ºC ± 2 ºC
nitrate, and potassium salts weight is achieved.

Urea and urea-containing

About 5 g 75 ºC ± 2 ºC 4 hours
fertilizers

Comment 4 For samples containing volatile matters, subtract the volatile matter content
by the following a) and b) from loss on drying to obtain moisture.

a) Fertilizers containing guano or diammonium hydrogen phosphate, etc.: Determine total

nitrogen in the test sample, and in the analytical sample after the drying procedure;
convert the difference between the quantitation values into ammonia (NH3) to make the
volatile matter content.
b) Potassium hydrogen carbonate: Determine carbon dioxide in the test sample, and in the
analytical sample after the drying procedure; the difference between the quantitation
values is the volatile matter content.

Comment 5 Table 2 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.

23
 Table 2 Results and analysis results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for moisture hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
2) 4) 5)
Number of Median Μ NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample
laboratories (%)
3)
(%)
3)
(%)
High analysis compound
2006 147 1.70 0.30 17.6
fertilizer
Organic compound
2007 146 4.99 0.35 7.0
fertilizer
High analysis compound
2008 145 2.87 0.24 8.5
fertilizer
Ordinary compound
2009 145 3.53 0.15 4.2
fertilizer
High analysis compound
2010 143 1.58 0.41 26.0
fertilizer
High analysis compound
2011 137 2.03 0.09 12.0
fertilizer
High analysis compound
2013 136 2.93 0.84 28.7
fertilizer
Organic compound
2014 133 1.78 0.16 8.7
fertilizer
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR/M ) × 100

References
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 20 - 23, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Society for the Study of Feed Analysis Standards：Methods of Analysis of Feeds and
Feed Additives-2009-I, p. 37 - 39, Incorporated Administrative Agency Food and
Agricultural Materials Inspection Center, Saitama (2009)

24
(4) Flow sheet for moisture: The flow sheet for moisture in fertilizers is shown below:

2 g -5 g Transfer to a ground-in stoppered weighing bottle, spread so that the

analytical sample thickness is no more than 10 mm. Measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.

Heating 100 ºC ± 2 ºC, 5 hours

Standing to cool Desiccator

Measurement Measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.

Figure Example of the flow sheet for moisture in fertilizers

by loss on drying with drying apparatus.

25
3.1.b Loss on drying method by moisture analyzers
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to sludge fertilizers, compost, and organic fertilizers, etc.
Use a moisture analyzer in the heat drying method to measure loss on drying and obtain
moisture in an analytical sample or the moisture content of a quality labeling standard of a
special fertilizer (herein after referred to as “moisture”). Additionally, calculate a conversion
factor (drying matter) to convert component content obtained by respective tests to
component content in the drying matter as necessary.
In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 3.

(2) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Moisture analyzer: A moisture analyzer consisted of a heat source to heat an analytical
sample (halogen lamp, infrared heater, ceramic heater, etc.) and a built-in balance (1)
with calibration function.

Note (1) There is a method to calibrate with calibration weights or a method to calibrate
automatically with built-in weights.

(3) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below. However, conduct in advance a

comparative test with 3.1.a Loss on drying with drying apparatus using sludge fertilizers,
compost, and organic fertilizers, etc., to confirm that there is no difference in the
quantitation value of moisture.
a) Transfer about 5 g of an analytical sample to a weighing dish, spread so that the
thickness is no more than 10 mm, and measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.
b) Heat at 100 ºC (2), until a constant weight is achieved.
c) After the end of heating (2), measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.
d) Calculate loss on drying in the analytical sample by the following formula (1) as
moisture. If necessary, calculate the conversion factor (actual article) by the following
formula (2):

Loss on drying (% (mass fraction)) = ((W1 - A) / W1) × 100 (1)

Conversion factor (dry matter) = W1/A (2)

W1: Mass (g) of the sampled analytical sample

A: Mass (g) of the analytical sample after drying

Note (2) The setup of the drying program and the determination parameter for the end of
heating (constant weight) is according to the specification and the operation
method of the moisture analyzer used.

Comment 1 When pre-drying is conducted, calculate the moisture of the laboratory

sample (actual article) by the following formula:

Total moisture (% (mass fraction)) in the laboratory sample (actual article) = B + C ×

((100 - B)/100)

B: Loss on drying (% (mass fraction)) of the laboratory sample (actual article)

by the pre-drying procedure
C: Loss on drying (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample by moisture
measurement
26
Comment 2 In case of calculating harmful content in a drying matter of sludge fertilizers,
etc., convert component content in a test sample obtained from respective
tests by the following formula.

Component content in a drying matter = D ×E

D: Component content in an analytical sample obtained in each test

E: Conversion factor (drying matter)

Comment 3 Table 1 shows the results of the comparison of the measurement values by
loss on drying method with drying apparatus and the measurement values by
loss on drying method with a moisture analyzer using organic fertilizers,
compost and sludge fertilizers in order to evaluate trueness.
Additionally, Table 2 shows results and analysis results from a collaborative
study for test method validation.

Table 1　　Analysis results of the comparison test results of respective methods

Symbol of measurement value Sample Range of Regression coefficient Correlation

Drying apparatus Moisture Kind Number of yi～yj (y ＝ a ＋bx ) coefficient
1) 2) 3)
method method samples (%) a b r
4)
xi yi Sludge fertilizer 26 5.50～90.61 0.188 0.998 0.999
5)
xj yj Organic fertilizer 25 2.96～12.33 0.185 0.986 0.994
1）　3.1.a Loss on drying method with drying apparatus
2）　3.1.b Loss on drying method with a moisture analizer
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Sewage sludge fertilizer, Human waste sludge fertilizer, Industrial sludge fertilizer, Composted sludge fertilizer
5）　Fish meal, Byproduct organic fertilizer of vegetable origin, Compost, Steamed leather meal,
Rape seed meal and powdered rape seed meal

27
 Table 2　　Results and analysis results from a collaborative study
for the validation of the moisture test method.
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
Number of Mean sr RSD r sR RSD R
Sample name 1)
laboratories (%)
3)
(%)
3)
(%) (%)
3)
(%)
Sewage sludge
9 21.93 0.32 1.4 0.47 2.1
fertilizer
Human waste sludge
8 13.36 0.14 1.1 0.37 2.8
fertilizer
Industrial sludge
9 34.28 0.21 0.6 0.50 1.5
fertilizer
Calcined sludge
9 38.75 0.59 1.5 0.59 1.5
fertilizer
Composted sludge
9 27.1 0.26 0.9 0.60 2.2
fertilizer
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n= number of laboratories number of samples (2))
3) Mass fraction
4) Repeatability standard deviation
5) Repeatability relative standard deviation
6) Reproducibility standard deviation
7) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Takeshi UCHIYAMA and Chiyo SAKASEGAWA: Validation of a Heating Method
Using a Moisture Analyzer for Moisture Content in Sludge Fertilizer. Research Report
of Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 1- 5 (2008)
2) Takeshi UCHIYAMA and Yuji SHIRAI: Determination of Moisture Content in Sludge
Fertilizer by a Heating Method Using Moisture Analyzer: A Collaborative Study.
Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 6 - 11 (2008)
3) Satono AKIMOTO and Sakiko TAKAHASHI: Validation of a Heating Method Using a
Moisture Analyzer for Moisture Content in Sludge Fertilizer. Research Report of
Fertilizer Vol.2, p. 1 - 5 (2009)

(4) Flow sheet for moisture: The flow sheet for moisture in sludge fertilizers, compost,
and organic fertilizers, etc. is shown below:

About 5 g Transfer to a weighing dish, spread so that the thickness is

analytical sample no more than 10 mm. Measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.

Heating 100 ºC

End of drying Constant weight

Measurement Measure the mass to the order of 1 mg

Figure Flow sheet for moisture in sludge fertilizers, compost, and organic fertilizers, etc.
by the loss on drying method with a moisture analyzer.
28
3.2 Ash content
3.2.a Ignition residue method
(1) Summary
The method is applicable to organic fertilizers and fertilizers containing organic matters.
The method ignites an analytical sample with an electric furnace and measures residue on
ignition to obtain ash content in an analytical sample.

(2) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and Instruments are shown below.
a) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be adjusted to the temperature 550 ºC ± 5
ºC.
b) Crucible: After heating a porcelain crucible for chemical analysis specified in JIS R
1301 with an electric furnace at 550 ºC ± 5 ºC, stand to cool in a desiccator in advance
and measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.

(3) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer about 2 g of an analytical sample into a crucible, and measure the mass to the
order of 1 mg.
b) Place it into an electric furnace, heat gently until carbonized (1).
c) Heat at 550 ºC ± 5 ºC for no less than 4 hours.
d) After heating, move the crucible into a desiccator and let it stand to cool.
e) After standing to cool, remove the crucible from the desiccator and measure the mass to
the order of 1 mg.
f) Calculate the residue on ignition in the analytical sample by the following formula to
make ash content.

Residue on ignition (% (mass fraction)) = (A/W) × 100

W: Mass (g) of the sampled analytical sample
A: Mass (g) of the ignited analytical sample

Note (1) Example of carbonizing procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke no longer
form.

(4) Flow sheet for ash content: The flow sheet for ash content in fertilizers is shown below.

About 2 g of
Transfer to a crucible. Measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.
analytical sample

Charred Heating gently with an electric furnace

Incineration No less than 4 hours at 550 ºC ± 5 ºC

Standing to cool Desiccator

Measurement Measure the mass to the order of 1mg

Figure Flow sheet for ash content in fertilizers.

29
3.3 pH
3.3.a Glass electrode method
(1) Summary
Measure the pH of fertilizers with a pH meter using a glass electrode.

(2) Reagent: Reagents are as shown below.

a) Oxalate pH standard solution: Oxalate pH standard solution class 2 traceable to
National Metrology.
b) Phthalate pH standard solution: Phthalate pH standard solution class 2 traceable to
National Metrology.
c) Neutral phosphate pH standard solution: Neutral phosphate pH standard solution
class 2 traceable to National Metrology.
d) Borate pH standard solution: Borate pH standard solution class 2 traceable to
National Metrology.
e) Carbonate pH standard solution: Carbonate pH standard solution class 2 traceable to
National Metrology.

Comment 1 Respective pH standard solutions stored for long time should not be used
since the pH value may change during storage period. In particular, note that
borate pH standard solution and carbonate pH standard solution easily absorb
carbon dioxide in the air, so that the pH values deteriorate. The pH standard
solution that was used once or left exposed to the air should not be used.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are shown below.

a) pH meter: Use type II specified in JIS Z 8802.

Comment 2 Conduct the calibration of a pH meter as indicated in JIS Z 8802. Actual

calibration operation is according to the operation procedure of the pH meter
used for measurement.
When the pH of a sample solution is no more than 7, use neutral phosphate
pH standard solution and oxalate pH standard solution, or phthalate pH
standard solution. When it exceeds 7, use neutral phosphate pH standard
solution and borate pH standard solution, or carbonate pH standard solution.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Preparation of sample solution: Conduct preparation of a sample solution as shown
below.
(4.1.1) Fertilizers except inorganic fertilizers
a) Transfer a predetermined amount of an analytical sample (1) into a ground-in stopper
flask and add water 5 - 10 times the volume.
b) Mix with a magnetic stirrer, filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (1) In the case of a moist laboratory sample, it is recommended to use a sample that
is not pre-dried.

(4.1.2) Inorganic fertilizers

a) Transfer a predetermined amount of an analytical sample (1) into a ground-in stopper
flask and add water 100 times the volume.
b) Mix with a magnetic stirrer, filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

30
 Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1.1) is the same as 3.4.a (4.1). Additionally, the sample
solution prepared in 4.2.4.a (4.1) can be used instead of the sample solution
prepared by (4.1.2).

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct the measurement as indicated in JIS Z 8802 and as shown
below. Actual calibration operation is according to the operation procedure of the pH
meter used for measurement.
a) Wash the read station of a calibrated pH meter repeatedly no less than 3 times with
water and wipe out with clean and soft paper, etc.
b) Transfer a sample solution into a beaker (2), dip the read station in the solution and
measure the pH value.

Note (2) It is necessary to transfer sufficient volume of sample solution to keep a

measurement value stable.

Comment 4 If a pH meter has a temperature correction dial or a digital switching, measure

the pH value after adjusting the graduation of the pH meter with the
temperature of a sample.

Reference
1) JIS Z 8002: Methods for determination of pH of aqueous solutions (2011)

(5) Flow sheet for pH value: The flow sheet for pH value in fertilizers is shown below.

Predetermined volume
Ground-in stopper flask.
of analytical sample
← Water 5 -10 times or 100 times the volume
Mixture

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Measurement pH meter

Figure Flow sheet for pH in fertilizers.

31
3.4 Electrical conductivity
3.4.a Measurement method with an electrical conductivity meter
(1) Summary
Measure the electrical conductivity of organic fertilizers such as compost or sludge fertilizers
with an electrical conductivity meter.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are shown below.

a) Potassium chloride: Grind potassium chloride used for measurement of electrical
conductivity specified in JIS K 0130 with an agate mortar to powder and heat for 4
hours at 500 ºC ± 5 ºC, and then stand to cool in a desiccator.
b) Potassium chloride standard solution (1): Measure predetermined volume (2) of
potassium chloride of a) on a weighing dish, dissolve in a small amount of water,
transfer it into a 1000-mL volumetric flask , and add up to the marked line with water.

Note (1) Store potassium chloride standard solution in a polyethylene or borosilicate glass
bottle and seal the bottle.
(2) The volume that is recommended for an instrument or a cell used.

Comment 1 Potassium chloride standard solution used once or left in the air should not be
used.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are shown below.

a) Electrical conductivity meter: An electrical conductivity meter specified in JIS K
0130

Comment 2 Check the indicated value as shown in 6.2 in JIS K 0130 as necessary. Actual
procedure to check is according to the operation procedure of the electrical
conductivity meter used for measurement.

(4) Test procedure

(4.1) Preparation of sample solution: Conduct the preparation of a sample solution as
shown below.
a) Transfer the predetermined volume of an analytical sample (3) into a ground-in stopper
flask and add water 10 times the equivalent volume of dry matter (4).
b) Mix with a magnetic stirrer, filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (3) In the case of a moist laboratory sample, it is recommended to use a sample that
is not pre-dried.
(4) If the sample solution becomes hard to measure because it is gelled by the
influence of flocculants in sludge fertilizer, etc., increase the volume of water
added. However this fact should be expressed in the test result.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as 3.3.a (4.1.1).

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct the measurement as indicated in JIS K 0132 and as shown
below. Actual measurement operation is according to the operation procedure of the
electrical conductivity meter used for measurement.
a) Wash the read station of an electrical conductivity meter repeatedly no less than 3 times
with water.

32
 b) Transfer a sample solution into a beaker (5), dip the read station and measure electrical
conductivity.

Note (5) It is necessary to transfer sufficient volume of sample solution to keep the
measurement value stable.

Reference
1) JIS K 0130: General rules for electrical conductivity measuring method (2008)

(5) Flow sheet for electrical conductivity: The flow sheet for electrical conductivity is
showed below.

Predetermined volume
Ground-in stopper flask.
of analytical sample
← Water ,10 times the volume
Mixture

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Measurement Electrical conductivity meter

Figure Flow sheet for electrical conductivity in fertilizers.

33
3.5 Granularity
3.5.a Dry-type sieving testing method
(1) Summary
Measure the particle diameter distribution of particulates and powdery fertilizers with a
dry-type sieving analysis.

(2) Apparatus: Apparatus are shown below.

a) Sieve: A sieve for testing specified in JIS Z 8815
b) Clogging removal brush: A brush which is adequately hard for the apertures and does
not damage the sieving screen.
c) Weighing dish: A container that can contain about 250 g of a sample. Measure the mass
to the order of 0.1g in advance.

(3) Dry-type sieving analysis procedure: Conduct sieving analysis corresponding to the
aperture size of a sieve used as indicated in JIS Z 8815 and as shown below.
(3.1) More than 1mm and no more than 4mm
a) Stack a large aperture sieve on an acceptor so that the large sieve is on top.
b) Measure the total mass (2) of a laboratory sample or a separated test sample (1) to the
order of 0.1g and transfer it to the sieve at the top section.
c) After putting a stopper on it, hold the stacked sieves with both hands, and vibrate (3)
them back and forth at about 70 mm amplitude along a unidirectional and horizontal
plane at about 60 times per minute.
d) Transfer respective plus and minus sieves to a weighing dish (4).

Note (1) Conduct the separation of a sample as indicated in 2.2.2(3).

(2) The minimum volume of a separated test sample is 250 g.
(3) Conduct more circular motion at the rate of about 3 revolutions per minute as
necessary.
(4) Turning over the back side of a sieve, remove the clogged particles from the
sieve screen with a clogging removal brush and combine them with the plus
sieve.

(3.2) Less than and equal to 1mm

a) Stack a large aperture sieve on an acceptor so that the large sieve is on top.
b) Measure the total mass (2) of a laboratory sample, a separated test sample (1) or minus
sieve of (3.1) c) to the order of 0.1g and transfer it to the sieve at the top section.
c) After putting a stopper on it, incline the stacked sieves about 20 degrees, supporting
with one hand or a bent arm, and tap the sieve frame with the other hand at the rate of
about 120 times per a minute.
d) During the procedure in c), place the sieve in a horizontal position at the rate of 4 times
per minute, rotate it 90 degrees and tap the sieve frame hard one or two times.
e) Transfer respective plus and minus sieves (5) to a weighing dish (4).

Note (5) When fine powder attaches to the back side of a sieve screen, remove them
gently from the back side with a clogging removal brush and combine them with
the minus sieve

(4) Measurement of granularity distribution: Calculate the granularity distribution in an

analytical sample as shown below.
a) Measure respective mass of plus and minus sieves to the order of 0.1g.

34
 b) Calculate “plus sieve percentage” and “integrated minus sieve percentage” with the
following formula and round the results to the first decimal place.
c) Confirm that the sum of the mass of the plus sieve and the mass of the minus sieve with
the smallest aperture is in the range of ± 2 % of the mass of sample measured in (3.1)b)
or (3.2)b).

Mass percentage of plus sieve or minus sieve (%) (R) = (A/T) × 100

A: Mass of plus sieve or minus sieve (g)

T: Sum of the mass of plus and minus sieve (g)

References
1) JIS Z 8815: Test sieving - General requirements (1994).
2) JIS K 0069: Test methods for sieving of chemical products (1992).

(5) Flow sheet of granularity: The flow sheet of granularity of particulate or powdery
fertilizers is shown below.
.
Laboratory sample
Measure the mass to the order of 0.1g
or Test sample

Dry-type sieving

Mass measurement of
respective plus sieve Measure the mass to the order of 0.1g
and minus sieve

Figure Flow sheet for granularity of particulate or powdery fertilizers

35
3.6 Oil content
3.6.a Diethyl ether extraction method
(1) Summary
The method is applicable to organic fertilizers.
Extract an analytical sample with diethyl ether using a Soxhlet extractor and measure the
extract to obtain oil content in an analytical sample.
The oil content contains not only fat but also fat-soluble pigments (carotenoid, chlorophyll,
etc.), wax, and free fatty acids, etc.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below.

a) Diethyl ether: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are shown below.
a) Drying apparatus: Drying apparatus that can be adjusted to the test temperature ± 2 ºC
b) Soxhlet extractor: An inter-changeable Soxhlet extractor, cooling apparatus and
weighing bottles (Example: JIS R 3503, attached figure 71)
c) Water bath: A water bath that can be adjusted to about 60 ºC
d) Weighing bottle: A flat bottle flask connectable to a Soxhlet extractor. After heating
with a drying apparatus at 100 ºC - 105 ºC in advance, stand to cool in a desiccator and
measure the mass to the order of 1mg.
e) Cylindrical filter paper: A cylindrical filter paper made of cellulose. Example: 22 mm
external diameter, 20 mm internal diameter, 90 mm total length (1).

(4) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below

a) Weigh 2 g - 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1mg, and transfer it into a
cylindrical filter paper.
b) Place absorbent cotton on the upper end of an analytical sample (2), as if gently pushing
it, and heat it at 100 ºC – 105 ºC for 2 hours.
c) As soon as heating is complete, move the cylindrical filter paper to a desiccator and
stand to cool.
d) After standing to cool, transfer it into a Soxhlet extractor and connect it to a cooling
apparatus.
e) Transfer adequate volume of diethyl ether (3) into a weighing bottle, connect it to the
Soxhlet extractor and heat (4) it for 8 hours to extract.
f) Recover the diethyl ether (5).
g) Disconnect the Soxhlet extractor from the weighing bottle and vaporize the diethyl ether
(6)
.
h) Heat the weighing bottle (7) at 100 ºC - 105 ºC for 3 hours.
i) As soon as heating is complete, move the weighing bottle to the desiccator and stand to
cool.
j) After standing to cool, remove the weighing bottle from the desiccator and measure the
mass to the order of 1mg.
k) Calculate oil content with the following formula.

Oil content (% (mass fraction)) = (B/A) × 100

A: Mass of a sampled analytical sample (g)

B: Mass of extract of diethyl ether (g)

36
 Note (1) Select a scale according to the volume of a Soxhlet extractor.
(2) The purpose is to prevent overflow at the upper end of an analytical sample.
(3) The amount of diethyl ether depends on the volume of a weighing bottle.
(4) Adjust the temperature for diethyl ether to circulate 16 - 20 times per hour.
(Target temperature is about 60 ºC)
(5) Remove the cylindrical filter paper from the Soxhlet extractor. In the case of a
cock attached Soxhlet extractor, open the cock and recover it.
(6) It is dangerous if diethyl ether resides in a weighing bottle when the bottle is
transferred to a drying apparatus.
(7) Wipe the outside of a weighing bottle since there is a risk of garbage or stain
sticking to it.

References
1) Japan Oil Chemist ‘Society: Standard Method for the Analysis of Fats, Oils and Related
Materials (2003), 1.5 Oil content p. 1 - 2, Incorporated Foundation Japan Oil Chemist
‘Society, Tokyo (2009)
2) Feed Analysis Standard Task Force: Feed Analysis Method/Handbook -2009 - I, p. 37 -
39, Incorporated Administrative Agency, Food and Agriculture Materials Inspection
Center, Saitama (2009)

(5) Flow sheet of oil content: Flow sheet of oil content in organic fertilizers is shown
below.

2 g- 5 g
Weigh to the order of 1mg to a cylindrical filter paper
analytical sample

Pre-drying 100 ºC - 105 ºC, for 2 hours

Soxhlet extractor

Extraction Diethyl ether, heating, for 8 hours

Weighing bottle

Heating 100 ºC - 105 ºC, for 5 hours

Standing to cool Desiccator

Measurement Measure the mass to the order of 1mg

Figure Flow sheet for oil content in organic fertilizers.

37
4. Main components, guaranteed components, etc.

4.1 Nitrogen
4.1.1 Total nitrogen
4.1.1.a Kjeldahl method
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing no nitrate nitrogen.
Add sulfuric acid, potassium sulfate and copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate to an analytical
sample, pretreat by Kjeldahl method to change total nitrogen (T-N) to ammonium ion, and add
a sodium hydroxide solution to subject to steam distillation. Collect isolated ammonia with
0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and measure surplus sulfuric acid by (neutralization) titration using a
0.1 mol/L – 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution to obtain the total nitrogen (T-N) in an
analytical sample. Or collect isolated ammonia with a boric acid solution and measure
ammonium ion by (neutralization) titration using 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to obtain the total
nitrogen (T-N) in an analytical sample. This test method corresponds to the sulfuric acid
method in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 8.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution(1): Transfer about 30 mL of water to
a polyethylene bottle, dissolve about 35 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576
by adding in small portions while cooling, seal tightly and leave at rest for 4-5 days.
Transfer 5.5 mL -11 mL of the supernatant to a ground-in stoppered storage container,
and add 1000 mL of water.
Standardization: Dry sulfamic acid reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 by leaving at rest in a desiccator at no more than 2 kPa for about
48 hours, then transfer about 2.5 g to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask,
and add water up to the marked line.(1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution
to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of bromothymol blue solution
(0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator, and titrate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium
hydroxide solution until the color of the solution becomes green. Calculate the factor of
a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution by the following formula:

Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (f1)

= (W1 × A × 0.01/97.095) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C1)

W1: Mass (g) of sulfamic acid sampled

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of sulfamic acid
V1: Volume (mL) of sulfamic acid solution transferred
V2: Constant volume (250 mL) of sulfamic acid solution
V3: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution

b) Sulfuric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of

equivalent quality.
c) 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid(1) (2): Add about 14 mL of sulfuric acid to a beaker containing
100 mL of water in advance, stir well, and add water to make 1000 mL.

38
 Standardization: Transfer a predetermined amount (3) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to a
200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue
mixture solution, and titrate with a 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
until the color of the solution becomes gray-green.(4) Calculate the volume of a 0.1
mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid by the following formula (1). Or, calculate the factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid by
the following formula (2):

Volume (B) of 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL
of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
= V4/V5 …… (1)

Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (f2)

= (f1 × C1 × V4/V5)/(C2 × 2) …… (2)

V4: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
V5: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid subjected to standardization
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
C2: Set concentration (0.25 mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid

d) Boric acid solution (40 g/L): Dissolve 40 g of boric acid specified in JIS K 8863 in
water to make 1000 mL.
e) Catalyst (5): Mix potassium sulfate specified in JIS K 8962 and copper (II) sulfate
pentahydrate (6) specified in JIS K 8983 in the ratio of 9 to 1.
f) Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L) (1): Dissolve 100 g - 250 g of sodium
hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576 in water to make 500 mL.
g) Bromothymol blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of bromothymol blue
specified in JIS K 8842 in 20 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102, and add water
to make 100 mL.
h) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
i) Methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methylene blue specified in
JIS K 8897 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
j) Methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution: To 2 volumes of methyl red solution
(0.1 g/100 mL), add 1 volume of methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL).
k) Bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.5 g of bromocresol green
specified in JIS K 8840 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
l) Methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution: To a methyl red solution (0.1
g/100 mL), add equal volume of bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) This corresponds to the standard sulfuric acid solution 0.5 M (1/2 sulfuric acid)
solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(3) 5 mL -10 mL
(4) The endpoint is reached when the color becomes gray-green via dark blue from
blue-purple.
(5) A tablet is commercially available.
(6) Crush into powder as appropriate.

39
 Comment 1 A 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution in (2) a) can be replaced
with a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution or a 0.2 mol/L sodium
hydroxide solution conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.
Comment 2 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid in (2) c) can be replaced with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below.
a) Steam distillation apparatus
b) Digestion flask: Kjeldahl flask
c) Distillation flask: A Kjeldahl flask or round bottom flask that can be connected to a
steam distillation apparatus.
(4) Test procedures
(4.1) Kjeldahl method: Conduct digestion as shown below.
a) Weigh 0.5 g - 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 300-mL -
500-mL digestion flask.
b) Add 5 g - 10 g of catalyst, and further add 20 mL - 40 mL of sulfuric acid, shake to mix
(7)
and heat gently.
c) After bubbles cease to form, heat until white smoke of sulfuric acid evolves.
d) Ignite until organic matters are completely digested (8).
e) After standing to cool, add a small amount of water, mix well by shaking, transfer to a
250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask with water(9), and further mix by shaking.
f) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line to make the digestion solution.

Note (7) Leaving at rest overnight is preferable.

(8) When the solution has finished changing color, heat further for no less than 2
hours.
(9) When the entire sample solution volume is used in measurement, it is not
necessary to transfer it to a volumetric flask.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as that in (4.1) a) - f) in 4.2.1.a.

Comment 4 In the case of fish meal containing amino acids that are not easily digested,
use 0.5 g -1 g analytical sample, 10 g catalyst and 30 mL - 40 mL sulfuric
acid.
Comment 5 In the case of nitrolime, moisten by adding a small amount of water before
the procedure in (4.1) b). Care should be taken because bubbles are produced
by the addition of sulfuric acid.

(4.2) Distillation: Conduct distillation as shown below. Specific distillation procedures are
according to the operation method of the steam distillation apparatus used in
measurement.
a) Transfer a predetermined amount (10) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to an acceptor (11), add a
few drops of methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to
a steam distillation apparatus. Or, transfer a predetermined amount (10) of boric acid
solution (40 g/L) to an acceptor (11), add a few drops of methyl red - bromocresol green
mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to a steam distillation apparatus.
b) Transfer a predetermined amount of the digestion solution to a 300-mL distillation flask,
add a proper amount of sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L) (12), and
immediately connect this distillation flask to the steam distillation apparatus.
c) Send steam to the distillation flask to heat the solution in the distillation flask, and distill
at a distillation rate of 5 mL/min - 7 mL/min.
d) Stop distilling when the distillate has reached 120 mL - 160 mL.
40
 e) Wash the part of the steam distillation apparatus that came in contact with the solution
in the acceptor with a small amount of water, and pool the washing with the distillate.
Note (10) 5 mL - 20 mL
(11) As an acceptor, use a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask or a 200-mL -
300-mL beaker with which the distillate outlet of the steam distillation
apparatus can be immersed in 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid or a boric acid solution
(40 g/L).
(12) An amount sufficient to make the solution strong alkalinity. A blue color will
appear.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

(4.3.1) When 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid is used in (4.2):
a) Titrate the distillate with 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the
color of the solution becomes gray-green (4).
b) Calculate the total nitrogen (T-N) in the analytical sample by the following formula:

Total nitrogen (T-N) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (V8/V9) × (14.007/W3) × (100/1000)
= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (V8/V9) × (1.4007/W3)

B: Volume of 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1

mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V6: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid transferred to the acceptor in (4.2)
a)
V7: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
f1: Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
V8: Predetermined volume (mL) of the digestion solution in (4.1) e)
V9: Transferred amount (mL) of the digestion solution subjected to distillation in
(4.2) b)
W3: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

(4.3.2) When a boric acid solution (40 g/L) is used in (4.2):

a) Titrate the distillate with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid until the color of the solution becomes
light red (13).
b) Calculate the total nitrogen (T-N) in the analytical sample by the following formula:

Total nitrogen (T-N) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

= V10 × C2×2× f2 × (V11/V12) × (14.007/W2) × (100/1000)
= V10 × C2 × f2 × (V11/V12) × (2.8014/W2)

V10: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid needed for titration
C2: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
f2: Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V11: Predetermined volume (mL) of the digestion solution in (4.1) e)
V12: Transferred amount (mL) of the digestion solution subjected to distillation in
(4.2) b)
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

Note (13) The endpoint is reached when the color changes from green to light red.
41
Comment 6 The titration procedures in (2) a) Standardization, (2) c) Standardization
and (4.3) can be conducted by an automatic titrator. The setup of the titration
program, the determination parameter for the endpoint and vessels such as
acceptors are according to the specification and the operation method of the
automatic titrator used.
Comment 7 The nitrogen content in the analytical sample can be measured by using an
automatic nitrogen analyzer (Kjeldahl method) instead of the test procedure
in (4). The setup of the program and the parameter of the analyzer as well as
vessels etc. are according to the specification and the operation method of the
automatic nitrogen analyzer used. However, conduct in advance a
comparative test with the test procedure in (4) using fertilizers containing no
nitrate nitrogen, to confirm that there is no difference in the quantitation value
of total nitrogen.
Comment 8 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation
sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 10 % -
20 % (mass fraction) and 1 % - 5 % (mass fraction ) are 98.5 % - 100.6 %
and 97.1%-99.2 % as total nitrogen (T-N) respectively.
The results of the collaborative study (limited to reported values with the
Kjeldahl method) to determine a certified reference material fertilizer were
analyzed by using a three level nesting analysis of variance. Table 1 shows
the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate precision and
repeatability.
Table 2 shows results (limited to reported values by the Kjeldahl method)
from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples (proficiency testing and
external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality
Assurance Committee analyzed using the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.2 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers, and 0.02 % (mass fraction) for fluid
fertilizers.

Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatabllity Intermediate precision Reproducibility
2) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)
certified reference laboratory Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T) sR RSD R
1) 3) 3) 3) 3)
material fertilizer p (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
FAMIC-A-10 11 14.68 0.07 0.5 0.07 0.5 0.13 0.9
1）　The number of laboaratories used 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
for analysis conducting Kjeldahl method
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Mass fraction 8）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability standard deviation 9）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

42
 Table 2 Results and analysis results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for total nitrogen hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
Median 4) 5)
2) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample Number of laboratories (Μ )
3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
High analysis
2006 158 14.60 0.13 0.9
compound fertilizer
Organic compound
2007 145 8.74 0.07 0.8
fertilizer
High analysis
2010 132 14.11 0.11 0.8
compound fertilizer
Organic compound
2014 113 9.13 0.01 1.2
fertilizer
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSDrob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR/M ) × 100

References
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 27 - 31, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Society for the Study of Feed Analysis Standards: Methods of Analysis of Feeds and
Feed Additives-2009-I, p. 28 - 33, Incorporated Administrative Agency Food and
Agricultural Materials Inspection Center, Saitama (2009)
3) Takashi KUBOTA, Tomoko OSHIDA, Kozue YANAI, Yuzuru INOUE, Seiji MATSUI,
Takaharu MATSUMOTO, Eiichi ISHIKURO and Akemi YASUI: Improvement of the
Conditions for the Determination of Total Nitrogen in Fish Meal in Kjeldahl Method
and Its Comparison with Dumas Method, Bunsekikagaku, p. 60, p. 67 - 74 (2011)
4) Kimie KATO, Masaki CHIDA and Erina WATANABE: Verification of Performance
Characteristics of Testing Method for Total Nitrogen Content in Fertilizer by Kjeldahl
method, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol. 5, p. 156 – 166 (2012)

43
(5) Flow sheet for total nitrogen: The flow sheet for total nitrogen in fertilizers is shown
below.

0.5 g - 5 g
Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 300-mL digestion flask.
analytical sample
← 5 g - 10 g catalyst
←20 mL - 40 mL sulfuric acid
Heating Gently

After foam no longer evolves, ignite

Heating
until organic matters are completely digested.

Standing to cool
← small amount of water
Transfer 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask, water

Standing to cool Room temperature

← Water (up to the marked line)
Aliquot 300-mL distillation flask
(predetermined volume)
← Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L)
Receiver: 200-mL - 300 - mL Erlenmeyer flask or beaker
A predetermined amount of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and
Steam distillation
a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue mixture solution,
apparatus
or boric acid solution (40 g/L), several drops of
methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution

Steam distillation Distillation rate: 5 mL/min -7 mL/min

Stop distilling 120 mL – 160 mL distillate

←　Water (wash the part of the distillation apparatus
that came in contact with the solution in the receiver)
0.1 mol/L-0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (until the
Titration solution becomes gray-green), or
0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (until the solution becomes light red)

Figure Flow sheet (example) for total nitrogen in fertilizers.

44
4.1.1.b Combustion method
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers.
Thermally decompose nitrogen compounds in an analytical sample using a total nitrogen
analyzer by the combustion method to produce nitrogen gas and nitroxide gas. Reduce the
nitroxide gas to nitrogen, and measure the nitrogen gas content with a thermal conductivity
detector to obtain the total nitrogen (T-N) in an analytical sample. This test method is also
referred to as a modified Dumas’ method. In addition, the performance of this testing method
is shown in Comment 4.

(2) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Total nitrogen analyzer by the combustion method: A total nitrogen analyzer
configured on the basis of the principle of the combustion method (modified Dumas’
method).
1) Turn on the total nitrogen analyzer by the combustion method (1), and adjust so that
stable indicated values can be obtained.
(i) Combustion gas: Oxygen having purity no less than 99.99 % (volume percentage)
(ii) Carrier gas: Helium having purity no less than 99.99 % (volume percentage)

(3) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below. However, confirm in advance

using an analytical sample that there is no difference from the measured value of total
nitrogen obtained according to 4.1.1.a, 4.1.1.c, 4.1.1.d or 4.1.1.e.
a) Measurement conditions for the total nitrogen analyzer by the combustion
method: Set up the measurement conditions for the total nitrogen analyzer considering
the following:
Combustion temperature: No less than 870 ºC
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Turn on the total nitrogen analyzer by the combustion method (1), and adjust so that
stable indicated values can be obtained.
2) Weigh a predetermined amount of the standard for calibration curves (2) to the order
of 0.1 mg into a combustion vessel.
3) Insert the combustion vessel into the total nitrogen analyzer by the combustion
method, and read the indicated value.
4) Conduct the procedure in 3) for another combustion vessel for a blank test, and read
the indicated value.
5) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the nitrogen content and the indicated
value of the standard for calibration curves and the blank test for calibration curves.
c) Sample measurement
1) Weigh a predetermined amount of an analytical sample to the order of 0.1 mg into a
combustion vessel.
2) Insert the combustion vessel containing the analytical sample to the total nitrogen
analyzer by the combustion method, and read the indicated value.
3) Obtain the nitrogen content from the calibration curve, and calculate total nitrogen in
the analytical sample.

Note (1) The setup of the program and the parameter of the analyzer are according to the
specification and the operation method of the total nitrogen analyzer by the
combustion method used.
(2) Standard for calibration curves: DL-Aspartic acid (purity no less than 99 %
(mass fraction)), EDTA (purity no less than 99 % (mass fraction)), hippuric acid
(purity no less than 98 % (mass fraction)) or other reagents having equivalent
45
 purity recommended by the total nitrogen analyzer by the combustion method
used.

Comment 1 Sample an analytical sample from a test sample prepared in 2.3.3 Grinding
(3.1) by grinding with a mill until it completely passes through a sieve of 500
µm aperture or from a test sample prepared in 2.3.3 Grinding Comment 1.
Additionally, the sampling amount of an analytical sample is as shown in
Table 1. In addition, set the sampling amount of analytical samples
considering the estimated content of total nitrogen in the test sample and the
measurement range of the total nitrogen analyzer by the combustion method.

Table 1 Sampling amount of analytical samples

Type of fertilizers Sampling amount (g)
Mixed fertilizers and designated blended fertilizers 0.02 - 0.5
Organic fertilizers and compost 0.05 - 0.5
Sludge fertilizers 0.05 - 0.5

Comment 2 Compound fertilizers, designated blended fertilizers and nitrolime may have
high contents of phosphoric acid (P2O5), alkali metals (Na, K), alkaline earth
metals (Ca, Mg), etc., causing contamination of packing or damage in quartz
parts, etc. To avoid their influences, it is recommended to add tungsten oxide
(elemental analysis reagent or heat-treated reagent) to completely cover the
analytical sample.

Comment 3 When a sample with a low content of organic compounds, such as mixed
fertilizers and designated blended fertilizers etc., and thus with low
combustion efficiency is measured, it is recommended to add sucrose to the
analytical sample so that the carbon content will be comparable to the
standard for calibration curves. Additionally, confirm in advance that sucrose
to be used has a nitrogen content that does not affect the measured value of
total nitrogen of the analytical sample.
Comment 4 Table 2, in order to evaluate trueness, shows the results of the comparison of
measurement values by the Combustion method and the Kjeldahl method
with sludge fertilizers, organic fertilizers, and inorganic fertilizers, etc.
Additionally, Table 3 shows results and analysis results from a collaborative
study for test method validation.
Table 4 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed using the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.01 % (mass fraction) for fluid fertilizers for home gardening, and 0.05 %
(mass fraction) for the other fertilizers.

46
 Table 2　　Analysis results of comparison test results between methods
Symbol of measurement value Sample Range of Regression coefficient Correlation
Kjaeldahl Combustion Kind Number of y i - y k (y ＝ a ＋bx ) coefficient
1) 2) 3)
method method samples (%) a b r
4)
xi yi Sludge fertilizers 81 0.31～8.35 -0.006 1.018 0.999
5)
xj yj Organic fertilizers, etc. 31 1.10～12.90 0.009 1.012 1.000
6)
xk yk Inorganic fertilizers, etc. 36 0.60～46.35 0.000 1.004 1.000
1）　4.1.1.a Kjeldahl method
2）　4.1.1.b Combustion method
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Sewage sludge fertilizers, Human waste sludge fertilizers, Industrial sludge fertilizers,
Calcined sludge fertilizers, Composted sludge fertilizers
5）　Fish meal, Byproduct organic fertilizer of vegetable origin, Compost, Crustose fertilizer meal,
Rape seed meal and powdered rape seed meal, etc.
6）　Nitrogenous fertilizers, Compound fertilizers, Blended fertilizers, Fluid fertilizers

Table 3 Analysis results of results from a collaborative study

for the validation of the total nitrogen test method.
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
Number of Mean sr RSD r sR RSD R
Sample name 1)
laboratories 3) 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Compound fertilizer (containing nitrate
11 9.32 0.07 0.8 0.25 2.7
nitrogen)

Compound fertilizer (containing urea) 11 18.34 0.06 0.3 0.45 2.5

Designated blended fertilizer (containing

12 14.06 0.12 0.9 0.42 3.0
organic fertilizer)

Nitrolime 8 19.96 0.07 0.4 0.17 0.8

Fish meal 10 8.34 0.04 0.4 0.10 1.3

Steamed wool waste 11 13.42 0.10 0.7 0.26 2.0

Rape seed meal and powdered rape seed
11 6.21 0.07 1.1 0.25 4.0
meal
Composted sludge fertilizer A 13 6.20 0.02 0.3 0.09 1.4

Composted sludge fertilizer B 12 2.36 0.01 0.6 0.04 1.8

Human waste sludge fertilizer 11 4.44 0.02 0.4 0.06 1.3

Industrial sludge fertilizer 11 8.06 0.03 0.4 0.07 0.9

Calcined sludge fertilizer 13 0.80 0.02 2.8 0.03 4.3

1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n= number of laboratories x number of samples (2))
3) Mass fraction
4) Repeatability standard deviation
5) Repeatability relative standard deviation
6) Reproducibility standard deviation
7) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

47
 Table 4 Results and analysis results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for total nitrogen hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
Median 4) 5)
Number of 2) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample (Μ )
laboratories 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
2015 Fluid mixed fertilizer 12 6.63 0.05 0.8
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR/M ) × 100

References
1) Mariko AIZAWA, Yasushi SUGIMURA, Yuichi TAKAHASHI, Jun OKI, Yukio
FUKUCHI, Yuji SHIRAI and Norio HIKICHI: Validation of a Combustion Method for
Determination of Total Nitrogen Content in Sludge Fertilizer. Research Report of
Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 12 - 17, (2008)
2) Mariko AIZAWA and Yuji SHIRAI: Determination of Total Nitrogen content in Sludge
Fertilizer by a Combustion Method: A Collaborative Study. Research Report of
Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 18 - 24, (2008)
3) Mariko AIZAWA and Yuji SHIRAI: Validation of a Combustion Method for
Determination of Total Nitrogen Content in Organic Fertilizer. Research Report of
Fertilizer Vol.2, p. 6 - 11, (2009)
4) Mariko AIZAWA and Yuji SHIRAI: Validation of a Combustion Method for
Determination of Total Nitrogen Content in Inorganic Fertilizer. Research Report of
Fertilizer Vol.3, p. 1 - 10, (2010)
5) Mariko AIZAWA, Yuko SEKINE and Yuji SHIRAI: Determination of Total Nitrogen
Content in Fertilizer by a Combustion Method: A Collaborative Study. Research Report
of Fertilizer Vol.3, p. 11 - 18, (2010)
6) Kazumi UCHIYAMA and Yoshio MAEBASHI: Effective Analysis of Organic Trace
Element, p. 99, Mimizuku-sha, Tokyo (2008)

(4) Flow sheet for total nitrogen: The flow sheet for total nitrogen in fertilizers is shown
below:

Analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a combustion vessel

Measurement Total nitrogen analyzer by the combustion method

Figure Flow sheet for total nitrogen in fertilizers by the combustion method.

48
 Reference: Chromatograms of the standard for calibration curves and an analytical sample
are shown below:

1) Standard for calibration curves (DL-aspartic acid)

2) Analytical sample (sludge fertilizer)

Reference figures Chromatograms of total nitrogen.

Measurement conditions for total nitrogen analyzer by the combustion method

Combustion gas: Highly pure oxygen, purity no less than 99.9999 % (volume fraction),
flow rate 200 mL/min
Carrier gas: Highly pure helium, purity no less than 99.9999 % (volume fraction), flow rate
80 mL/min
Separation column: A silica gel stainless column
Detector: Thermal conductivity detector (TCD)
Measurement cycle: Purge time = 60 seconds, circulation combustion time = 200 seconds,
measurement time = 100 seconds
Current value of Detector: 160 mA
Temperature conditions: Reaction furnace temperature: 870 ºC
Reduction furnace temperature: 600 ºC
Column oven temperature: 70 ºC
Detector temperature: 100 ºC
49
4.1.1.c Devarda’s alloy - Kjeldahl method
(1) Summary
The method is applicable to the fertilizers that contain nitrate nitrogen (N-N) and guarantee
total nitrogen.
Add hydrochloric acid (1+1) and tin (II) chloride dihydrate to an analytical sample and further
add devarda’s alloy to reduce nitrate nitrogen (N-N), and then add sulfuric acid (1+1), pretreat
by Kjeldahl method to change total nitrogen (T-N) to ammonium ion and add sodium
hydroxide to subject to steam distillation. Collect isolated ammonia with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid and measure surplus sulfuric acid by (neutralization) titration using a 0.1 mol/L – 0.2
mol/L sodium hydroxide solution to obtain the total nitrogen (T-N) in an analytical sample. Or
collect isolated ammonia with a boric acid solution and measure ammonium ion by
(neutralization) titration using 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to obtain the total nitrogen (T-N) in an
analytical sample. This test method corresponds to the devarda’s alloy - sulfuric acid method
in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992). The performance of this testing
method is shown in Comment 4.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) 0.1mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution(1): Transfer about 30 mL of water to
a polyethylene bottle, dissolve about 35 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576
by adding in small portions while cooling, seal tightly and leave at rest for 4 - 5 days.
Transfer 5.5 mL - 11 mL of the supernatant to a ground-in stoppered storage container,
and add 1000 mL of water.
Standardization: Dry sulfamic acid reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 by leaving at rest in a desiccator at no more than 2 kPa for about
48 hours, then transfer about 2.5 g to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask,
and add water up to the marked line (1). Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution
to a 200-mL - to 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of bromothymol blue
solution (0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator, and titrate with 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium
hydroxide solution until the color of the solution becomes green. Calculate the factor of
a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution by the following formula:

Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (f1)

= (W1 × A × 0.01/97.095) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C1)

W1: Mass (g) of sulfamic acid sampled

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of sulfamic acid
V1: Volume (mL) of sulfamic acid solution transferred
V2: Constant volume (250 mL) of sulfamic acid solution
V3: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L-0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution

b) Sulfuric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of

equivalent quality.
c) 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid(1) (2): Add about 14 mL of sulfuric acid to a beaker containing
100 mL of water added in advance, stir well, and add water to make 1000 mL.
Standardization: Transfer a predetermined amount (3) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to a
200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue
mixture solution, and titrate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
50
 until the color of the solution becomes gray-green(4). Calculate the volume of a 0.1
mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to1 mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid, by the following formula (1). Or, calculate the factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
by the following formula (2):

Volume (B) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL
of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
= V4/V5 ………. (1)

Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (f2)

= (f1 × C1 × V4/V5) / (C2 × 2) ……….. (2)

V4: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
V5: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid subjected to standardization
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
C2: Set concentration (0.25 mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid

d) Boric acid solution (40 g/L): Dissolve 40 g of boric acid specified in JIS K 8863 in
water to make 1000 mL.
e) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
f) Tin (II) chloride dihydrate: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8136 or a
reagent of mercury analysis grade or equivalent quality.
g) Devarda’s alloy: A reagent of nitrogen analysis grade specified in JIS K 8653 or a
reagent of equivalent quality.
h) Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L)(1): Dissolve 100 g - 250 g of sodium
hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576 in water to make 500 mL.
i) Bromothymol blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of bromothymol blue
specified in JIS K 8842 in 20 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102, add water to
make 100 mL.
j) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
k) Methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methylene blue specified in
JIS K 8897 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
l) Methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution: To 2 volumes of a methyl red solution
(0.1 g/100 mL), add 1 volume of a methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL).
m) Bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.5 g of bromocresol green
specified in JIS K 8840 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
n) Methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution: To a methyl red solution (0.1
g/100 mL), add equal volume of a bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) This corresponds to the standard sulfuric acid solution 0.5 M (1/2 sulfuric acid)
solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(3) 5 mL - 10 mL
(4) The endpoint is reached when the color becomes gray-green via dark blue from
blue-purple.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) Steam distillation apparatus
51
 b) Digestion flask: Kjeldahl flask
c) Distillation flask: A Kjeldahl flask or round bottom flask that can be connected to a
steam distillation apparatus.

Comment 1 A 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution in (2) a) can be replaced
with a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution or a 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.
Comment 2 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid in (2) c) can be replaced with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Reduction and Kjeldahl method: Conduct reduction and digestion as shown below:
a) Weigh 0.5 g - 1 g (no more than the equivalents of N-N 50 mg) of an analytical sample
to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 300-mL- 500-mL digestion flask (5)
b) Add 60 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+1) and 2 g of tin (II) chloride dihydrate, and shake
to mix and leave at rest for about 20 minutes.
c) Add 3.5 g of devarda’s alloy and leave at rest for about 40 minutes while sometimes
shaking to mix.
d) Add 70 mL of sulfuric acid (1+1) and one boiling stone as necessary, and heat at low
temperature (6).
e) As soon as white smoke start evolving, strengthen heating gradually and further
continue heating for about 90 minutes.
f) After standing to cool, add 100 mL - 200 mL of water, mix well by shaking, transfer to a
250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask with water, and further mix by shaking (7).
g) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line to make the digestion solution.

Note (5) In the case of direct distillation, a 500-mL Kjeldahl flask connectable to a steam
distillation apparatus is preferable.
(6) If the bubbles foam strongly and excessively, suspend heating for a little while.
(7) It is not necessary to fill up if a whole sample solution is used for the
measurement.

(4.2) Distillation: Conduct distillation as shown below. Specific distillation procedures are
according to the operation method of the steam distillation apparatus used in
measurement.
a) Transfer a predetermined amount(8) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to an acceptor(9), add a
few drops of methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to
a steam distillation apparatus. Or, transfer a predetermined amount(8) of boric acid
solution (40 g/L) to an acceptor(9), add a few drops of methyl red - bromocresol green
mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to a steam distillation apparatus.
b) Transfer a predetermined amount of the digestion solution to a 300-mL distillation flask,
add a proper amount of sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L – 500 g/L) (10), and
immediately connect this distillation flask to the steam distillation apparatus.
c) Send steam to the distillation flask to heat the solution in the distillation flask, and distill
at a distillation rate of 5 mL/min - 7 mL/min.
d) Stop distilling when the distillate reaches 120 mL - 160 mL.
e) Wash the part of the steam distillation apparatus that came in contact with the solution
in the acceptor with a small amount of water, and pool the washing with the distillate.

Note (8) 5 mL - 20 mL

52
 (9) As an acceptor, use a 200-mL - 300mL Erlenmeyer flask or a 200-mL - 300-mL
beaker with which the distillate outlet of the steam distillation apparatus can be
immersed in 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid or a boric acid solution (40 g/L).
(10) A sufficient amount to make the solution strong alkalinity. A blue color will
appear.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

(4.3.1) When 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid is used in (4.2),
a) Titrate the distillate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the
color of the solution becomes gray-green (4).
b) Calculate the total nitrogen (T-N) in the analytical sample by the following formula:

Total nitrogen (T-N) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (V8/V9) × (14.007/W2) × (100/1000)
= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (V8/V9) × (1.4007/W2)

B: Volume of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1

mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V6: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid transferred to the acceptor in (4.2)
a)
V7: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
f1: Factor of 0.1 mol/L-0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
V8: Predetermined volume (mL) of the digestion solution in (4.1) g)
V9: Transferred amount (mL) of the digestion solution subjected to distillation in
(4.2) b)
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

(4.3.2) When a boric acid solution (40 g/L) is used in (4.2),

a) Titrate the distillate with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid until the color of the solution becomes
light red (11).
b) Calculate the total nitrogen (T-N) in the analytical sample by the following formula:

Total nitrogen (T-N) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

= V10 × C2 × 2×f2 × (V11/V12) × (14.007/W3) × (100/1000)
= V10 × C2 × f2 × (V11/V12) × (2.8014/W3)

V10: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid needed for titration
C2: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
f2: Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V11: Predetermined volume (mL) of the digestion solution in (4.1) g)
V12: Transferred amount (mL) of the digestion solution subjected to distillation in
(4.2) b)
W3: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

Note (11) The endpoint is reached when the color changes from green to light red.

Comment 3 The titration procedures in (2) a) Standardization, (2) c) Standardization

and (4.3) can be conducted by an automatic titrator. The setup of the titration
program, the determination parameter for the endpoint and vessels such as
53
 acceptors are according to the specification and the operation method of the
automatic titrator used.
Comment 4 Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for total nitrogen hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
Median 4) 5)
Number of 2) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample (Μ )
laboratories 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
2015 Fluid mixed fertilizer 65 6.45 0.18 2.8
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR/M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 31-33, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

54
(5) Flow sheet for total nitrogen: The flow sheet for total nitrogen in fertilizers is shown
below:

0.5 g – 1 g
analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 300-mL - 500-mL digestion flask.
← 60 mL of hydrochloric acid　(1+1)
← 2 g of tin (II) chloride dihydrate
Leaving at rest About 20 minutes
←　3.5 g devardar's alloy
Leaving at rest About 40 minutes
← 70 mL sulfuric acid (1+1)
← 1 boiling stone
Heat at low temperature, and as soon as white smoke evolves,
Heating
strengthen heating gradually and further heat for about 90 minutes.

Standing to cool
← 100 mL - 200 mL Water
Transfer 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask, water

Standing to cool Room temperature

←　Water (up to the marked line)
Aliquot 300-mL distillation flask
(predetermined volume)
← Sodium hydroxide (200 g/L - 500 g/L)
Receiver: 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask or beaker
Steam distillation A predetermined amount of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and a few drops of
apparatus methyl red-methylene blue mixture solution, or boric acid solution (40 g/L),
several drops of methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution

Steam distillation Distillation rate: 5 mL/min - 7 mL/min

Stop distilling 120 mL – 160 mL distillate

←　Water (wash the part of the distillation apparatus
that came in contact with the solution in the receiver)
0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the color of the
Titration solution becomes gray-green, or
0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (until the solution becomes light red)

Figure Flow sheet (example) for total nitrogen in fertilizers.

55
4.1.1.d Reduced iron - Kjeldahl method
(1) Summary
The method is applicable to the fertilizers that contain nitrate nitrogen (N-N) and guarantee
total nitrogen.
Add water, reduced iron and sulfuric acid (1+1) to an analytical sample to reduce nitrate
nitrogen (N-N) and heat at low temperature, and then add sulfuric acid and pretreat by
Kjeldahl method to change total nitrogen (T-N) to ammonium ion, and add sodium hydroxide
to subject to steam distillation. Collect isolated ammonia with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and
measure surplus sulfuric acid by (neutralization) titration using a 0.1 mol/L – 0.2 mol/L
sodium hydroxide solution to obtain the total nitrogen (T-N) in an analytical sample. Or
collect isolated ammonia with a boric acid solution and measure ammonium ion by
(neutralization) titration using 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to obtain the total nitrogen (T-N) in an
analytical sample. This test method corresponds to the reduced iron - sulfuric acid method in
the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992). The performance of this testing method
is shown in Comment 4.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution(1): Transfer about 30 mL of water to
a polyethylene bottle, dissolve about 35 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576
by adding in small portions while cooling, seal tightly and leave at rest for 4-5 days.
Transfer 5.5 mL - 11 mL of the supernatant to a ground-in stoppered storage container,
and add 1000 mL of water.
Standardization: Dry sulfamic acid reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 by leaving at rest in a desiccator at no more than 2 kPa for about
48 hours, then transfer about 2.5 g to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask,
and add water up to the marked line.(1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution
to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of bromothymol blue solution
(0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator, and titrate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium
hydroxide solution until the color of the solution becomes green. Calculate the factor of
a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution by the following formula:

Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (f1)

= (W1 × A × 0.01/97.095) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C1)

W1: Mass (g) of sulfamic acid sampled

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of sulfamic acid
V1: Volume (mL) of sulfamic acid solution transferred
V2: Constant volume (250 mL) of sulfamic acid solution
V3: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed
for titration
C1 : Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution

b) Sulfuric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of

equivalent quality.
c) 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid(1) (2): Add about 14 mL of sulfuric acid to a beaker containing
100 mL of water in advance, stir well, and add water to make 1000 mL.
Standardization: Transfer a predetermined amount (3) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to a
200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue
mixture solution, and titrate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
56
 until the color of the solution becomes gray-green.(4) Calculate the volume of a 0.1
mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid by the following formula (1). Or, calculate the factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid by
the following formula (2):

Volume (B) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL
of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
= V4/V5 …… (1)

Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (f2)

= (f1 × C1 × V4/V5)/ (C2 × 2) …… (2)

V4: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
V5: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid subjected to standardization
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution
C2: Set concentration (0.25 mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid

d) Boric acid solution (40 g/L): Dissolve 40 g of boric acid specified in JIS K 8863 in
water to make 1000 mL.
e) Reduced iron: Nitrogen content is no more than 0.005 % (mass fraction)
f) Catalyst (5): Mix potassium sulfate specified in JIS K 8962 and copper (II) sulfate
pentahydrate (6) specified in JIS K 8983 in the ratio of 9 to 1.
g) Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L)(1): Dissolve 100 g - 250 g of sodium
hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576 in water to make 500 mL.
h) Bromothymol blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of bromothymol blue
specified in JIS K 8842 in 20 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102, and add water
to make 100 mL.
i) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
j) Methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methylene blue specified in
JIS K 8897 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
k) Methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution: To 2 volumes of methyl red solution
(0.1 g/100 mL), add 1 volume of a methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL).
l) Bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.5 g of bromocresol green
specified in JIS K 8840 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
m) Methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution: To a methyl red solution (0.1
g/100 mL), add an equal volume of bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) This corresponds to the standard sulfuric acid solution 0.5 M (1/2 sulfuric acid)
solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(3) 5 mL - 10 mL
(4) The endpoint is reached when the color becomes gray-green via dark blue from
blue-purple.
(5) A tablet is commercially available.
(6) Crush into powder as appropriate.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Steam distillation apparatus
57
 b) Digestion flask: Kjeldahl flask
c) Distillation flask: A Kjeldahl flask or a round bottom flask that can be connected to a
steam distillation apparatus.

Comment 1 A 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution in (2) a) can be replaced
with a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution or 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.
Comment 2 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid in (2) c) can be replaced with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Reduction and Kjeldahl method: Conduct reduction and digestion as shown below:
a) Weigh 0.5 g - 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 300-mL -
500-mL digestion flask.
b) Add 30 mL of water and mix well.
c) As soon as 5 g of reduced iron and 30mL of sulfuric acid (1+1) are added, insert a long
stem funnel to a digestion flask and shake to mix gently while cooling the outside of the
container under flowing water(7).
d) Leave at rest for about 5 minutes (8), boil in a low flame for about 15 minutes.
e) After standing to cool, add 5 g - 10 g of catalyst, 30 mL of sulfuric acid and, if
necessary, one boiling stone, heat gradually until water evaporates and white smoke of
sulfuric acid evolves(9).
f) Ignite until it is completely digested (10).
g) After standing to cool, add a small amount of water, mix well by shaking, transfer to a
250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask with water, and further mix by shaking.
h) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line to make the digestion solution.

Note (7) A sudden reaction generates heat, and unreacted nitric acid vaporizes or digests
to make nitrogen oxide etc. through which process losses occur easily. Careful
and efficient operation should be taken
(8) Until a sudden reaction is settled.
(9) If the bubbles foam strongly and excessively, suspend heating for a little while.
(10) After the color of the solution stops changing, heat for no less than 2 hours.

(4.2) Distillation: Conduct distillation as shown below. Specific distillation procedures are
according to the operation method of the steam distillation apparatus used in
measurement.
a) Transfer a predetermined amount (11) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to an acceptor (12), add a
few drops of methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to
a steam distillation apparatus. Or, transfer a predetermined amount (11) of boric acid
solution (40 g/L) to an acceptor (12), add a few drops of methyl red - bromocresol green
mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to a steam distillation apparatus.
b) Transfer a predetermined amount of the digestion solution to a 300-mL distillation flask,
add a proper amount of sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L) (13), and
immediately connect this distillation flask to the steam distillation apparatus.
c) Send steam to the distillation flask to heat the solution in the distillation flask, and distill
at a distillation rate of 5 mL /min - 7 mL /min.
d) Stop distilling when the distillate reaches 120 mL - 160 mL.
e) Wash the part of the steam distillation apparatus that came in contact with the solution
in the acceptor with a small amount of water, and pool the washing with the distillate.
58
 Note (11) 5 mL - 20 mL
(12) As an acceptor, use a 200-mL – 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask or a 200-mL - 300-mL
beaker with which the distillate outlet of the steam distillation apparatus can be
immersed in 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid or boric acid solution (40 g/L).
(13) A sufficient amount to make the solution strong alkalinity. A blue or reddish
brown color will appear.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

(4.3.1) When 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid is used in (4.2),
a) Titrate the distillate with 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the
color of the solution becomes gray-green (4).
b) Calculate the total nitrogen (T-N) in the analytical sample by the following formula:

Total nitrogen (T-N) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (V8/V9) × (14.007/W2) × (100/1000)
= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (V8/V9) × (1.4007/W2)

B: Volume of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1

mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V6: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid transferred to the acceptor in (4.2)
a)
V7: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
f1: Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
V8: Predetermined volume (mL) of the digestion solution in (4.1) e)
V9: Transferred amount (mL) of the digestion solution subjected to distillation in
(4.2) b)
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

(4.3.2) When a boric acid solution (40 g/L) is used in (4.2),

a) Titrate the distillate with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid until the color of the solution becomes
light red (14).
b) Calculate the total nitrogen (T-N) in the analytical sample by the following formula:

Total nitrogen (T-N) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

= V10 × C2 × 2×f2 × (V11/V12) × (14.007/W3) × (100/1000)
= V10 × C2 × f2 × (V11/V12) × (2.8014/W3)

V10: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid needed for titration
C2: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
f2: Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V11: Predetermined volume (mL) of the digestion solution in (4.1) e)
V12: Transferred amount (mL) of the digestion solution subjected to distillation in
(4.2) b)
W3: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

Note (14) The endpoint is reached when the color changes from green to light red.

59
 Comment 3 The titration procedures in (2) a) Standardization, (2) c) Standardization
and (4.3) can be conducted by an automatic titrator. The setup of the titration
program, the determination parameter for the endpoint and vessels such as
acceptors are according to the specification and the operation method of the
automatic titrator used.
Comment 4 Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for total nitrogen hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
Median 4) 5)
Number of 2) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample (Μ )
laboratories 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)

2015 Fluid mixed fertilizer 24 6.62 0.13 2.0

1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR/M ) × 100
Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 33 - 34, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

60
(5) Flow sheet for total nitrogen: The flow sheet for total nitrogen in fertilizers is shown
below:

0.5 g - 1 g
Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 300-mL digestion flask.
analytical sample
← 30 mL water
← 5 g reduced iron
← 30 mL sulfuric acid (1+1)
Immediately insert a long stem funnel to the flask and shake to mix
Mixture
while cooling outside the container with flowing water.

Leaving at rest For about 5 min (Until a sudden reaction is settled.)

Heating Boil in a low flame for about 15 minutes.
Standing to cool
←　5 g - 10 g catalyst
← 30 mL sulfuric acid
Heat gradually until water evaporates and the white smoke
Heating
of sulfuric acid evolves and ignite to digest completely
Standing to cool
←　A small amount of water
Transfer 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask, water
Standing to cool Room temperature
←　Water (up to the marked line)
Aliquot
Distillation flask
(predetermined volume)
← Sodium hydroxide (200 g/L - 500 g/L)
Receiver: 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask or beaker
Steam distillation A predetermined amount of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and a few drops of
apparatus methyl red-methylene blue mixture solution, or boric acid solution (40 g/L),
several drops of methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution
Steam distillation Distillation rate: 5 mL/min - 7 mL/min
Stop distilling 120 mL – 160 mL distillate
←　Water (wash the part of the distillation apparatus
that came in contact with the solution in the receiver)
0.1mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (until the
Titration solution becomes gray-green), or
0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (until the solution becomes light red)

Figure Flow sheet (example) for total nitrogen in fertilizers.

61
4.1.1.e Calculation with ammoniac nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen
(1) Summary
The calculation is applicable to the fertilizers that contain ammoniac nitrogen (A-N) and
nitrate nitrogen (N-N), and that does not contain the fertilizers guaranteeing total nitrogen
(T-N).
Calculate total nitrogen (T-N) by adding the ammoniac nitrogen (A-N) obtained in 4.1.2 to the
nitrate nitrogen (N-N) obtained in 4.1.3.

(2) The calculation of total nitrogen

a) Calculate the total nitrogen (T-N) in the analytical sample by the following formula:

Total nitrogen (T-N) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

= (A-N) + (N-N)

A-N: Ammoniac nitrogen (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample (1) obtained
by 4.1.2
N-N: Nitrate nitrogen (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample (1) obtained by
4.1.3

Note (1) A-N and N-N use raw data without rounding numerical value

62
4.1.2 Ammoniac nitrogen
4.1.2.a Distillation method
(1) Summary
The testing method is applicable to the fertilizers that contain ammonium salt. However, in
some cases, it is not applicable to the fertilizers that contain such compounds as nitrolime that
digests by heating.
Add water to an analytical sample, further add magnesium oxide or a sodium hydroxide
solution to make the solution alkalinity and subject it to steam distillation. Collect isolated
ammonia with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and measure surplus sulfuric acid by (neutralization)
titration using a 0.1 mol/L – 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution to obtain ammoniacal
nitrogen (A-N) in an analytical sample. Or collect isolated ammonia with a boric acid solution
and measure ammonium ion by (neutralization) titration using 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to
obtain ammoniacal nitrogen (A-N) in an analytical sample.
In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 7.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution(1): Transfer about 30 mL of water to
a polyethylene bottle, dissolve about 35 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576
by adding in small portions while cooling, seal tightly and leave at rest for 4 - 5 days.
Transfer 5.5 mL - 11 mL of the supernatant to a ground-in stoppered storage container,
and add 1000 mL of water.
Standardization: Dry sulfamic acid reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 by leaving at rest in a desiccator at no more than 2 kPa for about
48 hours, then transfer about 2.5 g to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask,
and add water up to the marked line.(1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution
to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of bromothymol blue solution
(0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator, and titrate with 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution until the color of the solution becomes green. Calculate the factor of a 0.1
mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution by the following formula:

Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (f1)

= (W1 × A × 0.01/97.095) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C1)

W1: Mass (g) of sulfamic acid sampled

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of sulfamic acid
V1: Volume (mL) of sulfamic acid solution transferred
V2: Constant volume (250 mL) of sulfamic acid solution
V3: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution

b) Magnesium oxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8432 or a reagent of

equivalent quality.
c) Sulfuric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
d) 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid(1) (2): Add about 14 mL of sulfuric acid to a beaker containing
100 mL of water in advance, stir well, and add water to make 1000 mL.
Standardization: Transfer a predetermined amount(3) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to a
200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue

63
 mixture solution, and titrate with 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until
the color of the solution becomes gray-green.(4) Calculate the volume of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2
mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid by the
following formula (1). Or, calculate the factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid by the
following formula (2):

Volume (B) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL
of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
= V4/V5 …….. (1)

Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (f2)

= (f1 × C1 × V4/V5)/ (C2 × 2) …….. (2)

V4: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
V5: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid subjected to standardization
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
C2: Set concentration (0.25 mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid

e) Boric acid solution (40 g/L): Dissolve 40 g of boric acid specified in JIS K 8863 in
water to make 1000 mL.
f) Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L)(1): Dissolve 100 g - 250 g of sodium
hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576 in water to make 500 mL.
g) Bromothymol blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of bromothymol blue
specified in JIS K 8842 in 20 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102, add water to
make 100 mL.
h) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
i) Methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methylene blue specified in
JIS K 8897 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
j) Methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution: To 2 volumes of a methyl red solution
(0.1 g/100 mL), add 1 volume of a methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL).
k) Bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.5 g of bromocresol green
specified in JIS K 8840 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
l) Methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution: To a methyl red solution (0.1
g/100 mL), add an equal volume of bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) This corresponds to the standard sulfuric acid solution 0.5 M (1/2 sulfuric acid)
solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(3) 5 mL - 10 mL
(4) The endpoint is reached when the color becomes gray-green via dark blue from
blue-purple.

Comment 1 A 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution in (2) a) can be replaced
with a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution or a 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.
Comment 2 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid in (2) d) can be replaced with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.

(3) Apparatus and Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

64
 a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate a 500-mL volumetric flask upside down
at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Steam distillation apparatus
c) Distillation flask: A Kjeldahl flask or a round bottom flask that can be connected to a
steam distillation apparatus.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Sample solution preparation: Prepare a sample solution as shown below:
a) Weigh 0.25 g - 2g (5) (the equivalents of 20 mg – 100 mg as N) of an analytical sample
to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 300-mL - 500-mL distillation flask
b) Add about 25 mL of water to make the sample solution.

Note (5) The sampling amount of the analytical sample is 5 g when there is less nitrogen
content in the fertilizers such as a home garden-use fertilizer.

Comment 3 When it is a fertilizer which contains uric ammonium acid, humus acid
ammonium or nitrate nitrogen, etc., or when it is not a fertilizer in which
phosphate, ammonium and magnesium coexist, conduct the procedure in
(4.1) a) - c) in 4.2.4.a and transfer a predetermined amount of suspension (the
equivalents of 20 mg – 100 mg as N) to a 300-mL - 500-mL distillation flask
to make the sample solution.

(4.2) Distillation: Conduct distillation as shown below. Specific distillation procedures are
according to the operation method of the steam distillation apparatus used in
measurement.
a) Transfer a predetermined amount(6) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to an acceptor (7), add a
few drops of methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to
a steam distillation apparatus. Or, transfer a predetermined amount (6) of boric acid
solution (40 g/L) to an acceptor (7), add a few drops of methyl red - bromocresol green
mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to a steam distillation apparatus.
b) Add (9) no less than 2 g of magnesium oxide (8) to the distillation flask, and connect this
distillation flask to a steam distillation apparatus.
c) Send steam to the distillation flask to heat the solution in the distillation flask, and distill
at a distillation rate of 5 mL/min - 7 mL/min.
d) Stop distilling when the distillate reaches 120 mL - 160 mL.
e) Wash the part of the steam distillation apparatus that came in contact with the solution
in the acceptor with a small amount of water, and pool the washing with the distillate.

Note (6) 5 mL - 20 mL
(7) As an acceptor, use a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask or a 200-mL - 300-mL
beaker with which the distillate outlet of the steam distillation apparatus can be
immersed in 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid or boric acid solution (40 g/L).
(8) A sufficient amount to make the solution strong alkalinity.
(9) Add a small amount of silicone oil as necessary.

Comment 4 When the sample does not contain organic matters or urea, add a proper
amount of sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L) (8) instead of
magnesium oxide.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

65
(4.3.1) When 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid is used in (4.2)
a) Titrate the distillate with 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the
color of the solution becomes gray-green (4).
b) Calculate the ammoniac nitrogen (A-N) in the analytical sample by the following
formula:

Ammoniac nitrogen (A-N) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (14.007/W2) × (100/1000)
= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (1.4007/W2)

B: Volume of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1

mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V6: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid transferred to the acceptor in (4.2)
a)
V7: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
f1: Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

(4.3.2) When a boric acid solution (40 g/L) is used in (4.2),

a) Titrate the distillate with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid until the color of the solution
becomes light red (10).
b) Calculate the ammoniac nitrogen (A-N) in the analytical sample by the following
formula:

Ammoniac nitrogen (A-N) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

= V8 × C2 × 2×f2 × (14.007/W3) × (100/1000)
= V10 × C2 × f2 × (2.8014/W3)

V8: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid needed for titration
C2 : Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
f2 : Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
W3: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

Note (10) The endpoint is reached when the color changes from green to light red.

Comment 5 If it is hard to confirm the endpoint due to the carbon dioxide resulting from
carbonate in the extract when magnesium oxide is used, it is recommended to
boil the extract for 1-2 minute(s) after distilling and cool, and then titrate.
Comment 6 The titration procedures in (2) a) Standardization, (2) d) Standardization
and (4.3) can be conducted by an automatic titrator. The setup of the titration
program, the determination parameter for the endpoint and vessels such as
acceptors are according to the specification and the operation method of the
automatic titrator used.
Comment 7 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation
sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 10 % -
21 % (mass fraction) and 1 % (mass fraction ) are 102.2 % - 100.8 % and
102.5 % as ammoniacal nitrogen (A-N) respectively.
The results of the collaborative study (limited to reported values with
Distillation method) to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
66
 were analyzed by using a three level nesting analysis of variance. Table 1
shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate precision and
repeatability.
Table 2 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.1 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers, and 0.01 % (mass fraction) for fluid
fertilizers.

Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
certified referencelaboratory Average2) sr
4)
RSD r
5) 6)
s I(T) RSD I(T)
7)
sR
8)
RSD R
9)

1) 3) 3) 3) 3)
material fertilizer p (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
FAMIC-B-10 11 8.38 0.09 1.0 0.11 1.3 0.15 1.8
FAMIC-B-14 11 8.06 0.03 0.4 0.05 0.6 0.07 0.9
1）　The number of laboaratories used 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
for analysis conducting Distillation method
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Mass fraction 8）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability standard deviation 9）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

67
 Table　2 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
for ammonium-nitrogen hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
Median 4) 5)
Number of 2) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample (Μ )
laboratories 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
Organic compound
2007 143 6.20 0.09 1.4
fertilizer
High analysis
2008 147 12.56 0.16 1.2
compound fertilizer
Ordinary compound
2009 138 5.56 0.07 1.3
fertilizer
High analysis
2011 130 13.50 0.17 1.3
compound fertilizer
2012 Fluid mixed fertilizer 120 2.41 0.04 1.8
High analysis
2013 130 9.92 0.75 7.5
compound fertilizer
Organic compound
2014 114 7.99 0.11 1.4
fertilizer
2015 Fluid mixed fertilizer 25 2.32 0.09 3.8
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR/M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 36 - 37, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Kimie KATO, Masaki CHIDA and Erina WATANABE: Verification of Performance
Characteristics of Testing Method for Ammonia Nitrogen Content in Fertilizer by
Distillation Method, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol. 6, p. 130 – 138 (2013)

68
(5) Flow sheet for ammoniac nitrogen: The flow sheet for ammoniac nitrogen in fertilizers
is shown below.

0.25 g - 2 g Weigh the equivalents of 20 mg – 100 mg as N

analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 300-mL distillation flask
← About 25 mL water
← Magnesium oxide no less than 2 g to a distillation flask
← A small amount of defoaming agent as necessary
Receiver: 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask or beaker
Steam distillation A predetermined amount of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and a few drops of
apparatus methyl red-methylene blue mixture solution, or boric acid solution (40 g/L),
several drops of methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution
Steam distillation Distillation rate: 5 mL/min - 7 mL/min
Stop distilling 120 mL – 160 mL distillate
←　Water (wash the part of the distillation apparatus
that came in contact with the solution in the receiver)
0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (until the
Titration solution becomes gray-green), or
0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (until the solution becomes light red)

Figure Flow sheet (example) for ammoniac nitrogen in fertilizers.

69
4.1.2.b Formaldehyde method
(1) Summary
The testing method is applicable to the fertilizers which do not contain a large amount of flora
and fauna sample.
After adding water or hydrochloric acid (1+20) to an analytical sample to extract ammonium
ion, add an aluminum chloride solution, drop a potassium hydroxide solution and precipitate
phosphate and excessive aluminum to make the sample solution. Adjust the sample solution to
slight acidity, add a formaldehyde solution and measure ammonium ion by complexometric
titration with 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution to obtain the ammoniacal
nitrogen (A-N) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is
shown in Comment 8.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution(1): Transfer about 30 mL of water to
a polyethylene bottle, dissolve about 35 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576
by adding in small portions while cooling, seal tightly and leave at rest for 4 - 5 days.
Transfer 5.5 mL - 11 mL of the supernatant to a ground-in stoppered storage container,
and add 1000 mL of water.
Standardization: Dry sulfamic acid reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 by leaving it at rest in a desiccator at no more than 2 kPa for
about 48 hours, then transfer about 2.5 g to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to
the order of 0.1 mg. Dissolve this in a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL
volumetric flask, and add water up to the marked line (1). Transfer a predetermined
amount of the solution to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of
bromothymol blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator, and titrate with 0.1 mol/L -
0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the color of the solution becomes green.
Calculate the factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution by the
following formula:

Factor of 0.1mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (f)

= (W 1× A × 0.01/97.095) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C)

W1:Mass (g) of sulfamic acid sampled

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of sulfamic acid
V1:Volume (mL) of sulfamic acid solution transferred
V2:Constant volume (250 mL) of sulfamic acid solution
V3:Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution

b) Potassium chloride solution (1 mol/L) (1): Dissolve 75 g of potassium chloride

specified in JIS K 8121 in water to make 1000 mL.
c) Aluminum chloride solution (1 mol/L) (1): Dissolve 240 g of aluminum chloride
specified in JIS K 8114 in water to make 1000 mL.
d) Potassium hydroxide solution (170 g/L) (1): Dissolve 170 g of potassium hydroxide in
water to make 1000 mL.
e) Formaldehyde solution: Add one volume of water to one volume of the 36 % (mass
fraction) – 38 % (mass fraction) formaldehyde specified in JIS K 8872.
f) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.

70
 g) Bromothymol blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of bromothymol blue
specified in JIS K 8842 in 20 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102, add water to
make 100 mL.
h) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
i) Thymol blue solution (1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 1 g of thymol blue (sodium salt) in 20
mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation. Prepare necessary amount of solution.

Comment 1 A 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution in (2) a) can be replaced
with a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution or a 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.

Comment 2 Thymol blue can be dissolved if it is sodium salt. The thymol blue specified
in JIS K 8643 is slightly hard to dissolve in ethanol and hard to dissolve in
water. Therefore add about 2.15 mL of sodium hydroxide solution (0.1 mol/L)
per 0.1 g of thymol blue to neutralize, and then prepare the thymol blue
solution (1 g/100 mL) through the same procedure as (2) i).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate a 500-mL volumetric flask upside
down at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Ammonium salts
a) Weigh 5g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 500-mL
volumetric flask
b) Add 400 mL of water and shake to mix at the rate of 30-40 revolutions/min for about 30
minutes.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) in 4.2.4.a.

(4.1.2) Mixed fertilizers

a) Weigh 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 500-mL
volumetric flask
b) Add about 300 mL of hydrochloric acid (1 + 20) and shake to mix at the rate of 30 - 40
revolutions/min for about 30 minutes.
c) Add an aluminum chloride solution (1 mol/L) (2) to the solution and add a few drops of
methyl red solution (1mol/L) as an indicator. After that, add immediately potassium
hydroxide (170 g/L) while shaking the flask until the color of the solution changes to
light yellow (3).
d) Add water up to the marked line.
e) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (2) Add 3 mL of aluminum chloride per 0.04 g of P or 0.1 g of P2O5 in the sample
solution.
(3) Form precipitate of aluminum hydroxide and aluminum phosphate to separate
the phosphate.
71
 Comment 4 In the procedure of (4.1.1) a) and (4.1.2) a), it is also allowed to weigh 2.5g
of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 250-mL
volumetric flask
Comment 5 When it is not a fertilizer in which phosphate, ammonium and magnesium
coexist, about 400 mL of potassium chloride solution (1 mol/L) can be used
instead of about 300 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+20) in the procedure of
(4.1.2) b).
Comment 6 In the case of the mixed fertilizers containing bentonite, filter with Type 3
filter paper after shaking to mix using about 400 mL of potassium chloride
solution (1 mol/L) according to Comment 5 in (4.1.2) b) and transfer 50 ml -
100 mL to a 250-mL volumetric flask, and then conduct the procedure in
(4.1.2) c) - e).

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer a predetermined volume (up to the equivalents of 50 mg as A-N) of sample
solution to a 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask (4).
b) Add water to the solution to make about 100 mL.
c) Add one or two drop(s) of methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL) and add hydrochloric
acid (1+200) until the color of the solution changes to light pink.
d) Add 10 mL of formaldehyde solution.
e) Add one or two drop(s) of thymol blue solution (1 g/100 mL) and titrate with 0.1 mol/L
- 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the color of the solution changes to blue(5).
f) As a blank test, transfer 100 mL of water to another 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask and
conduct the procedure in c) - e).
g) Calculate the ammoniac nitrogen (A-N) in the analytical sample by the following
formula:

Ammoniac nitrogen (A-N) (% (mass fraction) in the analytical sample

= (VS - VB) × C × f × (V1/V2) × (14.007/W2) × (100/1000)
= (VS - VB) × C × f × (V1/V2) × (1.4007/W2)

VS: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titrate in (4.2) e)
VB: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration of the blank test in (4.2) f）
C: Setting concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution
f: Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
V1 Predetermined volume (mL) of the sample solution in (4.1.1) c) or (4.1.2) d)
V2: Transferred amount (mL) of the sample solution in (4.2) a)
W2: Mass of sample solution (g)

Note (4) The volume to be transferred should be up to 100 mL.

(5) The endpoint is reached when the solution changes from green to blue. It is easy
to observe the change of color under fluorescent light.

Comment 7 The titration procedures in (2) a) Standardization and (4.2) e) - f) can be

conducted by an automatic titrator. The setup of the titration program, the
determination parameter for the endpoint and vessels such as acceptors are

72
 according to the specification and the operation method of the automatic
titrator used.
Comment 8 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation
sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 10 % -
21 % (mass fraction) and 1 % (mass fraction ) are 100.4 % - 101.0 % and
101.0 % as the ammoniacal nitrogen (A-N) respectively.
The results of the collaborative study (limited to reported values by
Formaldehyde method) to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
were analyzed by using a three level nesting analysis of variance. Table 1
shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate precision and
repeatability.
Table 2 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.03 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers, and 0.02 % (mass fraction) for
fluid fertilizers.

Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
2) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)
certified reference laboratory Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T) sR RSD R
1) 3) 3) 3) 3)
material fertilizer p (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
FAMIC-A-10 10 10.66 0.07 0.7 0.09 0.8 0.16 1.5
FAMIC-A-13 9 10.36 0.06 0.5 0.08 0.8 0.21 2.0
1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
conducting Formaldehyde method
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Mass fraction 8）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability standard deviation 9）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

73
 Table 2 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for ammonium-nitrogen hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
Median 4) 5)
Number of 2) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample (Μ )
laboratories 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
High analysis compound
2006 150 14.60 0.10 0.9
fertilizer
High analysis compound
2010 107 11.51 0.17 1.5
fertilizer
2015 Fluid mixed fertilizer 74 2.33 0.07 3.2
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR/M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 39 - 42, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Kimie KATO, Masaki CHIDA and Erina WATANABE: Verification of Performance
Characteristics of Testing Method for Ammonia Nitrogen Content in Fertilizer by
Formaldehyde Method, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 6, p. 139 – 147 (2013)

74
(5) Flow sheet for ammoniac nitrogen: The flow sheet for ammoniac nitrogen in
fertilizers is shown below.

5 g analytical sample
Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 500-mL volumetric flask
(ammonium salts)
← About 400 mL of water
Shaking Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/minute), 30 minutes
5 g analytical sample
Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 500-mL volumetric flask
(compound fertilizer)
←　About 300 mL of hydrochloric acid (1 + 20)
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/minute), 30 minutes
←　Aluminum chloride solution (1 mol/L)
← One or two drop(s) of methyl red
← Potassium hydroxide solution (170 g/L)
(Until the solution changes to light yellow)
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper
Up to the equivalents of 50 mg as A-N
Aliquot
,300-mL Erlenmeyer flask
←　Add water to make about 100 mL of solution
←　One or two drop(s) of methyl red
←　Hydrochloric acid (1+200) [light pink]
←　10 mL of formaldehyde solution
←　One or two drop (s) of thymol blue solution (1 g/100 mL)
0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
Titration
(until the solution becomes blue)

Figure The flow sheet (example) for ammoniac nitrogen in fertilizers is shown below.

75
4.1.3 Nitrate nitrogen
4.1.3.a Devarda’s alloy - distillation method
(1) Summary
The testing method is applicable to fertilizers containing nitrate. However it is not applicable
to fertilizers containing urea, nitrolime and organic matters that digest by heating and isolate
ammonia.
Add water to an analytical sample to dissolve ammoniacal nitrogen (A-N) and nitrate nitrogen
(N-N), and further add devarda’s alloy and sodium hydroxide to subject it to steam distillation.
In this process, nitrate nitrogen (N-N) is reduced to ammonia. And further add a sodium
hydroxide solution to distillate. Collect isolated ammonia with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and
measure surplus sulfuric acid by (neutralization) titration using 0.1 mol/L – 0.2 mol/L sodium
hydroxide solution to obtain nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) in an analytical sample. Or collect
isolated ammonia with a boric acid solution and measure ammonium ion by (neutralization)
titration using 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to obtain nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) in an analytical
sample. Subtract separately obtained the ammoniacal nitrogen (A-N) by 4.1.2 to calculate
nitrate nitrogen (N-N). This test method corresponds to the devarda’s alloy method in the
Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution(1): Transfer about 30 mL of water to
a polyethylene bottle, dissolve about 35 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576
by adding in small portions while cooling, seal tightly and leave at rest for 4 - 5 days.
Transfer 5.5 mL - 11 mL of the supernatant to a ground-in stoppered storage container,
and add 1000 mL of water.
Standardization: Dry sulfamic acid reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 by leaving at rest in a desiccator at no more than 2 kPa for about
48 hours, then transfer about 2.5 g to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask,
and add water up to the marked line (1). Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution
to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of bromothymol blue solution
(0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator, and titrate with 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution until the color of the solution becomes green. Calculate the factor of 0.1 mol/L
- 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution by the following formula:

Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (f1)

= (W1 × A × 0.01/97.095) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C1)

W1: Mass (g) of sulfamic acid sampled

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of sulfamic acid
V1: Volume (mL) of sulfamic acid solution transferred
V2: Constant volume (250 mL) of sulfamic acid solution
V3: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution

b) Sulfuric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of

equivalent quality.
c) 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid(1) (2): Add about 14 mL of sulfuric acid to a beaker containing
100 mL of water in advance, stir well and add water to make 1000 mL.

76
 Standardization: Transfer a predetermined amount (3) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to a
200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue
mixture solution, and titrate with 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until
the color of the solution becomes gray-green(4). Calculate the volume of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2
mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid by the
following formula (1). Or, calculate the factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid by the
following formula (2):

Volume (B) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL
of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
= V4/V5 ………. (1)

Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (f2)

= (f1 × C1 × V4/V5)/ (C2 × 2) ………. (2)

V4: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
V5: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid subjected to the standardization
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
C2: Set concentration (0.25 mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid

d) Boric acid solution (40 g/L): Dissolve 40 g of boric acid specified in JIS K 8863 in
water to make 1000 mL.
e) Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L)(1): Dissolve 100 g - 250 g of sodium
hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576 in water to make 500 mL.
f) Devarda’s alloy: A reagent of nitrogen analysis grade specified in JIS K 8653 or a
reagent of equivalent quality
g) Bromothymol blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of bromothymol blue
specified in JIS K 8842 in 20 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102, add water to
make 100 mL.
h) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
i) Methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methylene blue specified in
JIS K 8897 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
j) Methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution: To 2 volumes of a methyl red solution
(0.1 g/100 mL), add 1 volume of a methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL).
k) Bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.5 g of bromocresol green
specified in JIS K 8840 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
l) Methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution: To a methyl red solution (0.1
g/100 mL), add an equal volume of bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) This corresponds to the standard sulfuric acid solution 0.5 M (1/2 sulfuric acid)
solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(3) 5 mL - 10 mL
(4) The endpoint is reached when the color becomes gray-green via dark blue from
blue-purple.

Comment 1 A 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution in (2) a) can be replaced
with a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution or a 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.
77
 Comment 2 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid in (2) c) can be replaced with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Steam distillation apparatus
b) Distillation flask: A Kjeldahl flask or a round bottom flask that can be connected to a
steam distillation apparatus.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Preparation of sample solution: Conduct preparation of a sample solution as shown
below.
a) Weigh 0.25 g - 1 g (5) (the equivalents of 20 mg - 100 mg as N) of an analytical sample
to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 300-mL - 500-mL distillation flask
b) Add about 25 mL of water to make the sample solution.

Note (5) Conduct the procedure in Comment 3 when there is much nitrogen content in
the fertilizers such as simple salt fertilizers.

Comment 3 In the case of nitrate fertilizer, etc. containing much nitrogen content, weigh 2
g - 5g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, put it into a 250- mL
volumetric flask, dissolve it in water, and further add water up to the marked
line. Put predetermined volume of suspension (the equivalents of 20 mg -100
mg as N) into a 300- mL - 500-mL distillation flask.

(4.2) Distillation: Conduct distillation as shown below. Specific distillation procedures are
according to the operation method of the steam distillation apparatus used in
measurement.
a) Transfer a predetermined amount (6) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to an acceptor (7), add a
few drops of methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to
a steam distillation apparatus. Or, transfer a predetermined amount (6) of boric acid
solution (40 g/L) to an acceptor(7), add a few drops of methyl red - bromocresol green
mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to a steam distillation apparatus.
b) Add (10) no less than 3 mg of devarda’s alloy and adequate volume of sodium hydroxide
(200 g/L - 500 g/L) (8) (9) and connect this distillation flask to the steam distillation
apparatus.
c) Send steam to the distillation flask to heat the solution in the distillation flask, and distill
at a distillation rate of 5 mL/min - 7 mL/min.
d) Stop distilling when the distillate reaches 120 mL - 160 mL.
e) Wash the part of the steam distillation apparatus that came in contact with the solution
in the acceptor with a small amount of water, and pool the washing with the distillate.

Note (6) 5 mL - 20 mL
(7) As an acceptor, use a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask or a 200-mL - 300-mL
beaker with which the distillate outlet of the steam distillation apparatus can be
immersed in 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid or boric acid solution (40 g/L).
(8) Sudden reaction makes bubbles foam drastically and the bubbles overflow from
a distillation flask. Therefore it is required to add an alkali solution gradually and
mix quietly.
(9) A sufficient amount to make the solution strong alkalinity.
(10) Add a small amount of silicone oil as necessary.

78
(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.
(4.3.1) When 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid is used in (4.2),
a) Titrate the distillate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the
solution becomes gray-green (4).
b) Calculate nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) in the analytical sample by the following
formula:
c) Subtract the ammoniac nitrogen (A-N) separately obtained in 4.1.2 from the obtained
nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) to calculate nitrate nitrogen (N-N) (11) (12).

Nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (14.007/W2) × (100/1000)
= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (1.4007/W2)

B: Volume of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1

mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V6: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid transferred to the acceptor in (4.2)
a)
V7: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration in (4.3) a)
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution
f1: Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

Note (11) The nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) and ammoniacal nitrogen (A-N) use raw data
without rounding the numerical value
(12) When no ammoniacal nitrogen (A-N) is contained, the nitrogen content
(N-N+A-N) calculated in (4.3) b) is regarded as nitrate nitrogen (N-N).

(4.3.2) When a boric acid solution (40 g/L) is used in (4.2),

a) Titrate the distillate with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid until the solution becomes light red
(13)
.
b) Calculate the nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) in the analytical sample by the following
formula:
c) Subtract separately measured ammoniacal nitrogen (A-N) by 4.1.2 from the obtained
nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) to calculate nitrate nitrogen (N-N) (11) (12).

Nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

= V10 × C2 × 2×f2 × (V11/V12) × (14.007/W3) × (100/1000)
= V10 × C2 × f2 × (V11/V12) × (2.8014/W3)

V10: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid needed for titration
C2: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
f2: Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V11: Predetermined volume (mL) of the sample solution in (4.1) b)
V12: Transferred amount (mL) of the digestion solution subjected to distillation in
(4.2) b)
W3: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

Note (13) The endpoint is reached when the color changes from green to light red.

79
 Comment 4 The titration procedures in (2) a) Standardization, (2) c) Standardization
and (4.3) can be conducted by an automatic titrator. The setup of the titration
program, the determination parameter for the endpoint and vessels such as
acceptors are according to the specification and the operation method of the
automatic titrator used.
Comment 5 Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for nitrate nitrogen hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
Median 4) 5)
Number of 2) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample (Μ )
laboratories 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
Ordinary compound
2009 84 3.60 0.12 3.3
fertilizer
2012 Fluid mixed fertilizer 77 2.18 0.09 4.1

2015 Fluid mixed fertilizer 13 1.35 0.07 5.5

1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR/M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 49 - 50, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

80
(5) Flow sheet for nitrate nitrogen: The flow sheet for nitrate nitrogen in fertilizers is
shown below.

0.25 g - 1 g Weigh the equivalents of 20 mg - 100 mg as N to the order of 1 mg

analytical sample into a 300-mL distillation flask.
← 25 mL of water
← No less than 3 g of devarda's alloy
← Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L)
← A small amount of silicone oil as necessary
Receiver: 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask or beaker
Steam distillation A predetermined amount of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and a few drops of
apparatus methyl red-methylene blue mixture solution, or boric acid solution (40 g/L),
several drops of methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution

Steam distillation Distillation rate: 5 mL/min - 7 mL/min

Stop distilling 120 mL - 160 mL distillate

←　Water (wash the part of the distillation apparatus
that came in contact with the solution in the receiver)
0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (until the
Titration solution becomes gray-green), or
0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (until the solution becomes light red)

Figure The flow sheet (example) for nitrate nitrogen in fertilizers

81
4.1.3.b Reduced iron - distillation method
(1) Summary
The testing method is applicable to the fertilizer containing nitrate. However it is not
applicable to the fertilizers containing urea, nitrolime and organic matters that digest by
heating and isolate ammonia.
Add water to an analytical sample to dissolve ammoniacal nitrogen (A-N) and nitrate nitrogen
(N-N), and add reduced iron and a sulfuric acid solution to boil lightly. In this process, nitrate
nitrogen (N-N) is reduced to ammonia. And further add a sodium hydroxide solution to
distillate. Collect isolated ammonia with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and measure surplus sulfuric
acid by (neutralization) titration using a 0.1 mol/L – 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution to
obtain nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) in an analytical sample. Or collect isolated ammonia with
a boric acid solution and measure ammonium ion by (neutralization) titration using 0.25
mol/L sulfuric acid to obtain nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) in an analytical sample. Subtract
separately obtained ammoniacal nitrogen (A-N) by 4.1.2 to calculate nitrate nitrogen (N-N).
This test method corresponds to the reduced iron method in the Official Methods of Analysis
of Fertilizers (1992).
In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution(1): Transfer about 30 mL of water to
a polyethylene bottle, dissolve about 35 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576
by adding in small portions while cooling, seal tightly and leave at rest for 4 - 5 days.
Transfer 5.5 mL - 11 mL of the supernatant to a ground-in stoppered storage container,
and add 1000 mL of water.
Standardization: Dry sulfamic acid reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 by leaving at rest in a desiccator at no more than 2 kPa for about
48 hours, then transfer about 2.5 g to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask,
and add water up to the marked line (1). Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution
to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of bromothymol blue solution
(0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator, and titrate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium
hydroxide solution until the color of the solution becomes green. Calculate the factor of
a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution by the following formula:

Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (f1)

= (W1 × A × 0.01/97.095) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C1)

W1: Mass (g) of sulfamic acid sampled

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of sulfamic acid
V1: Volume (mL) of sulfamic acid solution transferred
V2: Constant volume (250 mL) of sulfamic acid solution
V3: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution

b) Sulfuric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of

equivalent quality.
c) 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid(1) (2): Add about 14 mL of sulfuric acid to a beaker containing
100 mL of water in advance, stir well, and add water to make 1000 mL.
Standardization: Transfer a predetermined amount (3) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to a
200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue
82
 mixture solution, and titrate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
until the color of the solution becomes gray-green(4). Calculate the volume of a 0.1
mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid by the following formula (1). Or, calculate the factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid by
the following formula (2):

Volume (A) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL
of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
= V4/V5 ……….. (1)

Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (f2)

= (f1 × C1 × V4/V5)/ (C2 × 2) ………... (2)

V4: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
V5: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid subjected to standardization
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
C2: Set concentration (0.25 mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid

d) Boric acid solution (40 g/L): Dissolve 40 g of boric acid specified in JIS K 8863 in
water to make 1000 mL.
e) Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L)(1): Dissolve 100 g - 250 g of sodium
hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576 in water to make 500 mL.
f) Reduced iron: Nitrogen content is no more than 0.005 % (mass fraction).
g) Bromothymol blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of bromothymol blue
specified in JIS K 8842 in 20 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102, add water to
make 100 mL.
h) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
i) Methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methylene blue specified in
JIS K 8897 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
j) Methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution: To 2 volumes of a methyl red solution
(0.1 g/100 mL), add 1 volume of a methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL).
k) Bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.5 g of bromocresol green
specified in JIS K 8840 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
l) Methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution: To a methyl red solution (0.1
g/100 mL), add an equal volume of bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) This corresponds to the standard sulfuric acid solution 0.5 M (1/2 sulfuric acid)
solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(3) 5 mL - 10 mL
(4) The endpoint is reached when the color becomes gray-green via dark blue from
blue-purple.

Comment 1 A 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution in (2) a) can be replaced
with a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution or a 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.
Comment 2 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid in (2) c) can be replaced with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.

83
 (3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:
a) Steam distillation apparatus
b) Distillation flask: A Kjeldahl flask or a round bottom flask that can be connected to a
steam distillation apparatus.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Preparation of sample solution: Conduct preparation of a sample solution as shown
below.
a) Weigh 0.25 g - 1g (5) (the equivalents of 20 mg -100 mg as N) of an analytical sample to
the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 300-mL - 500-mL distillation flask
b) Add about 30 mL of water and mix well.
c) As soon as adding 5 g of reduced iron and 10 mL of sulfuric acid (1+1), insert a long
stem funnel to a distillation flask and shake to mix gently while cooling the outside of
the container under flowing water(6).
d) After leaving at rest for about 5 minutes (7), heat gradually by low temperature and boil
in a low flame for about 15 minutes, and then stand to cool to make the sample solution.

Note (5) Conduct the procedure of Comment 3 when there is much nitrogen content in
the fertilizers such as simple salt fertilizers.
(6) Sudden reaction generates heat, and unreacted nitric acid vaporizes or digests to
make nitrogen oxide etc. through which process losses occur easily. Careful and
efficient operation should be taken.
(7) Until strong reaction is settled.

Comment 3 In the case of nitrate fertilizers, etc. containing much nitrogen content, weigh
2 g - 5g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, put it into a 250- mL
volumetric flask, dissolve it with water and add water up to the marked line.
Put predetermined volume of suspension (the equivalents of 20 mg - 100 mg
as N) into a 300- mL - 500-mL distillation flask.

(4.2) Distillation: Conduct distillation as shown below. Specific distillation procedures are
according to the operation method of the steam distillation apparatus used in
measurement.
a) Transfer a predetermined amount (8) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to an acceptor(9), add a
few drops of methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to
a steam distillation apparatus. Or, transfer a predetermined amount(8) of boric acid
solution (40 g/L) to an acceptor (9) ,add a few drops of methyl red - bromocresol green
mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to a steam distillation apparatus.
b) Add(10) adequate volume of sodium hydroxide (200 g/L - 500 g/L)(10) and connect this
distillation flask to the steam distillation apparatus.
c) Send steam to the distillation flask to heat the solution in the distillation flask, and distill
at a distillation rate of 5 mL/min - 7 mL/min.
d) Stop distilling when the distillate reaches 120 mL - 160 mL.
e) Wash the part of the steam distillation apparatus that came in contact with the solution
in the acceptor with a small amount of water, and pool the washing with the distillate.

Note (8) 5 mL - 20 mL
(9) As an acceptor, use a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask or a 200-mL - 300-mL
beaker with which the distillate outlet of the steam distillation apparatus can be
immersed in 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid or boric acid solution (40 g/L).
(10) A sufficient amount to make the solution strong alkalinity.
84
(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.
(4.3.1) When 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid is used in (4.2) a),
a) Titrate the distillate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the
color of the solution becomes gray-green (4).
b) Calculate nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) in the analytical sample by the following
formula:
c) Subtract separately obtained ammoniac nitrogen (A-N) by 4.1.2 from the obtained
nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) to calculate nitrate nitrogen (N-N) (11) (12).

Nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (14.007/W2) × (100/1000)
= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (1.4007/W2)

B: Volume of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1

mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V6: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid transferred to the acceptor in (4.2)
a)
V7: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
f1: Factor of 0.1 mol/L-0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

Note (11) The nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) and ammoniacal nitrogen (A-N) use raw data
without rounding the numerical value
(12) When no ammoniacal nitrogen (A-N) is contained, the nitrogen content
(N-N+A-N) calculated in (4.3) b) is regarded as nitrate nitrogen (N-N).

(4.3.2) When a boric acid solution (40 g/L) is used in (4.2) a),
a) Titrate the distillate with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid until the color of the solution becomes
light red (13).
b) Calculate nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) in the analytical sample by the following
formula:
c) Subtract separately measured ammoniacal nitrogen (A-N) by 4.1.2 from the obtained
nitrogen content (N-N + A-N) to calculate nitrate nitrogen (N-N) (11) (12).

Nitrogen content (N-N+A-N) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

= V10 × C2 × 2×f2 × (14.007/W3) × (100/1000)
= V10 × C2 × f2 × (2.8014/W3)

V10: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid needed for titration
C2: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
f2: Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
W3: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

Note (13) The endpoint is reached when the color changes from green to light red.

Comment 4 The titration procedures in (2) a) Standardization, (2) c) Standardization

and (4.3) can be conducted by an automatic titrator. The setup of the titration
program, the determination parameter for the endpoint and vessels such as
85
 acceptors are according to the specification and the operation method of the
automatic titrator used.
Comment 5 Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for nitrate nitrogen hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
Median 4) 5)
Number of 2) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample (Μ )
laboratories 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
Ordinary compound
2009 12 3.64 0.07 2.0
fertilizer
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR/M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 48 - 49, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

86
(5) Flow sheet for nitrate nitrogen: The flow sheet for nitrate nitrogen in fertilizers is
shown below.

0.5 g – 1 g Weigh the equivalents of 20 mg - 100 mg of N to the order of 1 mg,

analytical sample and put it into a 300-mL distillation flask.
←About 30 mL of water
←5 g of reduced iron
←About 10 mL of sulfuric acid (1+1)
Insert a long stem funnel immediately to a distillation flask and shake
Mixture
to mix gently while cooling the outside of the container under flowing water

Leaving at rest For about 5 minutes (until a strong reaction is settled)

Heating Boil in a low flame for about 15 minutes

Standing to cool
←Sodium hydroxide (200 g/L - 500 g/L)
Receiver: 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask or beaker
200-mL - 300-mL beaker. A predetermined amount of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
Steam distillation
and a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue mixture solution,
apparatus
or boric acid solution (40 g/L),
several drops of methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution

Steam distillation Distillation rate: 5 mL/min - 7 mL/min

Stop distilling 120 mL - 160 mL distillate

←　Water (wash the part of the distillation apparatus
that came in contact with the solution in the receiver)
0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (until the
Titration solution becomes gray-green), or
0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (until the solution becomes light red)

Figure The flow sheet (example) for nitrate nitrogen in fertilizers

87
4.1.3.c Phenol sulfuric acid method
(1) Summary
The testing method is applicable to the fertilizer containing nitrate. It is also applicable to the
fertilizers containing chemical compounds such as urea, nitrolime and organic matters that
digest by heating and isolate ammonia.
Add a copper sulfate - silver sulfate solution, calcium hydroxide and basic magnesium
carbonate to an analytical sample, extract nitrate nitrogen (N-N) as well as removing chloride
and organic matters, and measure the absorbance of nitro phenol ammonium sulfate formed
by the reaction with phenol sulfuric acid and an ammonia solution to calculate nitrate nitrogen
(N-N) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in
Comment 3.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Nitrate standard solution (N-N 5 mg/mL): Heat potassium nitrate (no less than 99.9
(%) (mass fraction) in purity) at 110 ºC for no less than 1 hour, and after standing to
cool in a desiccator, transfer 36.09 g to a weighing dish. Dissolve it in a small amount of
water, move it into a 1000-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the marked line (1).
b) Nitrate standard solution (N-N 0.05 mg/mL): Dilute predetermined volume of nitrate
standard solution (N-N 5 mg/mL) with water to prepare a nitrate standard solution (N-N
0.05 mg/mL).
c) Copper sulfuric - silver sulfuric solution (1): Dissolve 5 g of copper (II) sulfate
pentahydrate specified JIS K 8983 in 900 mL of water, and dissolve while adding 4 g of
silver sulfate specified in JIS K 8965 to make 1000 mL (2).
d) Phenol sulfuric acid: Dissolve 15 g of phenol sulfuric acid specified in JIS K 8798 in
100 mL of sulfuric acid specified in JIS K 8965, and then let it stand to cool (2).
e) Ammonia solution: A JIS Guaranteed (NH3 28 % (mass fraction)) reagent specified in
JIS K 8085 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
f) Calcium hydroxide: A JIS Guaranteed reagent specified in JIS K 8575 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
g) Basic magnesium carbonate: Basic magnesium carbonate that contains no nitrate
nitrogen.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store in an amber bottle.

Comment 1 Instead of the nitrate standard solution in (2), a nitrate standard solution for a
calibration curve can be prepared using nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N 0.1 mg/mL or
1 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate a 250-mL volumetric flask upside down
at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Spectrophotometer: A spectrophotometer specified in JIS K 0115
c) Water bath: Water bath that can be adjusted to no less than 80 ºC

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg and transfer to a 250-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 200 mL of copper sulfuric - silver sulfuric solution and shake to mix at 30 -
40 revolutions /min for about 20 minutes.
88
 c) Add about 1 g of calcium hydroxide and about 1 mg of basic magnesium carbonate and
shake to mix at 30 - 40 revolutions /min for about 10 minutes.
d) Add water up to the marked line.
e) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution (3).

Note (3) As soon as the sample solution is prepared, conduct the procedure in (4.2) a).

Comment 2 If the filtrate of (4.1) e) is colored, add no more than 0.5 g of active carbon
and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

(4.2) Coloring: Conduct coloring as shown below.

a) Transfer a predetermined volume (the equivalents of 0.01 mg - 0.1 mg as N-N) into a
small evaporating dish (4).
b) Evaporate water until dry on a water bath at no less than 80 ºC.
c) After standing to cool, swiftly add 2 mL of phenol sulfuric acid (5) and then rotate the
evaporating dish so that the whole residue comes in contact with the acid.
d) After leaving at rest for about 10 minutes, add 20 mL of water (6).
e) After standing to cool, transfer it with water to a 100- mL volumetric flask.
f) Add an ammonia solution (1+2), until the color of a solution changes to light yellow, to
allow it to be weak alkalinity, and further add 3 mL of ammonia solution (1+3) (7).
g) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line and leave at rest for 30 minutes.

Note (4) A round-bottom glass or porcelain evaporating dish is preferable.

(5) Add at the center of a small evaporating dish with Komagome pipet.
(6) If residue does not dissolve easily, grind it with a glass rod.
(7) As no color appears from a blank test solution for a calibration curve preparation,
add almost the same volume of ammonia solution (1+2) as the nitrate standard
solution.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct the measurement as indicated in JIS K 0115 and as shown
below. Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the
spectrophotometer used for the measurement.
a) Measurement conditions of spectrophotometer: Set up the measurement conditions
of spectrophotometer considering the following.
Detection wavelength: 410 nm
b) Preparation of calibration curve
1) Transfer 1 mL - 10 mL of nitrate standard solution (N-N 0.05 mg/mL) to small
evaporating dishes (4) step-by-step.
2) Conduct the same procedure as (4.2) b) - g) to make the nitrate standard solution for
the calibration curve preparation.
3) Transfer 40 mL of water to a 100-mL volumetric flask, and shake to mix while gently
adding 2 mL of phenol sulfuric acid. Let it stand to cool and conduct the same
procedure as (4.2) f) - g) to make the blank test solution for calibration curve.
4) Measure absorbance at wavelength 410 nm of the nitrate standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation using the blank test solution for the calibration curve
preparation as the control.
5) Prepare the calibration curve of the nitrate nitrogen (N-N) and absorbance of the
nitrate standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.

c) Measurement of a sample

89
 1) Regarding the solution in (4.2) g), measure absorbance by the same procedure as b)
4).
2) Obtain the nitrate nitrogen (N-N) content from the calibration curve and calculate
nitrate nitrogen (N-N) in the analytical sample.

Comment 3 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 16 %
(mass fraction) and 1 % - 3% (mass fraction ) are 103.4 % and 101.1 % -
100.9 % as nitrate nitrogen (N-N) respectively.
Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.01 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers, and 0.002 % (mass fraction) for
fluid fertilizers.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for nitrate nitrogen hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
Median 4) 5)
Number of 2) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample (Μ )
laboratories 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
Ordinary compound
2009 26 3.67 0.09 2.3
fertilizer
2012 Fluid mixed fertilizer 25 2.19 0.10 4.4
2015 Fluid mixed fertilizer 72 1.28 0.06 4.6
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR/M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 52 - 55, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Kimie KATO, Sakiko TAKAHASHI and Yuji SHIRAI: Validation of a Color metric
Method for Determination of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Boron: Evaluation of
Calibration curve, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 2, p. 137 – 144 (2009)
3) Kimie KATO, Masaki CHIDA and Erina WATANABE: Verification of Performance
Characteristics of Testing Method for Nitrate Nitrogen Content in Fertilizer by Phenol
Sulfuric Acid Method, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 6, p. 148 – 155 (2013)

90
(5) Flow sheet for nitrate nitrogen: The flow sheet for nitrate nitrogen in fertilizers is
shown below.

1g
Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a 250-mL volumetric flask
analytical sample
← About 200 mL of copper sulfate - silver sulfate solution
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min) for 20 minutes
← About 1 mg of calcium hydroxide
← About 1 mg of basic magnesium carbonate
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min) for 10 minutes
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
Small evaporating dish
(predetermined volume)

Evaporation to dryness 80 ºC Water bath

← 2 mL of phenol sulfuric acid
About 10 minutes after making phenol sulfuric acid
Leaving at rest
contact with residue
← 20 mL of water
Standing to cool

Transfer 100-mL volumetric flask

← Ammonia solution (1+2)
← Water (up to the marked line)
Leaving at rest For about 30 minutes

Measurement Spectrophotometer (410 mm)

Figure Flow sheet (example) for nitrate nitrogen in fertilizers

91
4.2 Phosphoric acid
4.2.1 Total phosphoric acid
4.2.1.a Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing organic matters.
Add sulfuric acid, potassium sulfate and copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate to an analytical
sample. Pretreat by Kjeldahl method or incineration-hydrochloric acid boiling to convert total
phosphorus to phosphate ion, and measure the absorbance of phosphovanadomolybdate salt
formed by the reaction with ammonium vanadate (V), hexaammonium heptamolybdate and
nitric acid, to obtain total phosphoric acid (T-P2O5) in an analytical sample. In addition, the
performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 6.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Sulfuric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
c) Nitric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (HNO3 60 % (mass fraction)) specified in JIS K
8541 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
d) Ammonia solution: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (NH3 28 % (mass fraction)) specified in
JIS K 8085 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
e) Catalyst(1): Mix potassium sulfate specified in JIS K 8962 and copper (II) sulfate
pentahydrate(2) specified in JIS K 8983 in the ratio of 9 to 1.
f) Coloring reagent solution(3) (4): Dissolve 1.12 g of ammonium vanadate (V)(5) specified
in JIS K 8747 in water, add 250 mL of nitric acid, then add 27 g of hexaammonium
heptamolybdate tetrahydrate(6) specified in JIS K 8905 dissolved in water, and further
add water to make 1000 mL(7).
g) Phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 1 g of phenolphthalein specified in
JIS K 8799 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
h) Phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 10 mg/mL)(3): Heat potassium dihydrogen
phosphate specified in JIS K 9007 at 105 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 2 hours, let it stand to cool
in a desiccator, and weigh 19.17 g to a weighing dish. Dissolve in a small amount of
water, transfer to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, add 2 mL-3 mL of nitric acid, and add
water up to the marked line.
i) Phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 0.5 mg/mL)(3): Transfer 50 mL of
phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 10 mg/mL) to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, add
2 mL - 3 mL of nitric acid, and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) A tablet is commercially available.

(2) Crush into powder as appropriate.
(3) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.
(4) This corresponds to reagent “a” solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of
Fertilizers (1992).
(5) This corresponds to ammonium metavanadate in the Official Methods of
Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(6) This corresponds to ammonium molybdate in the Official Methods of Analysis
of Fertilizers (1992).
(7) Store in an amber bottle.

Comment 1 Instead of the phosphoric acid standard solution in (2), a phosphoric acid
92
 standard solution for a calibration curve can be prepared using a phosphoric
acid standard solution (P 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to
National Metrology. In this case, calculate the total phosphoric acid (T-P2O5)
in an analytical sample by multiplying the concentration (P) of a phosphoric
acid standard solution for a calibration curve or a measured value obtained in
(4.3) by a conversion factor (2.2914).

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as follows:

a)Spectrophotometer: A spectrophotometer specified in JIS K 0115.
b)Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be adjusted to 550 ºC ± 5 ºC.
c)Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.
d) Digestion flask: Kjeldahl flask

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Sample solution preparation: Prepare a sample solution as shown below:
(4.1.1) Kjeldahl method
a) Weigh 0.5 g - 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 300-mL
digestion flask.
b) Add 5 g - 10 g of catalyst, and further add 20 mL - 40 mL of sulfuric acid, shake to mix
and heat gently.
c) After bubbles cease to form, heat until white smoke of sulfuric acid evolves.
d) Ignite until organic matters are completely digested (8).
e) After standing to cool, add a small amount of water, mix well by shaking, transfer to a
250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask with water, and further mix by shaking.
f) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
g) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (8) After the change in the color of the solution ends, heat additionally for no less
than 2 hours.

Comment 2 The procedures in (4.1.1) are the same as in (4.1) in 4.2.1.b. Also, the
procedures in (4.1.1) a) - f) are the same as in (4.1) in 4.1.1.a.

(4.1.2) Incineration-hydrochloric acid boiling

a) Weigh 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 200-mL -
300-mL tall beaker.
b) Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char (9).
c) Ignite at 550 ºC ± 5 ºC for no less than 4 hours to incinerate.
d) After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, gradually add
about 10 mL of hydrochloric acid, and further add water to make 20 mL.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to boil
for about 5 minutes.
f) After standing to cool, transfer to a 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask.
g) Add water up to the marked line.
h) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (9) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.

93
 Comment 3 The procedures in (4.1.2) are the same as in (4.1) in 4.3.1.a, (4.1) in 4.5.1.a
and (4.1) in 8.4.a.

(4.1.3) Incineration-aqua regia digestion

a) Weigh 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 200-mL -
300-mL tall beaker.
b) Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char (9).
c) Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC to incinerate (10).
d) After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, and add about
10 mL of nitric acid and about 30 mL of hydrochloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to digest.
f) Slightly move the watch glass (11), and continue heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until nearly dried up.
g) After standing to cool, add 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5) (12) to the digest,
cover the tall beaker with the watch glass, and heat quietly to dissolve.
h) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask with
water, add water up to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the
sample solution.

Note (10) Example of ignition period: 8 - 16 hours

(11) The watch glass can be removed.
(12) Add hydrochloric acid (1+5) so that the hydrochloric acid concentration of the
sample solution will be hydrochloric acid (1+23). For example, when a 100-mL
volumetric flask is used in the procedure in h), about 25 mL of hydrochloric
acid (1+5) should be added.

Comment 4 The procedures in (4.1.3) are the same as in (4.1.2) in 4.3.1.a, (4.1.2) in
4.5.1.a, (4.1.2) in 4.9.1.a, (4.1.2) in 4.9.1.b, (4.1.2) in 4.10.1.a and (4.1.2) in
4.10.1.b, and also the same as (4.1) a) – h) in 5.3.a, (4.1) a) – h) in 5.3.b,
(4.1) a) – h) in 5.4.a, (4.1) a) – h) in 5.4.b, (4.1) a) – h) in 5.5.a, (4.1) a) – h)
in 5.5.d, (4.1) a) – h) in 5.6.a and (4.1) a) – h) in 5.6.b.

(4.2) Coloring: Conduct coloring as follows:

a) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.5 mg - 6
mg as P2O5) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add 1-2 drop(s) of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL), and neutralize by adding an
ammonia solution (1+1) until the color of the solution becomes light red-purple (13).
c) Add nitric acid (1+10) until the light red-purple color of the solution disappears to make
it slightly acidic, and add a proper amount of water (14).
d) Add 20 mL of coloring reagent solution, and further add water up to the marked line,
and then leave at rest for about 30 minutes.

Note (13) It is not necessary to add a phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL) when
determination can be done by the color change of copper ion (light blue →
blue-purple).
(14) Without the addition of water, precipitate may be produced when a coloring
reagent solution is added.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0115 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the
spectrophotometer used in measurement.
94
a) Measurement conditions for the spectrophotometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the spectrophotometer considering the following:
Detection wavelength: 420 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Transfer 1 mL - 12 mL of phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 0.5 mg/mL) to
100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step.
2) Add a proper amount of water (14), and conduct the same procedure as (4.2) d) to
make the P2O5 0.5 mg/100 mL - 6 mg/100 mL phosphoric acid standard solutions for
the calibration curve preparation.
3) Conduct the same procedures as 2) for another 100-mL volumetric flask to make the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
4) Measure absorbance at a wavelength of 420 nm of the phosphoric acid standard
solutions for the calibration curve preparation using the blank test solution for the
calibration curve preparation as the control (12).
5) Prepare the calibration curve of the phosphoric acid concentration and absorbance of
the phosphoric acid standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Regarding the solution in (4.2) d), measure absorbance by the same procedure as b)
4) (15).
2) Obtain the phosphoric acid (P2O5) content from the calibration curve, and calculate
total phosphoric acid (T-P2O5) in the analytical sample.

Note (15) Measure within 6 hours after adding the coloring reagent solution in the
procedure in (4.2) d).

Comment 5 After the procedure in (4.2) a), it is also possible to measure soluble
phosphoric acid at the same time by adding 4 mL of nitrate acid (1+1) and 2
mL of Petermans citrate solution and by conducting the procedures from (4.2)
d) to (4.3) in 4.2.2.a (using b regent solution in the Official Methods of
Analysis of Fertilizers (1992)).
Further after the procedure in (4.2) a), it is also possible to measure citrate
soluble phosphoric acid at the same time by adding 4 mL of nitrate acid (1+1)
and 17 mL of citrate solution and by conducting the procedures from (4.2) d)
to (4.3) in 4.2.2.a (using b regent solution in the Official Methods of Analysis
of Fertilizers (1992)).

Comment 6 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 10 % -
20 % (mass fraction) and 1 % - 5 % (mass fraction ) are 99.4 % - 100.2 %
and 101.0 % - 105.7 % as total phosphoric acid (T-P2O5) respectively.
The results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference
material fertilizer were analyzed by using a three level nesting analysis of
variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate
precision and repeatability.
Table 2 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.04 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers, and 0.01 % (mass fraction) for
fluid fertilizers

95
 Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
2) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)
certified reference laboratory Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T) sR RSD R
1) 3) 3) 3) 3)
material fertilizer p (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)

FAMIC-C-12 9 8.62 0.03 0.4 0.04 0.4 0.08 0.9

1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
conducting Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Mass fraction 8）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability standard deviation 9）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Table 2 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for nitrate nitrogen hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
Median 4) 5)
Number of 2) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample (Μ )
3) 3)
laboratories (%) (%) (%)
2007 Organic compound fertilizer 140 10.35 0.10 1.0
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by theby
formula
the formula
shownshown
below:below:
RSD rob = (NIQR/M ) × 100

References
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 108 – 114, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Kimie KATO, Sakiko TAKAHASHI and Yuji SHIRAI: Validation of a Color metric
Method for Determination of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Boron: Evaluation of
Calibration curve, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.2, p. 137 – 144 (2009)
3) Kimie KATO, Masayuki YOSHIMOTO and Yuji SHIRAI: Systematization of
Determination Methods of Major Components in Sludge Fertilizer, Compost and
Organic Fertilizer, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.3 p. 107 – 116 (2010)
4) Yoshiyuki SUNAGA, Yasushi SUGIMURA, Ichiro YOSHIDA and Hidenori KONISHI:
Verification of Performance Characteristics of Testing Methods for Phosphorus Content
in Fertilizer by Ammonium Vanadomolybdate Absorption Photometry, Research Report
of Fertilizer Vol. 5, p. 167 – 179 (2012)

96
(5) Flow sheet for total phosphoric acid: The flow sheets for total phosphoric acid in
fertilizers are shown below:

0.5 g - 5 g
Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 300-mL Kjeldahl flask.
analytical sample
← About 10 g catalyst
← 20 mL - 40 mL sulfuric acid
Heating Gently

Heating After bubbles cease to form, ignite

until organic matters are completely digested.
Standing to cool Room temperature
← A small amount of water
Transfer 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask, water

Standing to cool Room temperature

←Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Sample solution

Figure 1 Flow sheet for total phosphate in fertilizers (1).

　　　(Sample solution preparation by Kjeldahl method)

5g
Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample

Charring Heat gently

Incineration 550 ºC ± 5 ºC, no less than 4 hours

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water, moisten the residue
← About 10 mL of hydrochloric acid
← Water (up to about 100 mL)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and boil for 5 minutes.

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Sample solution

Figure 2 Flow sheet for total phosphate in fertilizers (2).

　　(Sample solution preparation by incineration-hydrochloric acid boiling)

97
 5g
Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample

Charring Heat gently

Incineration Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water
← About 10 mL of nitric acid
← About 30 mL of hydrochloric acid
Heating Cover with a watch glass to digest

Heating Slightly move the watch glass and remove acid

Standing to cool Room temperature

← 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
Heating Cover with a watch glass to dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Sample solution

Figure 3 Flow sheet for total phosphate in fertilizers (3).

　　(Preaparation of sample solution by incineration-aqua regia digestion)

Sample solution

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined amount)

← 1-2 drop(s) of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL)

← Ammonia solution (1+1) [neutralization]
← Nitric acid (1+10) [slightly acidic]
← A proper amount of water
← 20 mL of coloring reagent solution
← Water (up to the marked line)

Leaving at rest About 30 minutes

Measurement Spectrophotometer (420 nm)

Figure 4 Flow sheet for total phosphate in fertilizers (3).

　　　(Measurement procedure)

98
4.2.1.b Quinoline gravimetric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing organic matters.
It is suitable for the fertilizers with relatively a high content of phosphoric acid. Add sulfuric
acid, potassium sulfate and copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate to an analytical sample. Pretreat
by the Kjeldahl method to convert the total phosphoric acid (T-P2O5) to phosphate ion, and
measure the mass of quinonium phosphomolybdate formed by the reaction with quinoline,
molybdic acid and nitric acid to obtain the total phosphoric acid (T-P2O5) in an analytical
sample.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Sulfuric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Nitric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (HNO3 60 % (mass fraction)) specified in JIS K
8541 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Sodium molybdate solution: Dissolve 70 g of sodium molybdate dihydrate in 150 mL
of water.
d) Quinoline solution: Add 5 mL of quinolone specified in JIS K 8279 to the mixture
solution of 35 mL of nitric acid and 100 mL of water.
e) Quimosiac solution: Add 60 g of citric acid monohydrate specified in JIS K 8283 to
the mixture solution of 85 mL nitric acid and 150 mL of water to dissolve. Add
gradually total volume of the sodium molybdate solution to mix. Add gradually the total
volume of the quinoline solution while mixing the solution. After leaving at rest
overnight, filter the total volume with Type 3 filter paper. Add acetone specified in JIS
K 8962, and further add water to make 1000 mL.
f) Catalyst(1): Mix potassium sulfate specified in JIS K 8962 and copper (II) sulfate
pentahydrate(2) specified in JIS K 8983 in the ratio of 9 to 1.

Note (1) A tablet is commercially available.

(2) Crush into powder as appropriate.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as follows:

a)Water bath: Water bath that can be adjusted to 60 ºC – 65 ºC.
b)Drying apparatus: A drying apparatus that can be adjusted to 220 ºC±5 ºC.
c)Crucible type glass filter: A crucible type glass filter 1G4 specified in JIS R 3503. Let
it stand to cool in a desiccator after heating at 220 ºC ± 5 ºC in advance and measure the
mass to the order of 1 mg.
d) Digestion flask: Kjeldahl flask

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Kjeldahl method: Conduct digestion as shown below:
a) Weigh 0.5 g - 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 300-mL
digestion flask.
b) Add 5 g - 10 g of catalyst, and further add 20 mL - 40 mL of sulfuric acid to shake to
mix, and heat gently.
c) After bubbles cease to form, heat until white smoke of sulfuric acid evolves.
d) Ignite temperature until organic matters are completely digested (3).
e) After standing to cool, add a small amount of water, mix well by shaking, and transfer
to a 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask with water.
f) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
g) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.
99
 Note (3) After the change in the color of the solution ends, heat additionally for no less
than 2 hours.

Comment 1 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1.1) in 4.2.1.a. In addition, the
sample solution prepared in (4.1.2) in 4.2.1.a and (4.1.3) in 4.2.1.a can also
be used.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer a predetermined volume (the equivalents of 10 mg - 30 mg as P2O5 and no
more than 5 mL as sulfuric acid) of sample solution to a 300-mL tall beaker.
b) Add 5 mL of nitric acid and add water to make about 80 mL.
c) Cover with a watch glass and wash the watch glass and inside the tall beaker with water
after boiling for about 3 minutes, and then add water to make about 100 mL.
d) Immediately, add 50mL of quimosiac solution, heat for about 15 minutes while
sometimes mixing in a water bath at 60 ºC - 65 ºC to produce the precipitate of
quinolyum molybdate.
e) After standing to cool down to room temperature while sometimes mixing, filter under
reduced pressure with a crucible type glass filter, wash the tall beaker 3 times with
water and transfer the whole precipitate into a crucible type glass filter, and further wash
7 - 8 times with water.
f) Transfer the precipitate together with the crucible type glass filter into a drying
apparatus and heat at 220 ºC ± 5 ºC for about 30 minutes.
g) As soon as heating is complete, move it into a desiccator and let it stand to cool.
h) After standing to cool, remove the crucible type glass filter from the desiccator and
measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.
i) Calculate total phosphoric acid (T-P2O5) in the analytical sample by the following
formula.

Total phosphoric acid (T-P2O5) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

= A × 0.03207 × (V1/V2) × (1/W) × 100

A: Mass (g) of the precipitate in h)

W: Mass of an analytical sample
V1: Predetermined volume (mL) of the sample solution
V2: Volume (mL) of the sample solution transferred in a)

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 98 - 106, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

100
(5) Flow sheet for total phosphoric acid: The flow sheet for total phosphoric acid in
fertilizers is shown below:

0.5 g- 5 g
Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 300-mL digestion flask.
analytical sample
← 5 g - 10 g catalyst
← 20 mL - 40 mL sulfuric acid
Heating Gently

After bubbles cease to form,

Heating
ignite until organic matters are completely digested

Standing to cool Room temperature

← Small mount of water
Transfer 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask, water
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
(predetermined 300-mL tall beaker
volume)
← 5 mL nitrate acid
← Water (to reach about 100 mL)
Cover with a watch glass for 3 minutes
Boiling
Wash a watch glass and inside the tall beaker with water
← Water (to be about 100 mL)
← Quimosiac solution 50 mL
Produce precipitate 60 ºC - 65 ºC, for 15 minutes, sometimes mixing

Standing to cool Room temperature

Filtration
under reduced Crucible type glass filtering apparatus 1G4, 3 times with water
pressure

Washing Wash 7 - 8 times with water

Drying 220 ºC ± 5 ºC for about 30 minutes

Standing to cool Desiccator

Measurement Measure the mass to the order of 1 mg

Figure The flow sheet for total phosphate in fertilizers

101
4.2.2 Soluble phosphoric acid
4.2.2.a Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers that do not contain matter not colored by
hydrolysis with nitrate acids such as phosphonic acid.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, then extract by adding an ammonium citric
acid solution, and combine respective pre-determined amounts of extract (equivalent volume).
Heat after adding nitric acid (1+1), hydrolyze nonorthophosphoric acid to orthophosphate ion
and measure the absorbance of phosphovanadomolybdate salt formed by the reaction with
ammonium vanadate (V), hexaammonium heptamolybdate and nitric acid to obtain ammonia
alkaline ammonium citrate-soluble phosphoric acid (soluble phosphoric acid (S-P2O5)) in an
analytical sample.
In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 6.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Nitric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (HNO3 60 % (mass fraction)) specified in JIS K
8541 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
b) Ammonia solution: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (NH3 28 % (mass fraction)) specified in
JIS K 8085 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Petermans citrate solution: Add 173 g of citric acid monohydrate specified in JIS K
8283 in water to dissolve and add gradually an ammonia solution equivalent to 42 g of
nitrogen while cooling. After standing to cool, add water to make 1000 mL. Additionally,
check that the specific gravity of the solution is 1.082 - 1.083 (15 ºC) and the nitrogen
content per 1 mL is 42 mg.
d) Coloring reagent solution(1) (2): Dissolve 1.12 g of ammonium vanadate (V)(3) specified
in JIS K 8747 in water, add 150 mL of nitric acid, then add 50 g of hexaammonium
heptamolybdate tetrahydrate(4) specified in JIS K 8905 while dissolving in water, and
further add water to make 1000 mL.(5)
e) Phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 10 mg/mL)(1): Heat potassium dihydrogen
phosphate specified in JIS K 9007 at 105 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 2 hours, let it stand to cool
in a desiccator, and weigh 19.17 g to a weighing dish. Dissolve with a small amount of
water, transfer to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, add 2 mL - 3 mL of nitric acid, and add
water up to the marked line.
f) Phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 0.5 mg/mL)(1): Transfer 50 mL of
phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 10 mg/mL) to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, add
2 mL - 3 mL of nitric acid, and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) This corresponds to reagent “b” solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of
Fertilizers (1992).
(3) This corresponds to ammonium metavanadate in the Official Methods of
Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(4) This corresponds to ammonium molybdate in the Official Methods of Analysis
of Fertilizers (1992).
(5) Store in an amber bottle. However the reagent solution cannot tolerate long term
preservation.

Comment 1 The coloring reagent solution in d) can also be prepared by the following
method.

102
 Dissolve 2.24 g of ammonium vanadate (V) (3) specified in JIS K 8747 in
water, add 300 mL of nitric acid, and add water to make 1000 mL. Separately,
add 100 g of hexaammonium heptamolybdate tetrahydrate (4) specified in JIS
K 8905 while dissolving in water, and further add water to make 1000 mL. In
the case of usage, mix equal volumes of the two solutions.
Comment 2 Instead of the phosphoric acid standard solution in (2), a phosphoric acid
standard solution for a calibration curve can be prepared using a phosphoric
acid standard solution (P 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to
National Metrology. In this case, calculate soluble phosphoric acid (S-P2O5)
in an analytical sample by multiplying the concentration (P) of a phosphoric
acid standard solution for a calibration curve or a measured value obtained in
(4.3) by a conversion factor (2.2914).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Water bath: Water bath that can be adjusted to 65 ºC ± 2 ºC.
b) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.
c) Spectrophotometer: A spectrophotometer specified in JIS K 0115.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 2.5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a small mortar.
b) Add about 20 mL - 25 mL of water, grind well and filter the supernatant with Type 6
filter paper into a 250-mL volumetric flask.
c) Further, after repeating procedure in b) 3 times, transfer non-dissolved matter in the
small mortar onto a filter paper and wash with water until the filtrate becomes about 200
mL.
d) Add a small amount of nitric acid to the filtrate, and further add water up to the marked
line to make the sample solution (1).
e) Transfer the non-dissolved matter on the filter paper together with the filter paper to
another 250- mL volumetric flask(6), add 100 mL of Petermans citrate solution and
stopple, then shake to mix until the filter paper breaks down.
f) Heat the volumetric flask in e) in water bath at 65 ºC ± 2 ºC for 1 hour while shaking to
mix every 15 minutes.
g) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
h) Filter with Type 6 filter paper to make the sample solution (2).

Note (6) It is recommended to use a 250-mL short-neck volumetric flask.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) of 4.2.2.b.
Comment 4 When the determination is affected by the coloring of the sample solution of
d) and h), transfer the predetermined volume (equivalent volume) (7) of the
sample solution (1) and the sample solution (2) to a 100-mL volumetric flask,
add a few drops of hydrochloric acid (1+1) to acidify, then add no more than
0.1 g of active carbon. After leaving at rest for a little while, add water up to
the marked line and filter. The filtrate is to be the mixture solution for the
sample solution of (4.2) a). Additionally, as phosphorus contained in active
carbon has the possibility to elute and affects the determination value, a blank
test is required.

(4.2) Coloring: Conduct coloring as follows:

103
 a) Transfer a predetermined amount (the equivalents of 0.5 mg - 6 mg as P2O5 and no more
than the equivalents of 2 mL of Petermans citrate solution)(7) of sample solution (1) and
sample solution (2) to a 100-mL tall beaker.
b) Add the solution to make Petermans citrate solution equivalent to 2 mL.
c) Add 4 mL of nitric acid (1+1) (8), and heat to boil (9).
d) After standing to cool, transfer it to a 100- mL volumetric flask with water (10).
e) Add 20 mL of coloring reagent solution, and further add water up to the marked line,
and then leave at rest for about 30 minutes (8).

Comment 5 In the procedure in a), a 100-mL volumetric flask can be used instead of a
100-mL tall beaker. However the volumetric flask used should be
distinguished as a flask to be used for phosphate coloring operation and
should not be used for other purposes. Additionally, “transfer to a 100-mL
volumetric flask with water” in d) is replaced by “add a proper amount of
water (11)”.

Note (7) The transferred volume of sample solution (1) and sample solution (2) should be
equivalent.
(8) When the solution is muddled by adding nitric acid (1+1), conduct
centrifugation after the procedure in e).
(9) When it does not contain non-orthophosphate, the boiling operation is not
necessary.
(10) The volume of the solution after transferring should be up to about 60 mL.
(11) If no water is added, precipitate is produced in some cases when a coloring
reagent solution is added.

(4.3)Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0115 and as shown below.

Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the
spectrophotometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the spectrophotometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the spectrophotometer considering the following:
Detection wavelength: 420 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Transfer 1 mL - 12 mL of phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 0.5 mg/mL) to
100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step.
2) Add 2 mL of Petermans citrate solution, 4 mL of nitric acid (1+1) and a proper
amount of water(11), and conduct the same procedure as (4.2) e) to make the P2O5 0.5
mg/100 mL - 6 mg/100 mL phosphoric acid standard solutions for the calibration
curve preparation.
3) Conduct the same procedures as 2) for another 100-mL volumetric flask to make the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
4) Measure absorbance at a wavelength of 420 nm of the phosphoric acid standard
solutions for the calibration curve preparation using the blank test solution for the
calibration curve preparation as the control (12).
5) Prepare the calibration curve of the phosphoric acid concentration and absorbance of
the phosphoric acid standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Regarding the solution of (4.2) e), measure the absorbance by the same procedure as
b) 4) (12).
2) Obtain the phosphoric acid (P2O5) content from the calibration curve, and calculate
soluble phosphoric acid (S-P2O5) in the analytical sample.
104
Note (12) Measure within 2 hours after adding the coloring reagent solution.

Comment 6 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 10 %
(mass fraction) - 20 % (mass fraction) and 1 % (mas fraction) - 5 % (mass
fraction ) are 99.4 % - 100.6 % and 98.6 % - 103.0 % as soluble phosphoric
acid (S-P2O5) respectively.
The results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference
material fertilizer were analyzed by using a three level nesting analysis of
variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate
precision and repeatability.
Table 2 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.08 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
2) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)
certified reference laboratory Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T) sR RSD R
1) 3) 3) 3) 3)
material fertilizer p (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
FAMIC-B-10 10 8.62 0.04 0.4 0.05 0.6 0.06 0.7
FAMIC-B-14 10 9.18 0.03 0.4 0.04 0.5 0.09 1.0
1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
conducting Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Mass fraction 8）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability standard deviation 9）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

105
 Table 2 Results and analysis results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for soluble phosphoric acid hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
Median 4) 5)
Number of 2) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample (Μ )
laboratories 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
High analysis
2006 144 10.88 0.11 1.0
compound fertilizer
Ordinary compound
2009 124 6.37 0.12 1.9
fertilizer
High analysis
2011 113 17.44 0.22 1.3
compound fertilizer
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR/M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.108 - 114, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Kimie KATO, Sakiko TAKAHASHI and Yuji SHIRAI: Validation of a Color metric
Method for Determination of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Boron: Evaluation of
Calibration curve, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.2, p. 137 – 144 (2009)
3) Akira SHIMIZU and Shin ABE: Verification of Performance Characteristics of Testing
Method for Citrate-Soluble Phosphorus Content by Ammonium Vanadomolybdate
Absorption Photometry, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 5, p. 180 – 189 (2012)

106
(5) Flow sheet for soluble phosphoric acid: The flow sheet for soluble phosphoric acid in
fertilizers is shown below:

2.5 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a small mortar

Repeat 3 times ← About 20 mL - 25 mL water

Grinding

Supernatant filtration Type 6 filter paper, 250-mL volumetric flask

＜Residue＞

Transfer Transfer residue to a filter paper

← Washing with water, until filtrate reaches about 200 mL
＜Residue＞ ＜Filtrate＞
← A small amount of nitric acid
← Water (up to the marked line)
Sample solution (1)

Transfer Together with filter paper, 250-mL volumetric flask

← 100 ml of Petermans citrate solution
Shaking to mix Stopple and shake to mix until a filter paler breaks down

Heating At 65 ºC ± 2 ºC for 1 hour while shaking to mix every 15 minutes.

Standing to cool
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 6 filter paper

Sample solution (2)

Sample splutions (1) and (2) Transfer the same volume of sample solutions (1)
Aliquot and (2) to 100-mL volumetric flasks
(predetermined volume)
← Petermans citrate solution, until it reaches the equivalent of 2 mL
← 4 mL of nitric acid (1+1)
Heating Boiling
← A proper amount of water
← 20 mL of coloring reagent solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Leaving at rest For about 30 minutes

Measurement Spectrophotometer (420nm)

Figure The flow sheet for soluble phosphoric acid in fertilizers

107
4.2.2.b Quinoline gravimetric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing no phosphonic acid, etc.
It is suitable for the fertilizers containing a relatively a high content of phosphoric acid.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, then extract by adding an ammonium citric
acid solution and combine respective pre-determined amounts of extract (equivalent volume).
Heat after adding nitric acid and water, hydrolyze nonorthophosphoric acid to orthophosphate
ion and measure the mass of quinolium phosphomolybdate formed by the reaction with
quinoline, molybdic acid and nitric acid to obtain ammonia alkaline ammonium citrate soluble
phosphoric acid (soluble phosphoric acid (S-P2O5)) in an analytical sample.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Nitric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (HNO3 60 % (mass fraction)) specified in JIS K
8541 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
b) Ammonia solution: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (NH3 28 % (mass fraction)) specified in
JIS K 8085 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Petermans citrate solution: Dissolve 173 g of citric acid monohydrate specified in JIS
K 8283 by adding to water and add gradually an ammonia solution equivalent to 42 g of
nitrogen while cooling. After standing to cool, add water to make 1000 mL. Additionally,
check that the specific gravity of the solution is 1.082 -1.083 (15 ºC) and the volume of
nitrogen per 1 mL is 42 mg.
d) Sodium molybdate solution: Dissolve 70 g of sodium molybdate dihydrate in 150 mL
of water.
e) Quinoline solution: Add 5 mL of quinoline specified in JIS K 8279 to the mixture
solution of 35 mL of nitric acid and 100 mL of water.
f) Quimosiac solution: Add 60 g of citric acid monohydrate specified in JIS K 8283 to
the mixture solution of 85 mL nitric acid and 150 mL of water to dissolve. Add
gradually total volume of the sodium molybdate solution to mix them. Add gradually
the total volume of the quinoline solution while mixing the solution. After leaving at
rest overnight, filter the total volume with Type 3 filter paper. Add 280 mL of acetone
specified in JIS K 8962, and further add water to make 1000 mL.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as follows:

a) Water bath: A water bath that can be adjusted to 65 ºC ± 2 ºC or 60 ºC - 65 ºC.
b) Drying apparatus: A drying apparatus that can be adjusted to 220 ºC ± 5 ºC.
c) Crucible type glass filter: A crucible type glass filter 1G4 specified in JIS R 3503. Let
it stand to cool in a desiccator after heating at 220 ºC ± 5 ºC in advance and measure
the mass to the order of 1 mg.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1)
Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a)Weigh 2.5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a small mortar.
b)Add about 20 mL - 25 mL of water, grind well and filter the supernatant with Type 6
filter paper into a 250-mL volumetric flask.
c) Further, after repeating 3 times the procedure in b), transfer non-dissolved matter in the
small mortar on a filter paper and wash with water until the filtrate becomes about 200
mL.
d) Add a small amount of nitric acid to the filtrate, and further add water up to the marked
line to make the sample solution (1).

108
 e) Transfer the non-dissolved matter on the filter paper together with the filter paper to
another 250- mL (1) volumetric flask, and add 100 mL of Petermans citrate solution and
stopple. Then shake to mix until the filter paper breaks down.
f) Heat the volumetric flask in e) in a water bath at 65 ºC ± 2 ºC for 1 hour while shaking
to mix every 15 minutes.
g) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
h) Filter with Type 6 filter paper to make the sample solution (2).

Note (1) It is recommended to use a short-neck volumetric flask.

Comment 1 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) of 4.2.2.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer a predetermined volume (the equivalents of 10 mg - 30 mg as P2O5 and no
more than the equivalents of 8 mL of Petermans citrate solution) (2) of sample solution
(1) and sample solution (2) to a 300-mL tall beaker.
b) Add 5 mL of nitric acid and add water to make about 80 mL.
c) Cover with a watch glass. After boiling for about 3 minutes, wash the watch glass and
the inside of the tall beaker with water and add water to make about 100 mL.
d) Immediately, add 50 mL of quimosiac solution, heat for about 15 minutes while
sometimes mixing in a water bath at 60 ºC - 65 ºC and produce the precipitate of
quinolyum molybdate.
e) After standing to cool down to room temperature while sometimes mixing, filter under
reduced pressure with a crucible type glass filter, wash the tall beaker 3 times with
water and transfer the whole precipitate into a crucible type glass filter, further wash 7 -
8 times with water.
f) Transfer the precipitate together with the crucible type glass filter into a drying
apparatus and heat at 220 ºC ± 5 ºC for about 30 minutes.
g) As soon as heating is complete, move it into a desiccator and let it stand to cool.
h) After standing to cool, remove the crucible type glass filter from the desiccator and
measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.
i) Calculate soluble phosphoric acid (S-P2O5) by the following formula.

Soluble phosphoric acid (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

= A × 0.03207 × (V1/V2) × (1/W) × 100

A: Mass (g) of the precipitate in h)

W: Mass of an analytical sample (2.5 g)
V1: Predetermined volume (250 mL) of the sample solution
V2: Volume (mL) of the sample solution transferred in a)

Note (2) The transferred volume of sample solution (1) and the sample solution (2)
should be equivalent.

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 98 - 106, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

109
(5) Flow sheet for soluble phosphoric acid: The flow sheet for soluble phosphoric acid
in fertilizers is shown below:

2.5 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a small mortar

Repeat 3 times ← About 20 mL - 25 mL water

Grinding

Supernatant filtration Type 6 filter paper, 250-mL volumetric flask

＜Residue＞

Transfer Transfer residue to a filter paper

← Wash with water, until filtrate reaches about 200 mL
＜Residue＞ ＜Filtrate＞
← A small amount of nitric acid
← Water (up to the marked line)
Sample solution (1)

Transfer Together with filter paper, 250-mL volumetric flask

← 100 ml Petermans citrate solution
Shaking to mix Stopple and shake to mix until a filter paler breaks down

Heating At 65 ºC ± 2 ºC for 1 hour while shaking to mix every 15 minutes.

Standing to cool
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 6 filter paper

Sample solution (2)

Figure Flow sheet (1) for soluble phosphoric acid in fertilizers

(Preparation of sample splutions)

110
 Sample solutions (1) and
Transfer the same volume of sample solutions (1)
(2)
and (2) to 300-mL volumetric flasks
Aliquot
(predetermined volume)
← 5 mL nitrate acid
← Water (to reach about 100 mL)
Boiling Cover with a watch glass for 3 minutes
Wash a watch glass and inside a tall beaker with water
← Water (to make about 100 mL)
← 50 mL of quimosiac
Forming precipitate 60 ºC - 65 ºC, for 15 minutes, sometimes mixing
Standing to cool Room temperature

Filtration Crucible type glass filtering apparatus 1G4, 3 times with water
under reduced pressure
Washing Wash 7 - 8 times with water

Drying 220 ºC ± 5 ºC for about 30 minutes

Standing to cool Desiccator

Measurement Measure the mass to the order of 1 mg

Figure Flow sheet (2) for soluble phosphoric acid in fertilizers

(Measurement procedures)

111
4.2.3 Citrate-soluble phosphoric acid
4.2.3.a Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to the fertilizers that do not contain the matter not colored by
the hydrolysis with nitrate acids such as phosphonic acid.
Extract by adding a citric acid solution to an analytical sample. Heat after adding nitric acid
(1+1), hydrolyze nonorthophosphoric acid to orthophosphate ion and measure the absorbance
of phosphovanadomolybdate salt formed by the reaction with ammonium vanadate (V),
hexaammonium heptamolybdate and nitric acid to obtain citrate soluble phosphoric acid
(C-P2O5) in an analytical sample.
In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 7.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Nitric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (HNO3 60 % (mass fraction)) specified in JIS K
8541 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
b) Citric acid solution (1): Dissolve 20 g of citric acid monohydrate specified in JIS K
8283 in water to make 1000 mL.
c) Coloring reagent solution(1) (2): Dissolve 1.12 g of ammonium vanadate (V)(3) specified
in JIS K 8747 in water, add 150 mL of nitric acid, then add 50 g of hexaammonium
heptamolybdate tetrahydrate(4) specified in JIS K 8905 while dissolving in water, and
further add water to make 1000 mL(5).
d) Phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 10 mg/mL)(1): Heat potassium dihydrogen
phosphate specified in JIS K 9007 at 105 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 2 hours, let it stand to cool
in a desiccator, and weigh 19.17 g to a weighing dish. Dissolve with a small amount of
water, transfer to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, add 2 mL - 3 mL of nitric acid, and add
water up to the marked line.
e) Phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 0.5 mg/mL)(1): Transfer 50 mL of
phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 10 mg/mL) to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, add
2 mL - 3 mL of nitric acid, and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) This corresponds to reagent “b” solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of
Fertilizers (1992).
(3) This corresponds to ammonium metavanadate in the Official Methods of
Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(4) This corresponds to ammonium molybdate in the Official Methods of Analysis
of Fertilizers (1992).
(5) Store in an amber bottle. However the reagent solution does not tolerate long
term preservation.

Comment 1 The coloring reagent solution in c) can also be prepared by the following
method.
Dissolve 2.24 g of ammonium vanadate (V) (3) specified in JIS K 8747 in
water, add 300 mL of nitric acid, and add water to make 1000 mL. Separately,
dissolve 100 g of hexaammonium heptamolybdate tetrahydrate (4) specified in
JIS K 8905 in water, and further add water to make 1000 mL. Mix equal
volume of two solutions in the case of usage.

Comment 2 Instead of the phosphoric acid standard solution in (2), a phosphoric acid
standard solution for a calibration curve can be prepared using a phosphoric

112
 acid standard solution (P 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to
National Metrology. In this case, calculate citrate-soluble phosphoric acid
(C-P2O5) in an analytical sample by multiplying the concentration (P) of a
phosphoric acid standard solution for a calibration curve or a measured value
obtained in (4.3) by a conversion factor (2.2914).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Constant-temperature rotary shaker: A constant-temperature rotary shaker that can
rotate a 250-mL volumetric flask, set up in a thermostat adjustable to 30 ºC ± 1 ºC,
upside down at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.
c) Spectrophotometer: A spectrophotometer specified in JIS K 0115.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 250-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add 150 mL of citric acid solution heated up to about 30 ºC, and shake to mix at 30 - 40
revolutions/min (30 ºC ± 1 ºC) for 1 hour.
c) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) of 4.2.3.b, (4.1)
of 4.2.3.c, (4.1) of 4.3.2.a, (4.1) of 4.3.2.b, (4.1) of 4.6.2.a, (4.1) of 4.7.2.a
and (4.1) of 4.8.1.a.
Comment 4 When the determination is affected by the coloring of the sample solution of
d), transfer a predetermined volume of the sample solution to a 100-mL
volumetric flask, add a few drops of hydrochloric acid (1+1) to make it
acidity, and then add no more than 0.1 g of active carbon. After leaving at rest
for a little while, add water up to the marked line and filter. The filtrate is
prepared as the sample solution of (4.2) a). Additionally, as phosphorus
contained in active carbon has the possibility to elute and affects the
determination value, a blank test is required.
Comment 5 For a by-product phosphate fertilizer, if pH of the sample solution in d) is
neutral or basic, prepare a sample solution anew by replacing “1 g of an
analytical sample” in the procedure in a) with “0.5 g of an analytical sample”.

(4.2) Coloring: Conduct coloring as follows:

a) Transfer a predetermined amount (the equivalents of 0.5 mg - 6 mg as P2O5 and no more
than the equivalents of 17 mL of the citric acid solution) of the sample solution to a
100-mL tall beaker.
b) Add the citric acid solution to make the equivalents of 17 mL of the citric acid solution
(20 mg/mL).
c) Add 4 mL of nitric acid (1+1) (6), and heat to boil (7).
d) After standing to cool, transfer to a 100- mL volumetric flask with water (8).
e) Add 20 mL of coloring reagent solution, and further add water up to the marked line,
and then leave at rest for about 30 minutes.

Comment 6 In the procedure in a), a 100-mL volumetric flask can be used instead of a
100-mL tall beaker. However the volumetric flask used should be
distinguished as a flask to be used for phosphoric acid coloring operation and
113
 should not be used for other purposes. Additionally, “transfer to a 100-mL
volumetric flask with water” in d)” is replaced by “add a proper amount of
water (9)”.

Note (6) When the solution is muddled by adding nitric acid (1+1), conduct
centrifugation after the procedure in e).
(7) When it does not contain non-orthophosphate, the boil operation is not
necessary.
(8) The volume of the solution after transferring should be up to about 60 mL.
(9) If no water is added, precipitate is produced in some cases when a coloring
reagent solution is added.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0115 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the
spectrophotometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the spectrophotometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the spectrophotometer considering the following:
Detection wavelength: 420 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Transfer 1 mL - 12 mL of phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 0.5 mg/mL) to
100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step.
2) Add 17 mL of citric acid solution, then add 4 mL of nitric acid (1+1), further add a
proper amount of water(9) and conduct the same procedure as (4.2) e) to make the
P2O5 0.5 mg/100 mL - 6 mg/100 mL phosphoric acid standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation.
3) Conduct the same procedures as 2) for another 100-mL volumetric flask to make the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
4) Measure absorbance at a wavelength of 420 nm of the phosphoric acid standard
solutions for the calibration curve preparation using the blank test solution for the
calibration curve preparation as the control (10).
5) Prepare the calibration curve of the phosphoric acid concentration and absorbance of
the phosphoric acid standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Regarding the solution in (4.2) e), measure the absorbance by the same procedure as
b) 4) (10).
2) Obtain the phosphoric acid (P2O5) content from the calibration curve, and calculate
citrate soluble phosphoric acid (C-P2O5) in the analytical sample.

Note (10) Measure within 2 hours after adding the coloring reagent solution.

Comment 7 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 10 % -
20 % (mass fraction) and 1 % - 5 % (mass fraction ) are 96.6 % - 103.4 %
and 102.0 % - 103.8 % as citrate soluble phosphoric acid (C–P2O5)
respectively.
The results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference
material fertilizer were analyzed by using a three level nesting analysis of
variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate
precision and repeatability.

114
 Table 2 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.03 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers, and 0.01 % (mass fraction) for fluid
fertilizers.

Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
certified reference laboratory Average2) sr
4)
RSD r
5)
s I(T)
6)
RSD I(T)
7)
sR
8)
RSD R
9)

1) 3) 3) 3) 3)
material fertilizer p (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
FAMIC-A-10 11 10.05 0.04 0.4 0.05 0.5 0.13 1.3
FAMIC-A-13 10 10.79 0.06 0.6 0.08 0.8 0.09 0.8
1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
conducting Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Mass fraction 8）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability standard deviation 9）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

115
 Table 2 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for nitrate nitrogen hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
2) 4) 5)
Number of Median (Μ ) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample
laboratories (%)
3)
(%)
3)
(%)
2007 Organic compound fertilizer 143 9.81 0.13 1.3
2008 High analysis compound fertilizer 144 15.82 0.13 0.8
2010 High analysis compound fertilizer 140 14.59 0.18 1.2
2013 High analysis compound fertilizer 128 20.60 0.19 0.9
2014 Organic compound fertilizer 123 10.41 0.12 1.1
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 108 - 114, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Kimie KATO, Sakiko TAKAHASHI and Yuji SHIRAI: Validation of a Color metric
Method for Determination of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Boron: Evaluation of
Calibration curve, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.2, p. 137 – 144 (2009)
3) Yoshiyuki SUNAGA, Yasushi SUGIMURA, Ichiro YOSHIDA and Hidenori KONISHI:
Verification of Performance Characteristics of Testing Methods for Phosphorus Content
in Fertilizer by Ammonium Vanadomolybdate Absorption Photometry, Research Report
of Fertilizer Vol. 5, p. 167 – 179 (2012)

116
(5) Flow sheet for citrate soluble phosphoric acid: The flow sheet for citrate soluble
phosphoric acid in fertilizers is shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a 250-mL volumetric flask

← 150 mL of citric acid solution [about 30 ºC]
Shaking to mix Constant-temperature rotary shaker (30 -40 revolutions/min)
30 ºC ± 1 ºC, for 1 hour
Standing to cool
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 100-mL volumetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← Citric acid solution, until it reaches the equivalents of 17 mL
← 4 mL of nitric acid(1+1)
Heating Boiling
← A proper amount of water
← 20 mL of coloring reagent solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Leaving at rest For about 30 minutes

Measurement Spectrophotometer (420nm)

Figure Flow sheet for citrate soluble phosphoric acid in fertilizers

117
4.2.3.b Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis (Fertilizers containing
phosphorous acid or phosphite)
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to the fertilizers containing phosphorous acid or phosphite.
Extract by adding a citric acid solution to an analytical sample, add hydrochloric acid -
sulfuric acid to heat, and oxygenate phosphorous acid ion to orthophosphate ion, and then
measure the absorbance of phosphovanadomolybdate salt formed by the reaction with
ammonium vanadate (V), hexaammonium heptamolybdate and nitric acid to obtain
citrate-soluble phosphoric acid (C-P2O5) in an analytical sample.
In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 4.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Nitric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (HNO3 60 % (mass fraction)) specified in JIS K
8541 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Citric acid solution (1): Dissolve 20 g of citric acid monohydrate specified in JIS K
8283 in water to make 1000 mL.
d) Coloring reagent solution(1) (2): Dissolve 1.12 g of ammonium vanadate (V)(3) specified
in JIS K 8747 in water, add 150 mL of nitric acid, then add 50 g of hexaammonium
heptamolybdate tetrahydrate(4) specified in JIS K 8905 while dissolving in water, and
further add water to make 1000 mL(5).
e) Phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 10 mg/mL)(1): Heat potassium dihydrogen
phosphate specified in JIS K 9007 at 105 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 2 hours, let it stand to cool
in a desiccator, and weigh 19.17 g to a weighing dish. Dissolve with a small amount of
water, transfer to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, add 2 mL - 3 mL of nitric acid, and add
water up to the marked line.
e) Phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 0.5 mg/mL)(1): Transfer 50 mL of
phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 10 mg/mL) to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, add
2 mL - 3 mL of nitric acid, and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) This corresponds to reagent “b” solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of
Fertilizers (1992).
(3) This corresponds to ammonium metavanadate in the Official Methods of
Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(4) This corresponds to ammonium molybdate in the Official Methods of Analysis
of Fertilizers (1992).
(5) Store in an amber bottle. However the reagent solution does not tolerate long
term preservation.

Comment 1 The coloring reagent solution in d) can also be prepared by the following
method.
Dissolve 2.24 g of ammonium vanadate (V) (3) specified in JIS K 8747 in
water, add 300 mL of nitric acid, and add water to make 1000 mL. Separately,
dissolve 100 g of hexaammonium heptamolybdate tetrahydrate (4) specified in
JIS K 8905 in water, and further add water to make 1000 mL. Mix equal
volume of two solutions in the case of usage.
Comment 2 Instead of the phosphoric acid standard solution in (2), a phosphoric acid
standard solution for a calibration curve can be prepared using a phosphoric
acid standard solution (P 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to
118
 National Metrology. In this case, multiply the concentration (P) of a
phosphoric acid standard solution for a calibration curve or a measured value
obtained in (4.3) by a conversion factor (2.2914) to calculate citrate-soluble
phosphoric acid (C-P2O5) in an analytical sample.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Constant-temperature rotary shaker: A constant-temperature rotary shaker that can
rotate a 250-mL volumetric flask, set up in a thermostat adjustable to 30 ºC ± 1 ºC,
upside down at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.
c) Spectrophotometer: A spectrophotometer specified in JIS K 0115.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 250-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add 150 mL of a citric acid solution heated up to about 30 ºC, and shake to mix at 30 -
40 revolutions/min (30 ºC ± 1 ºC) for 1 hour.
c) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) of 4.2.3. a.

(4.2) Coloring: Conduct coloring as follows:

a) Transfer a predetermined amount (up to 25 mL, the equivalents of 0.5 mg - 6 mg as
P2O5) of the sample solution to a 100-mL - 200-mL tall beaker.
b) Add 3 mL of hydrochloric acid and 1 mL of nitric acid.
c) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass (6), heat on a hot plate or sand bath at 200 ºC -
250 ºC and condense until the solution volume becomes about 2 mL (6).
d) After standing to cool, transfer to a 100-mL volumetric flask with water (8).
e) Add the citric acid solution to make the equivalents of 17 mL of the citric acid and
further add 2 mL of nitric acid (1+1).
f) Add 20 mL of a coloring reagent solution, and further add water up to the marked line,
and then leave at rest for about 30 minutes.

Note (6) A watch glass should not be uncovered when bubbles form while heating
because they may splash.
(7) It is recommended to transfer 2 mL of water to a 100-mL - 200-mL tall beaker in
advance and confirm the volume.
(8) The volume of the solution after transferring should be up to 50 mL.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0115 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the
spectrophotometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the spectrophotometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the spectrophotometer considering the following:
Detection wavelength: 420 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation

119
 1) Transfer 1 mL - 12 mL of phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 0.5 mg/mL) to
100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step.
2) Add 17 mL of a citric acid solution, then add 4 mL of nitric acid (1+1), further add a
proper amount of water(9) and conduct the same procedure as (4.2) g) to make the
P2O5 0.5 mg/100 mL - 6 mg/100 mL phosphoric acid standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation.
3) Conduct the same procedures as 2) for another 100-mL volumetric flask to make the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
4) Measure absorbance at a wavelength of 420 nm of the phosphoric acid standard
solutions for the calibration curve preparation using the blank test solution for the
calibration curve preparation as the control (10).
5) Prepare the calibration curve of the phosphoric acid concentration and absorbance of
the phosphoric acid standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Regarding the solution in (4.2) g), measure the absorbance by the same procedure as
b) 4) (10).
2) Obtain the phosphoric acid (P2O5) content from the calibration curve, and calculate
citrate soluble phosphoric acid (C-P2O5) in the analytical sample.

Note (9) If water is not added, precipitate may form when adding the coloring reagent
solution.
(10) Measure within 2 hours after adding the coloring reagent solution in (4.2) g)

Comment 4 Additive recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a solid
fertilizers (10 samples) containing the equivalents of 1.03 % (mass fraction) –
51.04 % (mass fraction) as citrate soluble phosphoric acid. As a result, the
average recovery are 99 % (mass fraction) - 100 % (mass fraction).
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a solid preparation
sample to evaluate precision were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance.
Table 1 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision and
repeatability.
Table 2 shows results and analysis results from a collaborative study for test
method validation.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.05 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days

Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Preparation sample (solid) 1 5 51.01 0.12 0.2 0.16 0.3

Preparation sample (solid) 2 5 2.57 0.01 0.6 0.03 1.1

1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

120
Table 2 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study
for the test method validation of citrate-soluble phosphoric acid
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
Number of Mean sr RSD r sR RSD R
Sample name 1) 3) 3) 3)
laboratories (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Processed
phosphorus 12 47.21 0.13 0.3 0.69 1.5
fertilizers1
Compund
11 17.71 0.07 0.4 0.19 1.1
fertilizers 1
Compund
12 5.08 0.08 1.6 0.17 3.3
fertilizers 2
Absorptive
11 14.32 0.06 0.4 0.18 1.2
mixed fertiliser
Regent 11 50.89 0.14 0.3 0.57 1.1
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n = number of laboratories x number of samples (2))
3) Mass fraction
4) Repeatability standard deviation
5) Repeatability relative standard deviation
6) Reproducibility standard deviation
7) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

121
(5) Flow sheet for citrate-soluble phosphoric acid containing phosphorus acid, etc.:
The flow sheet for citrate-soluble phosphoric acid in fertilizers containing
phosphorus acid, etc.is shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a 250-mL volumetric flask

← 150 mL of citric acid solution [about 30ºC]
Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min)
Shaking to mix
30ºC ± 1ºC, 1 hour

Standing to cool
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 100-mL - 200-mL tall beaker

(predetermined volume)
← 3 mL of hydrochloric acid
← 1 mL of nitric acid
Mixing

Cover with a watch glass, heat on a hot plate or sand bath

Heating
at 200 ºC - 250 ºC, condense until the solution volume reaches about 2 mL

Standing to cool

Transfer 100-mL volumetric flask, water (solution volume is up to about 50 mL)

← Citric acid solution, until the equivalent of 50 mL
← 2 mL of Nitric acid (1+1)
← 20 mL of coloring reagent solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Leaving at rest For about 30 minutes

Measurement Spectrophotometer (420 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for citrate-soluble phosphoric acid

in fertilizers containing phosphorus acid, etc.

122
4.2.3.c Quinoline gravimetric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing no phosphorous acid, etc. It is suitable
for the fertilizers containing relatively a high content of phosphoric acid.
Extract by adding a citric acid solution to an analytical sample. Heat after adding nitric acid
and water, hydrolyze nonorthophosphoric acid to orthophosphate ion and measure the mass of
quinoline phosphomolybdate formed by the reaction with quinoline, molybdic acid and nitric
acid to obtain citrate soluble phosphoric acid (C-P2O5) in an analytical sample.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Nitric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (HNO3 60 % (mass fraction)) specified in JIS K
8541 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
b) Citric acid solution (1): Dissolve citric acid monohydrate specified in JIS K 8283 in
water to make 1000 mL.
c) Sodium molybdate solution: Dissolve 70 g of sodium molybdate dihydrate in 150 mL
of water.
d) Quinoline solution: Add 5 mL of quinoline specified in JIS K 8279 to the mixture
solution of 35 mL of nitric acid and 100 mL of water.
e) Quimosiac solution: Add 60 g of citric acid monohydrate specified in JIS K 8283 to
the mixture solution of 85 mL of nitric acid and 150 mL of water to dissolve. Add
gradually total volume of the sodium molybdate solution to mix. Add gradually the total
volume of the quinoline solution while mixing the solution. After leaving at rest
overnight, filter the total volume with Type 3 filter paper. Add 280 mL of acetone
specified in JIS K 8962, and further add water to make 1000 mL.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Constant-temperature rotary shaker: A constant-temperature rotary shaker that can
rotate a 250-mL volumetric flask, set up in a thermostat adjustable to 30 ºC ± 1 ºC,
upside down at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Water bath: Water bath that can be adjusted to 60 ºC - 65 ºC.
c) Drying apparatus: A drying apparatus that can be adjusted to 220 ºC ± 5 ºC.
d) Crucible type glass filter: A crucible type glass filter 1G4 specified in JIS R 3503. Let
it stand to cool in a desiccator after heating at 220 ºC ± 5 ºC in advance and measure the
mass to the order of 1 mg.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 250-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add 150 mL of citric acid solution heated up to about 30 ºC, and shake to mix at 30-40
revolutions/min (30 ºC ± 1 ºC) for 1 hour.
c) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 1 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) of 4.2.3.a.
Comment 2 For a by-product phosphate fertilizer or a fertilizer containing a by-product
phosphate, if pH of the sample solution of d) is neutral or basic, prepare a
sample solution anew by replacing “1 g of an analytical sample” in the
procedure in a) with “0.5 g of an analytical sample”.
123
(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.
a) Transfer a predetermined volume (the equivalents of 10 mg - 30 mg as P2O5) of sample
solution to a 300-mL tall beaker.
b) Add 5 mL of nitric acid and add water to make about 80 mL.
c) Cover with a watch glass. After boiling for about 3 minutes, wash the watch glass and
the inside the tall beaker with water and add water to make about 100 mL.
d) Immediately, add 50 mL of quimosiac solution, heat for about 15 minutes while
sometimes mixing in a water bath at 60 ºC - 65 ºC and produce the precipitate of
quinolyum molybdate.
e) After standing to cool down to room temperature while sometimes mixing, filter under
reduced pressure with a crucible type glass filter, wash the tall beaker 3 times with
water and transfer the whole precipitate into a crucible type glass filter, further wash 7 -
8 times with water.
f) Transfer the precipitate together with the crucible type glass filter into a drying
apparatus and heat at 220 ºC ± 5 ºC for about 30 minutes.
g) As soon as heating is complete, move into a desiccator and let it stand to cool.
h) After standing to cool, remove the crucible type glass filter from the desiccator and
measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.
i) Calculate citrate soluble phosphoric acid (C-P2O5) by the following formula.

Citrate soluble phosphoric acid (C-P2O5) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

= A × 0.03207 × (V1/V2) × (1/W) × 100

A: Mass (g) of the precipitate in h)

W: Mass of an analytical sample (1 g)
V1: Predetermined volume (250 mL) of the sample solution
V2: Volume (mL) of the sample solution transferred in a)

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.98 - 106, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

124
(5) Flow sheet for citrate soluble phosphoric acid: The flow sheet for citrate soluble
phosphoric acid in fertilizers is shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a 250-mL volumetric flask

← 150 mL of citric acid solution [about 30 ºC]
Shaking to mix Constant-temperature rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min)
30 ºC ± 1 ºC, for 1 hour
Standing to cool
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 300-mL tall beaker

(predetermined volume)
← 5 mL nitric acid
← Water (to reach about 100 mL)
Cover with a watch glass for 3 minutes
Boiling
Wash a watch glass and the inside the tall beaker with water
← Water (to be about 100 mL)
← 50mL of quimosiac solution
Forming precipitation 60 ºC - 65 ºC, for 15 minutes, sometimes mixing

Standing to cool Room temperature

Filtration
Crucible type glass filtering apparatus 1G4, 3 times with water
under reduced pressure

Washing Wash 7 - 8 times with water

Drying 220 ºC ± 5 ºC for about 30 minutes

Standing to cool Desiccator

Measurement Measure the mass to the order of 1 mg

Figure Flow sheet for citrate soluble phosphoric acid in fertilizers

125
4.2.4 Water-soluble phosphoric acid
4.2.4.a Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to the fertilizers that do not contain matters not colored by
hydrolysis with nitrate acids such as phosphoric acid.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, add nitric acid (1+1) to heat, and hydrolyze
nonorthophosphoric acid to orthophosphate ion, then measure the absorbance of
phosphovanadomolybdate salt formed by the reaction with ammonium vanadate (V),
hexaammonium heptamolybdate and nitric acid to obtain citrate soluble phosphoric acid
(C-P2O5) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown
in Comment 8.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Nitric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (HNO3 60 % (mass fraction)) specified in JIS K
8541 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
b) Ammonia solution: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (NH3 28 % (mass fraction)) specified in
JIS K 8085 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Coloring reagent solution(1) (2): Dissolve 1.12 g of ammonium vanadate (V)(3) specified
in JIS K 8747 in water, add 250 mL of nitric acid, then add 27 g of hexaammonium
heptamolybdate tetrahydrate(4) specified in JIS K 8905 while dissolving in water, and
further add water to make 1000 mL(5).
d) Phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 1 g of phenolphthalein specified in
JIS K 8799 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
e) Phosphate standard solution (P2O5 10 mg/mL)(1): Heat potassium dihydrogen
phosphate specified in JIS K 9007 at 105 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 2 hours, let it stand to cool
in a desiccator, and then weigh 19.17 g to a weighing dish. Dissolve with a small
amount of water, transfer to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, add 2 mL - 3 mL of nitric acid,
and add water up to the marked line.
f) Phosphate standard solution (P2O5 0.5 mg/mL)(1): Transfer 50 mL of phosphate
standard solution (P2O5 10 mg/mL) to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, add 2 mL - 3 mL of
nitric acid, and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) This corresponds to reagent “a” solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of
Fertilizers (1992).
(3) This corresponds to ammonium metavanadate in the Official Methods of
Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(4) This corresponds to ammonium molybdate in the Official Methods of Analysis
of Fertilizers (1992).
(5) Store in an amber bottle.

Comment 1 Instead of the phosphoric acid standard solution in (2), a phosphoric acid
standard solution for calibration curve can be prepared using a phosphoric
acid standard solution (P 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to
National Metrology. In this case, calculate water-soluble phosphoric acid
(W-P2O5) in an analytical sample by multiplying the concentration (P) of a
phosphoric acid standard solution for a calibra tion curve or a measured value
obtained in (4.3) by a conversion factor (2.2914).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

126
 a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate a 500-mL volumetric flask upside down
at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.
c) Spectrophotometer: A spectrophotometer specified in JIS K 0115.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Powdery test sample
a) Weigh 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 500-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 400 mL of water, and shake to mix at 30 - 40 revolutions /min for about 30
minutes.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 2 In the procedure in (4.1.1) a), it is also allowed to weigh 2.5 g of an analytical
sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it to a 250-mL volumetric flask.
Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.1) of 4.1.2.b,
(4.1.1) of 4.2.4.b, (4.1) of 4.2.4.c, (4.1) of 4.2.4.d, (4.1.2) of 4.3.3.a, (4.1.2)
of 4.3.3.b, (4.1.2) of 4.3.3.c, (4.1.1) of 4.7.3.a, (4.1.1) of 4.9.2.a, (4.1.1) of
4.10.2.a, (4.1.1) of 4.13.1.a and (4.1.1) of 4.14.1.a
Comment 4 When the determination is affected by the coloring of the sample solution of
d), transfer the predetermined volume of the sample solution to a 100-mL
volumetric flask, add a few drops of hydrochloric acid (1+1) to make it acidic,
then add no more than 0.1 g of active carbon. After leaving at rest for a little
while, add water up to the marked line and filter. The filtrate is prepared as
the sample solution of (4.2) a). Additionally, as phosphorus contained in
active carbon has the possibility to elute and affects the determination value, a
blank test is required.

(4.1.2) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 100-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, and shake to mix.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 5 The procedure in (4.1.2) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) of 4.2.4.b,
(4.1.3) of 4.3.3.a, (4.1) of 4.3.3.d, (4.1) of 4.5.3.b, (4.1) of 4.6.3.b, (4.1.2) of
4.7.3.a, (4.1) of 4.7.3.b, (4.1.2) of 4.8.2.a, (4.1) of 4.8.2.b, (4.1.2) of 4.9.2.a,
(4.1) of 4.9.2.b, (4.1.2) of 4.10.2.a, (4.1) of 4.10.2.b, (4.1.2) of 4.13.1.a, (4.1)
of 4.13.1.b, (4.1.2) of 4.14.1.a, (4.1) of 4.14.1.b, (4.1.2) of 4.14.1.a, (4.1) of
4.14.1.b, (4.1) of 4.15.1.a and (4.1) of 4.15.1.b.

(4.2) Coloring: Conduct coloring as follows:

a) Transfer a predetermined amount (the equivalents of 0.5 mg - 6 mg as P2O5) of the
sample solution to a 100-mL tall beaker.
b) Add 4 mL of nitric acid (1+1) (6), and heat to boil (7).
c) After standing to cool, add 1 - 2 drop(s) of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL), and
neutralize by adding an ammonia solution (1+1) until the color of the solution becomes
light red-purple.
127
 d) Add nitric acid (1+10) until the light red-purple color of the solution disappears to make
it slightly acidic. Transfer with water to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
e) Add 20 mL of coloring reagent solution, and further add water up to the marked line,
and then leave at rest for about 30 minutes (6).

Comment 6 In the procedure in a), a volumetric flask can be used instead of a 100 mL tall
beaker. However the volumetric flask used should be distinguished as a flask
to be used for phosphoric coloring operation and should not be used for the
other purposes. Additionally, “transfer to a 100 mL volumetric flask with
water (8)” in d) is replaced by “add a proper amount of water (9)”.

Note (6) When the solution is muddled by adding nitric acid (1+1), conduct
centrifugation after the procedure in e).
(7) When it does not contain non-orthophosphate, the procedure in b) is not
necessary.
(8) The volume of the solution after transferring should be up to about 60 mL.
(9) If no water is added, precipitate is produced in some cases when a coloring
reagent solution is added.
(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0115 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the
spectrophotometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the spectrophotometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the spectrophotometer considering the following:
Detection wavelength: 420 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Transfer 1 mL - 12 mL of phosphate standard solution (P2O5 0.5 mg/mL) to 100-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step.
2) Add a proper amount of water (9) and conduct the same procedure as (4.2) e) to make
the P2O5 0.5 mg/100 mL - 6 mg/100 mL phosphate standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation.
3) Conduct the same procedures as 2) for another 100-mL volumetric flask to make the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
4) Measure the absorbance at a wavelength of 420 nm of the phosphate standard
solutions for the calibration curve preparation using the blank test solution for the
calibration curve preparation as the control (10).
5) Prepare the calibration curve of the phosphate concentration and absorbance of the
phosphate standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Regarding the solution in (4.2) e), measure absorbance by the same procedure as b)
4) (10).
2) Obtain the phosphate (P2O5) content from the calibration curve, and calculate
water-soluble phosphoric acid (W-P2O5) in the analytical sample.

Note (10) Measure within 6 hours after adding the coloring reagent solution in the
procedure in (4.2) e).

Comment 7 It is also possible to measure soluble phosphoric acid at the same time by
adding 4 mL of nitrate acid (1+1) and 2 mL of Petermans citrate solution after
the procedure in (4.2) a), and by conducting the procedures in (4.2) d) – (4.3)

128
 in 4.2.2.a (using b regent solution in the Research Report of Fertilizer
(1992)).
Further it is also possible to measure citrate soluble phosphoric acid at the
same time by adding 4 mL of nitrate acid (1+1) and 17 mL of citrate solution
after the procedure in (4.2) a), and by conducting the procedures from (4.2)
d) to (4.3) in 4.2.2.a (using b regent solution in the Research Report of
Fertilizer (1992)).

Comment 8 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 10 % -
20 % (mass fraction) and 1 % - 5 % (mass fraction ) are 100.5 % - 101.2 %
and 99.0 % - 101.7 % as water-soluble phosphoric acid (W-P2O5)
respectively.
The results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference
material fertilizer were analyzed by using the three level nesting analysis of
variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate
precision and repeatability.
Table 2 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using fluid mixed
fertilizers to evaluate the precision of fluid fertilizers were analyzed by the
one-way analysis of variance. Table 3 shows the calculation results of
intermediate precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.03 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers, and 0.004 % (mass fraction) for
fluid fertilizers.

Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
certified reference laboratory Average2) sr
4)
RSD r
5)
s I(T)
6)
RSD I(T)
7)
sR
8)
RSD R
9)

1) 3) 3) 3) 3)
material fertilizer p (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
FAMIC-B-10 9 7.00 0.02 0.3 0.03 0.5 0.07 1.0

FAMIC-B-14 15 6.70 0.02 0.3 0.03 0.5 0.06 0.9

1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 6）　Intermediate standard deviation

conducting Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Mass fraction 8）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability standard deviation 9）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

129
Table 2 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
for water-soluble phosphoric acid hosted
1)
by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
5)
Number of Median (Μ )2) NIQR
4)
RSD rob
Year Sample 3) 3)
laboratories (%) (%) (%)
High analysis
2006 157 9.02 0.12 1.3
compound fertilizer
Organic compound
2007 143 7.02 0.23 3.3
fertilizer
High analysis
2008 146 9.16 0.24 2.7
compound fertilizer
Ordinary compound
2009 142 4.57 0.08 1.7
fertilizer
High analysis
2010 143 11.56 0.52 4.5
compound fertilizer
High analysis
2011 132 14.41 0.19 1.3
compound fertilizer
2012 Fluid mixed fertilizer 128 2.88 0.06 2.1

High analysis
2013 133 12.08 0.19 0.9
compound fertilizer
Organic compound
2014 129 5.34 0.12 2.2
fertilizer
2015 Fluid mixed fertilizer 124 6.15 0.07 1.1
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100

130
 Table 3 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)

Fluid mixed fertilizer 1 7 12.19 0.02 0.2 0.05 0.4

Fluid mixed fertilizer 2 7 2.88 0.01 0.2 0.02 0.5

1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 108 - 114, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Kimie KATO, Sakiko TAKAHASHI and Yuji SHIRAI: Validation of a Color metric
Method for Determination of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Boron: Evaluation of
Calibration curve, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.2, p. 137 – 144 (2009)
3) Yoshiyuki SUNAGA, Yasushi SUGIMURA, Ichiro YOSHIDA and Hidenori KONISHI:
Verification of Performance Characteristics of Testing Methods for Phosphorus Content
in Fertilizer by Ammonium Vanadomolybdate Absorption Photometry, Research Report
of Fertilizer Vol. 5, p. 167 – 179 (2012)

131
(5) Flow sheet for water-soluble phosphoric acid: The flow sheet for water-soluble
phosphoric acid in fertilizers is shown below:

5 g analytical sample
Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 500-mL volumetric flask
(powdery)
← Water, about 400 mL
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min) for 30 minutes

1 g analytical sample
Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 100-mL volumetric flask
(fluid)
← Water, about 50 mL
Shaking to mix

← Water (up to the marked line)

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 100-mL volumetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← 4 mL of nitric acid(1+1)
Heating Boiling

Standing cool
← 1-2 drop(s) of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL)
← Ammonia solution (1+1) [neutralization]
← Nitric acid (1+10) [slightly acidic]
← A proper amount of water
← 20 mL of coloring reagent solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Leaving at rest For about 30 minutes

Measurement Spectrophotometer (420 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble phosphoric acid in fertilizers

132
4.2.4.b Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis (Fertilizers containing
phosphorous acid or phosphite)
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to the fertilizers containing phosphorous acid or phosphite.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, add hydrochloric acid - sulfuric acid to heat,
and oxygenate phosphonic acid ion to orthophosphate ion, and then measure the absorbance
of phosphovanadomolybdate salt formed by the reaction with ammonium vanadate (V),
hexaammonium heptamolybdate and nitric acid to obtain water-soluble phosphoric acid
(W-P2O5) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is
shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Nitric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (HNO3 60 % (mass fraction)) specified in JIS K
8541 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Ammonia solution: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (NH3 28 % (mass fraction)) specified in
JIS K 8085 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
d) Coloring reagent solution(1) (2): Dissolve 1.12 g of ammonium vanadate (V)(3) specified
in JIS K 8747 in water, add 250 mL of nitric acid, then add 27 g of hexaammonium
heptamolybdate tetrahydrate(4) specified in JIS K 8905 while dissolving in water, and
further add water to make 1000 mL(5).
e) Phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 1 g of phenolphthalein specified in
JIS K 8799 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
f) Phosphate standard solution (P2O5 10 mg/mL)(1): Heat potassium dihydrogen
phosphate specified in JIS K 9007 at 105 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 2 hours, let it stand to cool
in a desiccator, and weigh 19.17 g to a weighing dish. Dissolve with a small amount of
water, transfer to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, add 2 mL - 3 mL of nitric acid, and add
water up to the marked line.
g) Phosphate standard solution (P2O5 0.5 mg/mL)(1): Transfer 50 mL of phosphate
standard solution (P2O5 10 mg/mL) to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, add 2 mL - 3 mL of
nitric acid, and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) This corresponds to reagent “a” solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of
Fertilizers (1992).
(3) This corresponds to ammonium metavanadate in the Official Methods of
Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(4) This corresponds to ammonium molybdate in the Official Methods of Analysis
of Fertilizers (1992).
(5) Store in an amber bottle.

Comment 1 Instead of the phosphoric acid standard solution in (2), a phosphoric acid
standard solution for a calibration curve can be prepared using a phosphoric
acid standard solution (P 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to
National Metrology. In this case, calculate water-soluble phosphoric acid
(W-P2O5) in an analytical sample by multiplying the concentration (P) of
phosphoric acid standard solution for a calibration curve or a measured value
obtained in (4.3) by a conversion factor (2.2914).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

133
 a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate a 500-mL volumetric flask upside
down at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.
c) Spectrophotometer: A spectrophotometer specified in JIS K 0115.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Powdery test sample
a) Weigh 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 500-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 400 mL of water, and shake to mix at 30 - 40 revolutions /min for about 30
minutes.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 2 In the procedure in a), it is also allowed to weigh 2.5 g of an analytical

sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it into a 250-mL volumetric flask.
Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) of 4.2.4.a.

(4.1.2) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 100-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, and shake to mix.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 4 The procedure in (4.1.2) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) of 4.2.4.a.

(4.2) Coloring: Conduct coloring as shown below:

a) Transfer a predetermined amount (the equivalents of 0.5 mg - 6 mg as P2O5) of the
sample solution to a 100-mL - 200-mL tall beaker.
b) Add 3 mL of hydrochloric acid and 1 mL of nitric acid.
c) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, heat on a hot plate or sand bath at 200 ºC - 250
ºC and condense (7) until the solution volume becomes about 2 mL (6).
d) After standing to cool, transfer to a 100-mL volumetric flask with water (8).
e) Add 1 - 2 drop(s) of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL), and neutralize by adding
ammonia solution (1+1) until the color of the solution becomes light red-purple.
f) Add nitric acid (1+10) until the light red-purple color of the solution disappears to make
it slightly acidic.
g) Add 20 mL of coloring reagent solution, and further add water up to the marked line,
and then leave at rest for about 30 minutes.

Note (6) It is recommended to transfer about 2 mL of water to a 100-mL - 200-mL tall

beaker in advance and confirm the volume.
(7) Care should be taken not to evaporate completely. When it is evaporated
completely, the determined value becomes lower than usual in some cases.
(8) The volume of the solution after transferring should be up to about 50 mL.

134
(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0115 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the
spectrophotometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the spectrophotometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the spectrophotometer considering the following:
Detection wavelength: 420 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Transfer 1mL - 12 mL of phosphate standard solution (P2O5 0.5 mg/mL) to 100-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step.
2) Add a proper amount of water (9) and conduct the same procedure as (4.2) g) to make
the P2O5 0.5 mg/100 mL - 6 mg/100 mL phosphate standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation.
3) Conduct the same procedures as 2) for another 100-mL volumetric flask to make the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
4) Measure absorbance at a wavelength of 420 nm of the phosphate standard solutions
for the calibration curve preparation using the blank test solution for the calibration
curve preparation as the control (10).
5) Prepare the calibration curve of the phosphate concentration and absorbance of the
phosphate standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Regarding the solution in (4.2) g), measure the absorbance by the same procedure as
b) 4) (10).
2) Obtain the phosphate (P2O5) content from the calibration curve, and calculate
water-soluble phosphoric acid (W-P2O5) in the analytical sample.

Note (9) If no water is added, precipitate is produced in some cases when a coloring
reagent solution is added.
(10) Measure within 6 hours after adding the coloring reagent solution in the
procedure in (4.2) g).

Comment 5 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a fluid preparation
sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 30 % -
50 % (mass fraction), 10 % - 20 % (mass fraction), 4 % (mass fraction) and
0.2 % (mass fraction) are 101.1 % - 101.8 %, 101.1 % - 101.5 %, 100.8 %
and 102.5 % as water-soluble phosphoric acid (W-P2O5) respectively.
Additionally, when using a solid preparation sample, the average rate of
recovery at the content level of 30 % - 59 % (mass fraction), 12 % - 21 %
(mass fraction) and 1 % - 9 % (mass fraction) are 99.5 % - 100.4 %, 99.3 % -
100.3 % and 96.9 % - 100.4 % respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a solid preparation
sample to evaluate precision were analyzed by the one-way analysis of
variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision and
repeatability.
Table 2 and table 3 show results and analysis results from a collaborative
study for test method validation using fluid fertilizers and solid fertilizers.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.04 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers, and 0.01 % (mass fraction) for
fluid fertilizers.

135
 Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)

Preparation sample (solid) 1 7 59.36 0.09 0.2 0.13 0.2

Preparation sample (solid) 2 7 5.90 0.07 1.2 0.07 1.2

1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Table 2 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study

for the test method validation of water-soluble phosphoric acid
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
Number of Mean sr RSD r sR RSD R
Sample name 1) 3) 3) 3)
laboratories (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Fluid mixed
12 33.56 0.25 0.7 0.59 1.8
fertilizers 1
Fluid mixed
12 17.93 0.08 0.5 0.30 1.7
fertilizers 2
Fluid mixed
12 7.99 0.12 1.5 0.31 3.8
fertilizers 3
Fluid mixed
11 11.93 0.13 1.1 0.33 2.8
fertilizers 4
Fluid mixed
11 24.1 0.08 0.3 0.47 2.0
fertilizers 5
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n = number of laboratories x number of samples (2))
3) Mass fraction
4) Repeatability standard deviation
5) Repeatability relative standard deviation
6) Reproducibility standard deviation
7) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

136
 Table 3 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study
for the test method validation of water-soluble phosphoric acid
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
Number of Mean sr RSD r sR RSD R
Sample name 1) 3) 3) 3)
laboratories (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Compound
12 58.47 0.13 0.2 0.42 0.7
fertilizers 1
Compound
12 3.92 0.04 1.0 0.08 2.1
fertilizers 2
Compound
12 13.37 0.10 0.7 0.20 1.5
fertilizers 3
Absorptive
12 7.16 0.03 0.4 0.16 2.3
mixed fertilizers
Blended
12 21.80 0.12 0.5 0.18 0.8
fertilizers
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n= number of laboratories x number of samples (2))
3) Mass fraction
4) Repeatability standard deviation
5) Repeatability relative standard deviation
6) Reproducibility standard deviation
7) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Toshiaki HIROI, Masakazu SAIKI and Kimie KATO: Development and Validation of
Spectrophotometry for Determination of Water-Soluble Phosphoric acid in Liquid
Mixed Fertilizer Containing Phosphonic acid, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.1 P. 25
- 33 (2008)
2) Toshiaki HIROI, Masakazu SAIKI and Kimie KATO: Determination of Water-Soluble
Phosphoric Acid in Liquid Mixed Fertilizer Containing Phosphonic Acid by
Spectrophotometry: A Collaborative Study, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.1 p. 34 -
40 (2008)
3) Fumihiro ABE, Noriyuki SASAKI and Toshio HIRABARA: Determination of
Water-Soluble Phosphorus in Solid Fertilizer Containing Phosphonic Acid by
Spectrophotometry, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.8, p. 10 – 16 (2015)

137
(5) Flow sheet for water-soluble phosphoric acid of the fluid mixed fertilizers
containing phosphonic acid, etc.: The flow sheet for water-soluble phosphoric acid of
the fluid mixed fertilizers containing phosphonic acid, etc. is shown below:

5 g analytical sample
Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 500-mL volumetric flask
(powdery)
← Water, about 400 mL
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min) for 30 minutes

1 g analytical sample
Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 100-mL volumetric flask
(fluid)
← Water, about 50 mL
Shaking to mix

← Water (up to the marked line)

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 100-mL - 200-mL tall beaker

(predetermined volume)
← 3 mL of hydrochloric acid
← 1 mL of nitric acid
Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, heat on a hot plate or sand bath
Heating
at 200 ºC - 250 ºC, condense until the solution volume reaches about 2 mL

Standing to cool

Transfer 100-mL volumetric flask, water

← 1-2 drop(s) of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL)
← Ammonia solution (1+1) [neutralization]
← Nitric acid (1+10) [slightly acidic]
← 20 mL of coloring reagent solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Leaving at rest For about 30 minutes

Measurement Spectrophotometer (420 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble phosphoric acid

in fertilizers containing phosphorus acid, etc.

138
4.2.4.c Quinoline gravimetric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing no phosphonic acid, etc.
It is suitable for the fertilizers containing relatively a high content of phosphate.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample. Heat after adding nitric acid and water,
hydrolyze nonorthophosphoric acid to orthophosphate ion and measure the mass of
quinonium phosphomolybdate formed by the reaction with quinoline, molybdic acid and
nitric acid to obtain water-soluble phosphoric acid (W-P2O5) in an analytical sample.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Nitric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (HNO3 60 % (mass fraction)) specified in JIS K
8541 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
b) Sodium molybdate solution: Dissolve 70 g of sodium molybdate dihydrate in 150 mL
of water.
c) Quinoline solution: Add 5 mL of quinoline specified in JIS K 8279 to the mixture
solution of 35 mL of nitric acid and 100 mL of water.
d) Quimosiac solution: Add 60 g of citric acid monohydrate specified in JIS K 8283 to
the mixture solution of 85 mL nitric acid and 150 mL of water to dissolve. Add
gradually total volume of the sodium molybdate solution to mix them. Add gradually
the total volume of the quinoline solution while mixing the solution. After leaving at
rest overnight, filter the total volume with Type 3 filter paper. Add 280 mL of acetone
specified in JIS K 8962, and further add water to make 1000 mL.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate a 500-mL volumetric flask upside down
at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Water bath: Water bath that can be adjusted to 60 ºC - 65 ºC.
c) Drying apparatus: A drying apparatus that can be adjusted to 220 ºC ± 5 ºC.
d) Crucible type glass filter: A crucible type glass filter 1G4 specified in JIS R 3503. Let
it stand to cool in a desiccator after heating at 220 ºC ± 5 ºC in advance and measure the
mass to the order of 1 mg.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put to a 500-mL volumetric
flask.
b) Add about 400 mL of water, and shake to mix at 30 - 40 revolutions/min for 30 minutes.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 1 In the procedure in a), it is allowed to weigh 2.5 g of an analytical sample to

the order of 1 mg, and put it into a 250-mL volumetric flask.
Comment 2 The procedure in (4.1) is the same procedure in (4.1) of 4.2.4.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer a predetermined volume (the equivalents of 10 mg - 30 mg as P2O5 and no
more than 20 mL as the total solution volume) of sample solution to a 300-mL tall
beaker.
b) Add 5 mL of nitric acid and add water to make about 80 mL.
c) Cover with a watch glass. After boiling for about 3 minutes, wash the watch glass and
the inside the tall beaker with water and add water to make about 100 mL.
139
 d) Immediately, add 50 mL of quimosiac solution, heat for about 15 minutes while
sometimes mixing in a water bath at 60 ºC - 65 ºC and produce precipitate of quinolyum
molybdate.
e) After standing to cool down to room temperature while sometimes mixing, filter under
reduced pressure with a crucible type glass filter, wash the tall beaker 3 times with
water and transfer the whole precipitate into a crucible type glass filter, further wash 7 -
8 times with water.
f) Transfer the precipitate together with a crucible type glass filter into a drying apparatus
and heat at 220 ºC ± 5 ºC for about 30 minutes.
g) As soon as heating is complete, move it into a desiccator and let it stand to cool.
h) After standing to cool, remove the crucible type glass filter from the desiccator and
measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.
i) Calculate water-soluble phosphoric acid (W-P2O5) by the following formula.

Water-soluble phosphoric acid (W-P2O5) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

= A × 0.03207 × (V1/V2) × (1/W) × 100

A: Mass (g) of the precipitate in h)

W: Mass of an analytical sample (5 g)
V1: Predetermined volume (500 mL) of the sample solution
V2: Volume (mL) of the sample solution transferred in a)

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 98 - 114, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

140
(5) Flow sheet for water-soluble phosphoric acid: The flow sheet for water-soluble
phosphoric acid in fertilizers is shown below:

5 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a 500-mL volumetric flask

← About 400 mL of water
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min) for 30 minutes
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 300-mL tall beaker

(predetermined volume)
← 5 mL nitrate acid
← Water (to make about 80 mL)
Cover with a watch glass for 3 minutes
Boiling
Wash a watch glass and the inside the tall beaker with water
← Water (to make about 100 mL)
← 50 mL quimosiac solution
Forming precipitate 60 ºC - 65 ºC, for 15 minutes, some times mix

Standing to cool Room temperature

Filtration
Crucible type glass filtering apparatus 1G4, 3 times with water
under reduced pressure

Washing Wash 7 - 8 times with water

Drying 220 ºC ± 5 ºC for about 30 minutes

Standing to cool Desiccator

Measurement Measure the mass to the order of 1 mg

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble phosphoric acid in fertilizers

141
4.2.4.d ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fluid mixed fertilizers and the fluid fertilizers of home
garden-use mixed fertilizers. It is also suitable for the fertilizers containing phosphorus acid
(phosphite).
Add water to an analytical sample to extract, introduce it to an ICP Optical Emission
Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and measure the phosphorus at a wavelength of 178.287 nm to
obtain water-soluble phosphoric acid (W-P2O5). In addition, the performance of this testing
method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 10 mg/mL)(1): Heat potassium dihydrogen
phosphate specified in JIS K 9007 at 105 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 2 hours, let it stand to cool
in a desiccator, and weigh 19.17 g into a weighing dish. Dissolve with a small amount
of water, transfer to a 1,000-mL volumetric flask, add 2 mL – 3 mL of nitric acid and
add water up to the marked line.
d) Phosphoric acid standard solution (P2O5 1 mg/mL)(1): Transfer 10 mL of Phosphoric
acid standard solution (P2O5 10 mg/mL) to 100-mL flask and add hydrochloric acid
(1+23) up to the marked line.
e) Phosphoric acid standard solutions (P2O5 20 µg/mL – 0.4 mg/mL) for the
calibration curve preparation (1): Transfer 2 mL - 40 mL of phosphoric acid standard
solution (P2O5 1 mg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add
hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the marked line.
f) Phosphoric acid standard solutions (P2O5 5 µg/mL - 20 µg/mL) for the calibration
curve preparation (1): Transfer 5 mL - 20 mL of phosphoric acid standard solution
(P2O5 0.1 mg/mL) for the calibration curve preparation to 100-mL volumetric flasks
step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the marked line.
g) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedures in d), e) and f).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the phosphoric acid standard solution in (2), a phosphoric acid
standard solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by
using a phosphoric acid standard solution (P 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable
to National Metrology. In this case, calculate water-soluble phosphoric acid
(W-P2O5) in an analytical sample by multiplying the concentration (P) of a
phosphoric acid standard solution for a calibration curve or a measured value
obtained in (4.2) by a conversion factor (2.2914).
Comment 2 There are two modes to observe emission from an ICP-OES, a horizontal
observation mode and an axial observation mode. The range of the
concentration of the standard solution for the calibration preparation curve in
d) and e) applies to a horizontal observation mode. While an axial observation
mode can observe a measurement component of low level concentrations, it
cannot gain the linearity of a calibration curve in the range of high level
concentrations. Therefore, when using the ICP-OES of an axial observation
mode, it is recommended to prepare a phosphoric acid standard solution for

142
 the calibration curve in the concentration range which is suitable to a device
used.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: An Optical Emission Spectrometer specified in
JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample (2) to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 100-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, shake to mix and add water up to the marked line.
c) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (2) The sampling amount of the analytical sample is 10 g when there is less
phosphoric acid content in the fertilizers such as a home garden-use fertilizer.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) of 4.2.4.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0116 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the ICP
Optical Emission Spectrometry used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 178.287 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the phosphoric acid standard solution for the calibration curve preparation
and blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into inductively
coupled plasma, and read the indicated value at a wavelength of 178.287 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the phosphoric acid concentration and
the indicated value of the phosphoric acid standard solution for the calibration
curve preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution (the equivalents of 0.5 mg – 40
mg as P2O5) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5), and add water up to the marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the phosphoric acid content from the calibration curve, and calculate the
water-soluble phosphoric acid (W-P2O5).

Comment 4 The simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is

available. In this case, transfer a pre-determined amount of phosphoric acid
standard solution (P 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL), potassium standard solution (K
1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL), magnesium standard solution (Mg 1 mg/mL or 10
mg/mL), manganese standard solution (Mn 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL), boron
standard solution (B 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL), calcium standard solution (Ca 1
mg/mL), iron standard solution (Fe 1 mg/mL), cobalt standard solution (Co 1
mg/mL), copper standard solution (Cu 1 mg/mL), zinc standard solution (Zn
143
 1 mg/mL) and molybdenum standard solution (Mo 1 mg/mL) traceable to
National Metrology to a volumetric flask to mix, add hydrochloric acid (1+5)
to make an acid concentration of 0.5 mol/L and further add water up to the
marked line to prepare a primary mixed standard solution. Transfer a
pre-determined volume of primary mixed standard solution to volumetric
flasks step-by-step, add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the marked line to
prepare mixed standard solutions for calibration curve preparation within the
concentration range in Table 1. In this case, multiply the respective
concentrations of mixed standard solutions for calibration curve preparation
or measurement values obtained in (4.2) by the conversion factors in Table 1
to calculate respective main components in an analytical sample. The
measurement wavelengths of respective elements are according to Table 1. In
addition, when preserving mixed standard solutions for calibration curve
preparation, use a container, which can be sealed tightly, made of material
such as PTFE that boron hardly elutes.

Table 1　　Preparation concentration and measurement wavelength of mixed standard solution

for calibration curve preparation
Mixed standard solutions for calibration curve preparation
　Concentration of
Concentration of the Conversion Measurement
Name of test item element 1) wavelength
equivalents to oxide(µg/mL) factor
(µg/mL) (nm)
Water-soluble phosphoric acid P 1~200 P2 O5 2.291~458.2 2.2914 178.287

Water-soluble potassium K 1~200 K2 O 1.205~241.0 1.2046 766.491

Water-soluble magnesia Mg 0.1~20 MgO 0.1658~33.16 1.6583 279.553

Water-soluble manganese Mn 0.05~10 MnO 0.06455~12.91 1.2912 257.610
Water-soluble boron B 0.05~10 B2 O3 0.1610~32.20 3.2199 249.773
Water-soluble calcium Ca 0.1 - 20 - - 393.366
Water-soluble zinc Zn 0.1 - 20 - - 213.856
Water-soluble copper Cu 0.1 - 20 - - 327.396
Water-soluble iron Fe 0.1 - 20 - - 259.940
Water-soluble molybdenum Mo 0.1 - 20 - - 202.030
Water-soluble cobalt Co 0.1 - 20 - - 228.616
1）　Factor to convert an element to oxide

Comment 5 The comparison of the measurement value (yi：0.179 % - 10.88 % (mass

fraction )) of ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value
(xi) of Ammonium vanadomolybdate absorptiometric analysis was conducted
to evaluate trueness using fluid fertilizers (12 samples). As a result, a
regression equation was y = -0.022+1.008x, and its correlation coefficient (r)
was 0.999. Additionally, additive recovery testing was conducted using a fluid
mixed fertilizer (1 brand) and a home garden-use mixed fertilizer (1 brand).
As a result, the mean recovery rates at additive level of 10 % (mass fraction)
and 1 % (mass fraction) were 98.1 % and 101.9 % respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a fluid mixed
fertilizer and a home garden-use mixed fertilizer to evaluate precision were
analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance. Table 2 shows the calculation
results of intermediate precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.02 % (mass fraction).

144
 Table 2 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Liquid mixed fertilizer 7 10.83 0.10 0.9 0.14 1.3
Home garder-use mixed
7 0.829 0.008 0.9 0.015 1.8
fertilizer（liquid)
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

References
1) Keisuke AOYAMA: Simultaneous Determination of Water-Soluble Principal
Ingredients (W-P2O5, W-K2O, W-MgO, W-MnO and W-B2O3) in Liquid Fertilizer using
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), Research
Report of Fertilizer, Vol.8, p. 1 – 9 (2015)

(5) Flow sheet: The flow sheet for water-soluble phosphoric acid of the fluid mixed
fertilizers is shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a 100-mL volumetric flask

← Water, about 50 mL
Shaking to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration

Aliquot 100-mL volmetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
← Water (up to the marked line)

Measurement ICP-OES (178.287nm)

Figure The flow sheet for water-soluble phosphoric acid

in fluid fertilizers

145
4.3 Potassium
4.3.1 Total potassium
4.3.1.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry or flame photometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing organic matters.
Pretreat an analytical sample with incineration and hydrochloric acid to convert the total
potassium into potassium ion, add an interference suppressor solution, and then spray in an
acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic absorption with potassium at a wavelength of
766.5 nm or 769.9 nm to quantify the total potassium. Or, determine the intensity of the
emission line at a wavelength of 766.5 nm or 769.9 nm produced in flame to obtain the total
potassium (T-K2O) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing
method is shown in Comment 4.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Interference suppressor solution: Weigh 12.5 g of calcium carbonate specified in JIS
K 8617 into a 2000-mL beaker, add a small amount of water, gradually add 105 mL of
hydrochloric acid, and heat for a little while. After standing to cool, add water to make
1,000 mL.
c) Potassium standard solution (K2O 1 mg/mL)(1): Heat potassium chloride specified in
JIS K 8121 at 110 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 2 hours, let it stand to cool in a desiccator, and
weigh 1.583 g into a weighing dish. Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer to a
1000-mL volumetric flask, and add water up to the marked line.
d) Potassium standard solution (K2O 5 µg/mL - 50 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of potassium standard solution (K2O 1
mg/mL) to 500-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add about 50 mL of interference
suppressor solution (2), and add water up to the marked line.
e) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Transfer about 50 mL of
interference suppressor solution to a 500-mL volumetric flask (2), and add water up to the
marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Add an interference suppressor solution that is 1/10 volume of the volume to be
prepared.

Comment 1 Instead of the potassium standard solution in (2), a potassium standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
potassium standard solution (K 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology. In this case, calculate total potassium (T-K2O) in the analytical
sample by multiplying the concentration (K) of a potassium standard solution
for calibration curve preparation or a measurement value (K) obtained in (4.2)
by a conversion factor (1.2046).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Analytical instrument: An atomic absorption spectrometer or a flame photometer as
shown below:
aa) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121.
1) Light source: A potassium hollow cathode lamp
146
 2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
ab) Flame photometer:
1) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
b) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be adjusted to 550 ºC ± 5 ºC.
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
(4.1.1) Incineration-hydrochloric acid boiling
a) Weigh 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 200-mL - 300-mL
tall beaker.
b) Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char(3).
c) Ignite at 550 ºC ± 5 ºC for no less than 4 hours to incinerate.
d) After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, add gradually
about 10 mL of hydrochloric acid, and further add water to make about 20 mL.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to boil
for about 5 minutes.
f) After standing to cool, transfer to a 100-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask.
g) Add water up to the marked line.
h) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (3) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.

Comment 2 The procedures in (4.1.1) are the same as in (4.1.2) in 4.2.1.a.

(4.1.2) Incineration-aqua regia digestion

a) Weigh 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 200-mL - 300-mL
tall beaker.
b) Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char(3).
c) Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC to incinerate (4).
d) After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water and add
gradually about 10 mL of nitric acid and about 30 mL of hydrochloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to digest.
f) Slightly move the watch glass (5), and continue heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until nearly dried up.
g) After standing to cool, add 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5) (6) to the digest,
cover the tall beaker with the watch glass, and heat quietly to dissolve.
h) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask with
water, add water up to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the
sample solution.

Note (4) Example of ignition period: 8 - 16 hours

(5) The watch glass can be removed.

147
 (6) Add hydrochloric acid (1+5) so that the hydrochloric acid concentration of the
sample solution will be hydrochloric acid (1+23). For example, when a 100-mL
volumetric flask is used in the procedure in h), about 25 mL of hydrochloric
acid (1+5) should be added.

Comment3 The procedures in (4.1.2) are the same as in (4.1.3) in 4.2.1.a. and (4.1) a) –
h) in 5.3.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer or flame photometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer or flame
photometer: Set up the measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer
or flame photometer considering the following:
Analytical line wavelength: 766.5 nm or 769.9 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the potassium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 766.5 nm or 769.9 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the potassium concentration and the
indicated value of the potassium standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.5 mg - 5
mg as K2O) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 10 mL of interference suppressor solution (2), and add water up to the
marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the potassium content from the calibration curve, and calculate total potassium
in the analytical sample.

Comment 4 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 10 % -
20 % (mass fraction) and 1 % - 5 % (mass fraction ) are 97.8 % - 100.1 %
and 100.9 % - 103.1 % as total potassium (T-K2O) respectively.
The results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference
material fertilizer were analyzed by using the three level nesting analysis of
variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate
precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.08 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers, and 0.03 % (mass fraction) for
fluid fertilizers.

148
 Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
certified reference laboratory Average2) sr
4)
RSD r
5)
s I(T)
6)
RSD I(T)
7)
sR
8)
RSD R
9)

1) 3) 3) 3) 3)
material fertilizer p (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
FAMIC-C-12 11 0.584 0.005 0.9 0.011 1.9 0.038 6.5
1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
conducting flame atomic absorbance spectrometry
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Mass fraction 8）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability standard deviation 9）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

References
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 132 - 138, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Kimie KATO, Masayuki YOSHIMOTO and Yuji SHIRAI: Systematization of
Determination Methods of Major Components in Sludge Fertilizer, Compost and
Organic Fertilizer, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.3 p. 107 - 116 (2010)
3) Yasuharu KIMURA and Hisanori ARAYA: Verification of Performance Characteristics
of Testing Methods for Potassium Content in Fertilizer by Atomic Absorption
Spectrometry, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 5, p. 190 – 200 (2012)

149
(5) Flow sheet for total potassium: The flow sheet for total potassium in fertilizers is
shown below:

5 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.

Charring Heat gently

Incineration 550 ºC ± 5 ºC, no less than 4 hours

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water, moisten the residue
← About 10 mL of hydrochloric acid
← Water (up to about 20 mL)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and boil for 5 minutes.

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
(predetermined 100-mL volumetric flask, water
amount)
← About 10 mL interference suppressor solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer or flame photometer

Figure 1 Flow sheet (1) for total potassium in fertilizers

　　(Preaparation of sample solution and measurement by incineration-hydrochloric acid boiling)

150
 5g
Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample

Charring Heat gently

Incineration Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water
← About 10 mL of nitric acid
← About 30 mL of hydrochloric acid
Heating Cover with a watch glass to digest

Heating Slightly move the watch glass and remove acid

Standing to cool Room temperature

← 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
Heating Cover with a watch glass to dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 100-mL volumetric flask, water

← About 10 mL interference suppressor solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer or flame photometer

Figure 2 Flow sheet (2) for total potassium in fertilizers

　　(Preaparation of sample solution and measurement by incineration-aqua regia digestion)

151
4.3.1.b Sodium tetraphenylborate gravimetric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing organic matters. It is suitable for
fertilizers containing relatively a high content of potassium.
Pretreat an analytical sample by incineration and hydrochloric acid to convert the total
potassium into potassium ion, mask co-existing ammonium and other salts with formaldehyde
and ethylenediamine tetraacetate, and measure the mass of potassium tetraphenylborate
formed by the reaction with tetraphenylborate to obtain the total potassium (T-K2O) in an
analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment
2.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Formaldehyde solution: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8872 or a
reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L) (1): Dissolve 200 g of sodium hydroxide
specified in JIS K 8576 in water to make 1000 mL.
d) Aluminum chloride solution (1): Dissolve 12 g of aluminum chloride (III) hexahydrate
specified in JIS K 8114 in water to make 100 mL.
e) Tetraphenylborate solution (1): Transfer 6.1 g of sodium tetraphenylborate specified in
JIS K 9521to a 250-mL volumetric flask, dissolve by adding about 200 mL of water and
add 10 mL of aluminum chloride solution. Add a methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL) as
an indicator, and neutralize with a sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L) until the color
of the solution changes to yellow, and then add water up to the marked line. Filter with
Type 3 filter paper and add 0.5 mL of sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L) to the total
filtrate. Filter with Type 3 filter paper in the case of usage.
f) Tetraphenylborate washing solution (1): Dilute 40 mL of tetraphenylborate solution
with water to make 1000 mL.
g) Ethylenediaminetetraacetate - Sodium hydroxide solution (1): Dissolve 10 g of
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium dihydrogen dihydrate specified in JIS K 8107
and 8 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576 in a proper amount of water. Add
6 mL - 10 mL of tetraphenylborate solution while mixing according to the potassium
content coexisting as impurity after standing to cool, and then add water to make 100
mL. After leaving at rest for about 30 minutes while sometimes mixing, filter with Type
3 filter paper.

h) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.10 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a)Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be adjusted to 550 ºC ± 5 ºC.
b)Drying apparatus: A drying apparatus that can be adjusted to 120 ºC ± 2 ºC.
c)Crucible type glass filter: A crucible type glass filter 1G4 specified in JIS R 3503 into
a drying apparatus. Let it stand to cool in a desiccator after heating at 120 ºC ± 2 ºC in
advance and measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.
d) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.
152
(4) Test procedures
(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 200- mL -
300-mL tall beaker.
b) Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char(2).
c) Ignite at 550 ºC ± 5 ºC for no less than 4 hours to incinerate.
d) After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, add gradually
about 10 mL of hydrochloric acid, and further add water to make 20 mL.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to boil
for about 5 minutes.
f) After standing to cool, transfer to a 100-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask.
g) Add water up to the marked line.
h) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (2) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.

Comment 1 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as (4.1.2) in 4.2.1.a. In addition, the
sample solution prepared in (4.1) a) - h) in 4.9.1.a can also be used.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer a predetermined volume (the equivalents of 15 mg - 30 mg as K2O) of sample
solution to a 100-mL tall beaker.
b) Add water to the solution to reach 50 mL when the procedure in e) is complete.
c) Add hydrochloric acid (1+9) , so that the hydrochloric acid becomes equivalent to 0.2
mL.
d) Add 5 mL of formaldehyde solution, and then add 5 mL of ethylenediamine tetraacetate
- sodium hydroxide solution.
e) Add necessary volume (3) of tetraphenylborate solution at the rate of one or two drop(s)
per second while mixing, and further add 4 mL of the same solution in the same manner.
f) Leave at rest for about 30 minutes while sometimes mixing to form the precipitate of
potassium tetraphenylborate.
g) Filter supernatant with a crucible type glass filter, wash the tall beaker 5 times with 5
mL of tetraphenylborate washing solution and transfer the whole precipitate to the
crucible type glass filter and further wash 2 times with 2 ml of water.
h) Transfer the precipitate together with the crucible type glass filter into a drying
apparatus and heat at 120 ºC ± 2 ºC for 1 hour.
i) After heating, move it quickly into a desiccator and let it stand to cool.
j) After standing to cool, remove the crucible type glass filter from the desiccator and
measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.
k) Calculate total potassium (T-K2O) by the following formula.

Total potassium (T-K2O) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

= A × 0.1314 × (V1/V2) /W × 100

A: Mass (g) of the precipitate

V1: Predetermined volume (mL) of the sample solution in (4.1) g)
V2: Volume (mL) of the sample solution transferred in (4.2) a)
W: Mass of an analytical sample (g)

153
 Note (3) About 3 ml of tetraphenylborate solution per 10 mg of K2O is required to form
the precipitate of potassium tetraphenylborate

Comment 2 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 25 % -
30 % (mass fraction) and 10 % - 20 % (mass fraction ) are 99.5 % - 100.8 %
and 99.5 % - 100.6 % as the total potassium (T-K2O) respectively.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.3 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers.

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.122 - 128, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Keiji YAGI, Aiko YANO and Hideo SOETA: Verification of Performance
Characteristics of Testing Methods for Potassium Content in Fertilizer by Gravimetric
Sodium Tetraphenylborate analysis, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 5, p. 201 – 211
(2012)

154
(5) Flow sheet for total potassium: The flow sheet for total potassium in fertilizers is
shown below:

5 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.

Charring Heat gently

Incineration 550 ºC ± 5 ºC, no less than 4 hours

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water, moisten the residue
← About 10 mL of hydrochloric acid
← Water (up to about 20 mL)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and boil for 5 minutes.

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL tall beaker
(predetermined amount)
← Water (add tetraphenylborate solution to reach 50 mL)
← Hydrochloric acid (1+9) (the equivalents of 0.2 mL of hydrochloric acid)
← 5 mL of formaldehyde solution
← 5 mL of ethylenediamine tetraacetate- sodium hydroxide solution
← Tetraphenylborate solution (necessary volume + 4 mL)
Forming precipitate For 30 minutes, sometimes mixing

Crucible type glass filtering apparatus 1G4,

Transfer
5 times with 5 mL of tetraphenylborate washing solution

Washing Wash 2 times with 2 mL of water

Drying 120 ºC ± 5 ºC for 1 hour.

Standing to cool Desiccator

Measurement Measure the mass to the order of 1 mg

Figure Flow sheet for total potassium in fertilizers

155
4.3.2 Citrate soluble potassium
4.3.2.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry or flame photometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing potassium silicate fertilizers, etc.
Extract by adding a citric acid solution to an analytical sample, add an interference suppressor
solution, and then spray in an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic absorption with
potassium at a wavelength of 766.5 nm or 769.9 nm to quantify citrate soluble potassium
(C-K2O). Or, measure the intensity of the emission line at a wavelength of 766.5 nm or 769.9
nm produced in flame to quantify citrate soluble potassium (C-K2O) in an analytical sample.
In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 3.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Citric acid solution (1): Dissolve 20 g of citric acid monohydrate specified in JIS K
8283 in water to make 1000 mL.
c) Interference suppressor solution: Weigh 12.5 g of calcium carbonate specified in JIS
K 8617 into a 2000-mL beaker, add a small amount of water, gradually add 105 mL of
hydrochloric acid, and heat for a little while. After standing to cool, add water to make
1000 mL.
d) Potassium standard solution (K2O 1 mg/mL)(1): Heat potassium chloride specified in
JIS K 8121 at 110 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 2 hours, let it stand to cool in a desiccator, and
weigh 1.583 g into a weighing dish. Dissolve with a small amount of water, transfer to a
1000-mL volumetric flask, and add water up to the marked line.
e) Potassium standard solution (K2O 5µg/mL - 50 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of potassium standard solution (K2O 1
mg/mL) to 500-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add about 50 mL of interference
suppressor solution (2), and add water up to the marked line.
f) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Transfer about 50 mL of
interference suppressor solution to a 500-mL volumetric flask (2), and add water up to the
marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Add an interference suppressor solution that is 1/10 volume of the volume to be
prepared.

Comment 1 Instead of the potassium standard solution in (2), a potassium standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
potassium standard solution (K 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology. In this case, calculate citrate-soluble potassium (C-K2O) in the
analytical sample by multiplying the concentration (K) of a potassium
standard solution for calibration curve preparation or a measurement value
(K) obtained in (4.2) by a conversion factor (1.2046).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Constant-temperature rotary shaker: A constant-temperature rotary shaker that can
rotate a 250-mL volumetric flask, set up in a thermostat adjustable to 30 ºC ± 1 ºC,
upside down at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Analysis instrument: An atomic absorption spectrometer or a flame photometer as
shown below:

156
 ba) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer
specified in JIS K 0121.
1) Light source: A potassium hollow cathode lamp
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
bb) Flame photometer:
1) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 250-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add 150 mL of citric acid solution heated up to about 30 ºC, and shake to mix at 30 - 40
revolutions/min (30 ºC ± 1 ºC) for 1 hour.
c) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 2 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) of 4.2.3.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer or flame photometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer or flame
photometer: Set up the measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer
or flame photometer considering the following:
Analytical line wavelength: 766.5 nm or 769.9 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the potassium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 766.5 nm or 769.9 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the potassium concentration and the
indicated value of the potassium standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.5 mg -
5 mg as K2O) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 10 mL of interference suppressor solution (2), and add water up to the
marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the potassium content from the calibration curve, and calculate citrate soluble
potassium (C-K2O) in the analytical sample.

Comment 3 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 10 % -
20 % (mass fraction) and 1 % - 5 % (mass fraction ) are 100.2 % - 101.7 %
and 100.4 % - 101.8 % as citrate-soluble potassium (C-K2O) respectively.

157
 Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.05 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers, and 0.06 % (mass fraction) for
fluid fertilizers.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for citrate soluble potassium hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
5)
Measurement Number of Median (Μ )2) NIQR 4) RSD rob
Year Sample 3) 3)
method laboratories (%) (%) (%)
High analysis Atomic absorption
2011 50 10.35 0.15 1.4
compound fertilizer spectrometry
Flame photometry 68 10.45 0.22 2.1
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR/M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 136 - 138, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Yasuharu KIMURA and Hisanori ARAYA: Verification of Performance Characteristics
of Testing Methods for Potassium Content in Fertilizer by Atomic Absorption
Spectrometry, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 5, p. 190 – 200 (2012)

158
(5) Flow sheet for citrate soluble potassium: The flow sheet for citrate soluble potassium
in fertilizers is shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 250-mL volumetric flask.

← 150 mL citrate solution [about 30 ºC]
Constant temperature rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min)
Shaking to mix
30 ºC ± 1 ºC, 1 hour

Standing to cool
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined amount)
← About 10 mL interference suppressor solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer or flame photometer

Figure Flow sheet for citrate soluble potassium in fertilizers

159
4.3.2.b Sodium tetraphenylborate gravimetric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing potassium silicate fertilizer, etc.
Extract by adding a citric acid solution to an analytical sample, mask co-existing ammonium
and other salts with formaldehyde and ethylenediamine tetraacetate and measure the mass of
citric acid soluble potassium (citrate-soluble potassium (C-K2O)) and the mass of potassium
tetraphenylborate formed by the reaction with tetraphenylborate to obtain citrate soluble
potassium (C-K2O) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing
method is shown in Comment 2.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Citric acid solution (1): Dissolve 20 g of citric acid monohydrate specified in JIS K
8283 in water to make 1000 mL.
b) Formaldehyde solution: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8872 or a
reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L) (1): Dissolve 200 g of sodium hydroxide
specified in JIS K 8576 in water to make 1000 mL.
d) Aluminum chloride solution (1): Dissolve 12 g of aluminum chloride (III) hexahydrate
specified in JIS K 8114 in water to make 100 mL.
e) Tetraphenylborate solution (1): Transfer 6.1 g of Sodium tetraphenylborate specified in
JIS K 9521 to a 250-mL volumetric flask, dissolve by adding about 200 mL of water
and add 10 mL of aluminum chloride solution. Add a methyl red solution (0.1 g/100
mL) as an indicator, and neutralize with a sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L) until the
color of the solution changes to yellow, and then add water up to the marked line. Filter
with Type 3 filter paper and add a sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L) to the total
filtrate. Filter with Type 3 filter paper in the case of usage.
f) Tetraphenylborate washing solution (1): Dilute 40 mL of tetraphenylborate solution
with water to make 1000 mL.
g) Ethylenediamine tetraacetate- Sodium hydroxide solution (1): Dissolve 10 g of
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid dihydrogen disodium dihydrate specified in JIS K 8107
and 8 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576 in a proper amount of water, add 6
mL - 10 mL of tetraphenylborate solution while mixing according to the volume of
potassium coexisting as impurity after standing to cool and then add water to make 100
mL. After leaving at rest for about 30 minutes while sometimes mixing, filter with Type
3 filter paper.
h) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.10 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as follows:

a) Constant-temperature rotary shaker: A constant-temperature rotary shaker that can
rotate a 250-mL volumetric flask, set up in a thermostat adjustable to 30 ºC ± 1 ºC,
upside down at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Drying apparatus: A drying apparatus that can be adjusted to 120 ºC ± 2 ºC.
c) Crucible type glass filter: A crucible type glass filter 1G4 specified in JIS R 3503 into
a drying apparatus. Let it standstand to cool in a desiccator after heating at 120 ºC ± 2
ºC in advance and measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
160
 a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 250-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add 150 mL of citric acid solution heated up to about 30 ºC, and shake to mix at 30-40
revolutions/min (30 ºC ± 1 ºC) for 1 hour.
c) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 1 The procedure (4.1) is the same as the procedure (4.1) of 4.2.3.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer 20 mL of sample solution to a 100-mL tall beaker.
b) Add water to the solution to reach 50 mL when the procedure in d) is complete.
c) Add 5 mL of formaldehyde solution, and then add 5 mL of ethylenediamine
tetraacetate- sodium hydroxide solution.
d) Add necessary volume (2) of tetraphenylborate solution at the rate of one or two drop(s)
per second while mixing, and further add 4 mL of the same solution in the same manner.
e) Leave at rest for about 30 minutes while sometimes mixing to form the precipitate of
potassium tetraphenylborate.
f) Filter supernatant with a crucible type glass filter, wash the vessel 5 times with 5 mL of
tetraphenylborate washing solution and transfer the whole precipitate to the crucible
type glass filter and further wash 2 times with 2 ml of water.
g) Transfer the precipitate together with the crucible type glass filter into a drying
apparatus and heat at 120 ºC ± 2 ºC for 1 hour.
h) After heating, move it quickly into a desiccator and let it stand to cool.
i) After standing to cool, remove the crucible type glass filter from the desiccator and
measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.
j) Calculate citrate soluble potassium (C-K2O) by the following formula in the analytical
sample.

Citrate soluble potassium (C-K2O) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

= A × 0.1314 × (V1/V2) /W × 100

A: Mass (g) of the precipitate

V1: Predetermined volume (mL) of the sample solution in (4.1) c)
V2: Transferred volume (mL) of the sample solution in (4.2) a)
B: Mass of an analytical sample (g)

Note (2) About 3 ml of tetraphenylborate solution per 10 mg of K2O is required to form

the precipitate of potassium tetraphenylborate

Comment 2 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 25 % -
30 % (mass fraction) and 10 % - 20 % (mass fraction ) are 98.6 % - 100.6 %
and 100.6 % - 100.7 % as citrate-soluble potassium (C-K2O) respectively.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.6 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers.

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.122 - 128, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

161
 2) Keiji YAGI, Aiko YANO and Hideo SOETA: Verification of Performance
Characteristics of Testing Methods for Potassium Content in Fertilizer by Gravimetric
Sodium Tetraphenylborate analysis, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 5, p.201 – 211
(2012)

(5) Flow sheet for the testing method: The flow sheet for citrate soluble potassium in
fertilizers is shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 250-mL volumetric flask.

← 150 mL citrate solution [about 30 ºC]
Constant temperature rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min)
Shaking to mix
30 ºC ± 1 ºC, 1 hour

Standing to cool
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL tall beaker
(predetermined amount)

← Water (add tetraphenylborate solution to reach 50 mL)

← 5 mL of formaldehyde solution
← 5 mL of ethylenediamine tetraacetate - sodium hydroxide solution
← Tetraphenylborate solution (the equivalents of potassium + 4 mL)

Forming precipitate For 30 minutes, sometimes mixing

Crucible type glass filtering apparatus 1G4,

Transfer
5 times with 5 mL of tetraphenylborate washing solution

Washing Wash 2 times with 2 mL of water

Drying 120 ºC ± 5 ºC for 1 hour.

Standing to cool Desiccator

Measurement Measure the mass to the order of 1 mg

Figure Flow sheet for citrate soluble potassium in fertilizers

162
4.3.2.c Sodium tetraphenylborate volumetric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing potassium silicate fertilizer, etc. but not
organic matters.
Extract by adding a citric acid solution to an analytical sample, mask co-existing ammonium
and other salts with formaldehyde, and make potassium ion and tetraphenylborate react with
each other. Measure unconsumed tetraphenylborate by conducting a precipitate titration to
obtain citrate-soluble potassium (C-K2O) in an analytical sample.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Citric acid solution (1): Dissolve 20 g of citric acid monohydrate specified in JIS K
8283 in water to make 1000 mL.
b) Formaldehyde solution: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8872 or a
reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Sodium hydroxide solution (120 g/L) (1): Dissolve 30 g of sodium hydroxide specified
in JIS K 8576 in water to make 250 mL.
d) Tetraphenylborate solution (1): Transfer 12.2 g of sodium tetraphenylborate to a
1000-mL volumetric flask, dissolve by adding about 800 mL of water and add 3 mL of
sodium hydroxide (120 g/L) to the total filtrate, and further add water up to the marked
line. Filter with Type 3 filter paper in the case of usage.
e) Benzaikonium chloride solution (3.3 g/500 mL) (1): Dissolve 3.3 g of benzaikonium
chloride in 500 mL of water.
f) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.10 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
g) Titan Yellow solution (0.04 g/100mL): Dissolve 0.04 g of Titan Yellow in 100 mL of
water in the case of usage.
h) Potassium standard solution (K2O 2 mg/mL)(1): Heat potassium chloride specified in
JIS K 8121 at 110 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 2 hours, let it stand to cool in a desiccator, and
then weigh 3.166 g into a weighing dish. Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer
to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Constant-temperature rotary shaker: A constant-temperature rotary shaker that can
rotate a 250-mL volumetric flask, set up in a thermostat adjustable to 30 ºC ± 1 ºC,
upside down at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 250-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add 150 mL of citric acid solution heated up to about 30 ºC, and shake to mix at 30 - 40
revolutions/min (30 ºC ± 1 ºC) for 1 hour.
c) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 1 The procedure (4.1) is the same as the procedure (4.1) of 4.2.3.a.

(4.2) Precipitate formation: Form precipitate as shown below.

163
 a) Transfer 5 mL - 15 mL (no more than the equivalents of 30 mg as K2O) of the extract to
a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add water to the solution to make about 30 mL.
c) Add about 5 mL of formaldehyde solution and add 5 mL of sodium hydroxide solution
(120 g/L).
d) Add one or two drop (s) of tetraphenylborate solution per second while shaking to mix.
e) Add water up to the marked line and leave at rest for about 10 minutes.
f) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Calibration curve preparation
1) Transfer 1 mL - 15 mL of potassium standard solution (K2O 2 mg/mL) to 100-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step.
2) Conduct the same procedures as (4.2) b) - f) to make K2O 2 mg/100 mL - 30 mg/100
mL of the potassium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.
3) Conduct the same procedure as 2) to make the blank test solution for the calibration
curve preparation in another 100-mL volumetric flask.
4) Transfer 40 mL of the potassium standard solutions for a calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for a calibration curve preparation to an
Erlenmeyer flask respectively.
5) Add a few drops of Titan Yellow solution.
6) Titrate with a benzaikonium chloride solution (3.3 g/500 mL) until the color of the
solution changes to light red (2).
7) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the potassium concentration and the
volume of the benzaikonium chloride solution (3.3 g/500 mL) required for the
titration of the potassium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and
the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.

b) Sample measurement
1) Transfer 40 mL of the sample solution of (4.2) f) to a 100-mL Erlenmeyer flask.
2) Conduct similarly as in a) 5) - 6) to obtain the volume of the benzaikonium chloride
solution (3.3 g/500 mL) required for the titration.
3) Obtain the potassium content from the calibration curve, and calculate citrate soluble
potassium (C-K2O) in the analytical sample.

Note (2) If the solution temperature is no more than 20 ºC, the reaction does not advance
in some cases. Therefore it is recommended to heat the solution up to about 30
ºC.

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 128 - 132, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

164
(5) Flow sheet for citrate soluble potassium: The flow sheet for citrate soluble potassium
in fertilizers is shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 250-mL volumetric flask.

← 150 mL citrate solution [about 30 ºC]
Constant temperature rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min)
Shaking to mix
30 ºC ± 1 ºC, 1 hour

Standing to cool
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(5 mL - 15 mL)
← Water (the volume to reach about 30 mL)
← About 5 mL of formaldehyde solution
← 5 mL of sodium hydroxide solution (120 g/L)
← 25 mL tetraphenylborate solution
(one or two drop (s) per second while shaking to mix)
← Water (up to the marked line)
Leaving at rest 10 minutes

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

←A few drops of Titan Yellow solution
Aliquot
100-mL Erlenmeyer flask
(40 mL)
← A few drops of titan yellow solution
Benzaikonium chloride solution (3.3 g/500 mL)
Titration
(until the solution changes to light red)

Figure Flow sheet for citrate-soluble potassium in fertilizers

165
4.3.3 Water-soluble potassium
4.3.3.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry or flame photometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing potassium salts.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, add an interference suppressor solution, and
then spray in an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic absorption with potassium at a
wavelength of 766.5 nm or 769.9 nm to quantify water-soluble potassium (W-K2O). Or,
determine the intensity of the emission line at a wavelength of 766.5 nm or 769.9 nm
produced in flame to quantify water-soluble potassium (W-K2O) in an analytical sample. In
addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 7.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Interference suppressor solution: Weigh 12.5 g of calcium carbonate specified in JIS
K 8617 into a 2000-mL beaker, add a small amount of water, gradually add 105 mL of
hydrochloric acid, and heat for a little while. After standing to cool, add water to make
1000 mL.
c) Potassium standard solution (K2O 1 mg/mL)(1): Heat potassium chloride specified in
JIS K 8121 at 110 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 2 hours, let it stand to cool in a desiccator, and
then weigh 1.583 g into a weighing dish. Dissolve with a small amount of water,
transfer to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, and add water up to the marked line.
d) Potassium standard solution (K2O 5 µg/mL - 50 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of potassium standard solution (K2O 1
mg/mL) to 500-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add about 50 mL of interference
suppressor solution (2), and add water up to the marked line.
e) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Transfer about 50 mL of
interference suppressor solution to a 500-mL volumetric flask (2), and add water up to the
marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Add an interference suppressor solution that is 1/10 volume of the volume to be
prepared.

Comment 1 Instead of the potassium standard solution in (2), a potassium standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
potassium standard solution (K 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology. In this case, calculate water-soluble potassium (W-K2O) in the
analytical sample by multiplying the concentration (K) of a potassium
standard solution for calibration curve preparation or a measurement value
(K) obtained in (4.2) by a conversion factor (1.2046).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate a 500-mL volumetric flask upside down
at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Analytical instrument: An atomic absorption spectrometer or a flame photometer as
shown below:
ba) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121.
1) Light source: A potassium hollow cathode lamp

166
 2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
bb) Flame photometer:
1) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
c) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Mixed fertilizers containing potassium salts and magnesium potassium sulfate
a) Weigh 2.5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 300-mL tall
beaker.
b) Add about 200 mL of water, and cover with a watch glass and heat on a hot plate to boil
for about 15 minutes.
c) After standing to cool, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask with water.
d) Add water up to the marked line.
e) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 2 In the procedure in a), a 250-mL volumetric flask can be used instead of a
300-mL tall beaker. However the volumetric flask used should be
distinguished as an extraction flask and should not be used for the other
purposes. Additionally, “cover with a watch glass” in b) is replaced by “place
a funnel”. Skip “transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask with water” in the
procedure in c).
Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1.1) is the same as the procedures in (4.1.1) of 4.3.3.b,
(4.1.1) of 4.3.3.c and (4.1) of 4.8.2.a.

(4.1.2) Mixed fertilizers containing no magnesium potassium sulfate

a) Weigh 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 500-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 400 mL of water, and shake to mix at 30 - 40 revolutions/min for about 30
minutes.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 4 In the procedure in (4.1.2) a), it is also allowed to weigh 2.5 g of an analytical
sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it into a 250-mL volumetric flask
Comment 5 The procedure in (4.1.2) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) of 4.2.4.a.

(4.1.3) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 100-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, and shake to mix.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 6 The procedure in (4.1.3) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) of 4.2.4.a.

167
(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer or flame photometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer or flame
photometer: Set up the measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer
or flame photometer considering the following:
Analytical line wavelength: 766.5 nm or 769.9 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the potassium standard solutions for a calibration curve preparation and the
blank test solution for a calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 766.5 nm or 769.9 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the potassium concentration and the
indicated value of the potassium standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.5 mg -
5 mg as K2O) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 10 mL of interference suppressor solution (2), and add water up to the
marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the potassium content from the calibration curve, and calculate the
water-soluble potassium (W-K2O) in the analytical sample.

Comment 7 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 10 % -
20 % (mass fraction) and 1 % - 5 % (mass fraction ) are 97.9 % - 100.2 %
and 97.3% - 100.6% as water-soluble phosphoric acid (W-P2O5) respectively.
The results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference
material fertilizer were analyzed using the three level nesting analysis of
variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate
precision and repeatability.
Table 2 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using fluid mixed
fertilizers to evaluate the precision of fluid fertilizers were analyzed by the
one-way analysis of variance. Table 3 shows the calculation results of
intermediate precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.04 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers, and 0.007 % (mass fraction) for
fluid fertilizers.

168
 Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)
certified reference laboratory Average2) sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T) sR RSD R
1) 3) 3) 3) 3)
material fertilizer p (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
FAMIC-A-10 11 13.59 0.08 0.6 0.09 0.6 0.16 1.2
FAMIC-A-13 10 13.07 0.08 0.6 0.11 0.8 0.16 1.2
FAMIC-B-10 9 8.85 0.04 0.4 0.07 0.7 0.12 1.4
FAMIC-B-14 14 8.32 0.03 0.4 0.07 0.8 0.13 1.6
1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
conducting atomic absorption spectrometry
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Mass fraction 8）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability standard deviation 9）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

169
Table 2 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for water-soluble potassium hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
2) 4) 5)
Measurement Number of Median (Μ ) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample 3) 3)
method laboratories (%) (%) (%)
High analysis
2006 156 12.38 0.22 1.8
compound fertilizer
Organic
2007 145 8.43 0.15 1.8
compound fertilizer
High analysis Atomic absorption
6) 75 11.38 0.13 1.1
2008 compound fertilizer spectrometry
Flame photometry 57 11.42 0.16 1.4
Ordinary Atomic absorption
78 8.36 0.13 1.6
2009 compound fertilizer spectrometry
Flame photometry 54 8.35 0.09 1.1
High analysis Atomic absorption
84 14.7 0.21 1.4
2010 compound fertilizer spectrometry
Flame photometry 49 14.72 0.12 0.8
High analysis Atomic absorption
51 10.35 0.13 1.3
2011 compound fertilizer spectrometry
Flame photometry 75 10.45 0.17 1.7
Atomic absorption
2012 Fluid mixed fertilizer spectrometry 47 2.44 0.04 1.8
Flame photometry 75 2.42 0.06 2.6
High analysis Atomic absorption
2013 compound fertilizer spectrometry 57 11.72 0.93 3.3
Flame photometry 65 11.81 0.33 2.8
Organic Atomic absorption
2014 compound fertilizer spectrometry 71 8.81 0.14 1.6
Flame photometry 53 8.79 0.18 2.0
Atomic absorption
2015 Fluid mixed fertilizer spectrometry 86 6.27 0.10 1.6
Flame photometry 36 6.28 0.08 1.2
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100
6) From 2008, separate analysis is conducted for respective measurement methods.

170
 Table 3 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
sample repeatability Average2) sr
4)
RSD r
5)
s I(T)
6)
RSD I(T)
7)

1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Fluid mixed fertilizer 1 7 9.66 0.02 0.2 0.07 0.7
Fluid mixed fertilizer 2 7 2.44 0.01 0.4 0.02 0.8
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 136 - 138, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Yasuharu KIMURA and Hisanori ARAYA: Verification of Performance Characteristics
of Testing Methods for Potassium Content in Fertilizer by Atomic Absorption
Spectrometry, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 5, p. 190 – 200 (2012)

171
(5) Flow sheet for water-soluble potassium: The flow sheet for water-soluble potassium
in fertilizers is shown below:

2.5 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 300-mL tall beaker
(potassium salts, etc.)
← About 200 mL water
Heating Cover with a watch dish, boil for 15 minutes

Standing to cool

Transfer Water, 250-mL volumetric flask

← Water (up to the marked line)

5 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 500-mL volumetric flask

(compound fertilizer)
← About 400 mL water
Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min)
Shaking to mix
For 30 minutes

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 100-mL volumetric flask

(Fluid)
← About 50 mL water
Shaking to mix

← Water (up to the marked line)

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined volume)
← About 10 mL of interference suppressor solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Atomic absorption spectrometer or flame photometer
Measurement

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble potassium in fertilizers

172
4.3.3.b Sodium tetraphenylborate gravimetric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing potassium salts.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, mask co-existing ammonium and other salts
with formaldehyde and ethylenediamine tetraacetate and measure the mass of potassium
tetraphenylborate formed by the reaction with tetraphenylborate to obtain water-soluble
potassium (W-K2O) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing
method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Formaldehyde solution: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8872 or a
reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/l) (1): Dissolve 200 g of sodium hydroxide specified
in JIS K 8576 in water to make 1000 mL.
d) Aluminum chloride solution (1): Dissolve 12 g of aluminum chloride (III) hexahydrate
specified in JIS K 8114 in water to make 100 mL.
e) Tetraphenylborate solution (1): Transfer 6.1 g of Sodium tetraphenylborate to a
250-mL volumetric flask, dissolve by adding about 200 mL of water and add 10 mL of
aluminum chloride solution. Add a methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator,
and neutralize with a sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L) until the color of the solution
changes to yellow, and then add water up to the marked line. Filter with Type 3 filter
paper and add sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L) to the total filtrate. Filter with Type
3 filter paper in the case of usage.
f) Tetraphenylborate washing solution (1): Dilute 40 mL of tetraphenylborate solution
with water to make 1000 mL.
g) Ethylenediamine tetraacetate-sodium hydroxide solution (1): Dissolve 10 g of
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid dihydrogen disodium dihydrate specified in JIS K 8107
and 8 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576 in a proper amount of water, add 6
mL - 10 mL of tetraphenylborate solution while mixing according to potassium content
coexisting as impurity after standing to cool and then add water to make 100 mL. After
leaving at rest for about 30 minutes while sometimes mixing, filter with Type 3 filter
paper.
h) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.10 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as follows:

a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate a 500-mL volumetric flask upside down
at 30- 40 revolutions/min.
b) Drying apparatus: A drying apparatus that can be adjusted to 120 ºC ± 2 ºC.
c) Crucible type glass filter: A crucible type glass filter 1G4 specified in JIS R 3503 into
a drying apparatus Let it tand to cool in a desiccator after heating at 120 ºC ± 2 ºC in
advance and measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.
c) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Mixed fertilizers containing potassium salts and magnesium potassium sulfate
173
 a) Weigh 2.5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 300-mL tall
beaker.
b) Add about 200 mL of water, and cover with a watch glass and heat on a hot plate to boil
for about 15 minutes.
c) After standing to cool, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask with water.
d) Add water up to the marked line.
e) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 1 In the procedure in a), a 250-mLvolumetric flask can be used instead of a

300-mL tall beaker. However the volumetric flask used should be
distinguished as an extraction flask and should not be used for the other
purposes. Additionally, “cover with a watch glass” in b) is replaced by “place
a funnel”. Skip “transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask with water” in the
procedure in c).
Comment 2 The procedure in (4.1.1) is the same as (4.1.1) of 4.3.3.a

(4.1.2) Mixed fertilizers containing no magnesium potassium sulfate

a) Weigh 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 500-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 400 mL of water, and shake to mix at 30-40 revolutions/min for about 30
minutes.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 3 In the procedure in a), it is also allowed to weigh 2.5 g of an analytical

sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it to a 250-mL volumetric flask
Comment 4 The procedure in (4.1.2) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) of 4.2.4.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer a predetermined volume (the equivalents of 15 mg - 30 mg as K2O) of sample
solution to a 100-mL tall beaker.
b) Add water to the solution to reach 50 mL when the procedure in e) is complete.
c) Add 2 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+9).
d) Add 5 mL of formaldehyde solution, and then add 5 mL of ethylenediamine
tetraacetate-sodium hydroxide solution.
e) Add necessary volume (2) of tetraphenylborate solution at the rate of one or two drop(s)
per second while mixing, and further add 4 mL of the same solution in the same manner.
f) Leave at rest for about 30 minutes while sometimes mixing to form the precipitate of
potassium tetraphenylborate.
g) Filter supernatant with a crucible type glass filter, wash the vessel 5 times with 5 mL of
tetraphenylborate washing solution and transfer the whole precipitate to the crucible
type glass filter and further wash 2 times with 2 mL of water.
h) Transfer the precipitate together with the crucible type glass filter into a drying
apparatus adjusted to 120 ºC ± 2 ºC and heat for 1 hour.
i) After heating, move it quickly into a desiccator and let it stand to cool.
j) After standing to cool, remove a ground-in stoppered weighing bottle from the
desiccator and measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.
k) Calculate water-soluble potassium (W-K2O) in the analytical sample by the following
formula.

Water-soluble potassium (W-K2O) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

174
 = A × 0.1314 × (V1/V2)/W × 100

A: Mass (g) of precipitate

V1: Predetermined volume (mL) of the sample solution in (4.1.1) d) or (4.1.2) c)
V2: Volume (mL) of the sample solution transferred in (4.2) a)
W: Mass of an analytical sample (g)

Note (2) About 3 mL of tetraphenylborate solution per 10 mg of K2O is required to form

the precipitate of potassium tetraphenylborate

Comment 5 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 30 % -
50 % (mass fraction) and 10 % - 20 % (mass fraction ) are 100.2 % - 100.8 %
and 99.3 % - 102.2 % as water-soluble potassium (W-K2O) respectively.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.7 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers.

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 122 - 128, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Keiji YAGI, Aiko YANO and Hideo SOETA: Verification of Performance
Characteristics of Testing Methods for Potassium Content in Fertilizer by Gravimetric
Sodium Tetraphenylborate analysis, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 5, p. 201 – 211
(2012)

175
(5) Flow sheet for water-soluble potassium: The flow sheet for water-soluble potassium
in fertilizers is shown below:

2.5 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 300-mL tall beaker
(potassium salts, etc.)
← About 200 mL water
Heating Cover with a watch glass, boil for 15 minutes

Standing to cool

Transfer Water, 250-mL volumetric flask

← Water (up to the marked line)

5 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 500-mL volumetric flask

(compound fertilizer)
← About 400 mL of water
Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min)
Shaking
For 30 minutes
← Water (up to the marked line)

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL tall beaker
(predetermined amount)
← Water (add tetraphenylborate solution to reach 50 mL)
← 2 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+9)
← 5 mL of formaldehyde solution
← 5 mL of ethylenediamine tetraacetate-sodium hydroxide solution
← Tetraphenylborate solution (the equivalents of potassium + 4 mL)
Forming precipitate For 30 minutes, sometimes mixing

Crucible type glass filtering apparatus 1G4,

Transfer
5 times with 5 mL of tetraphenylborate washing solution

Washing Wash 2 times with 2 mL of water

Drying 120 ºC ± 2 ºC for 1 hour.

Standing to cool Desiccator

Measurement Measure the mass to the order of 1 mg

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble potassium in fertilizers

176
4.3.3.c Sodium tetraphenylborate volumetric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing potassium salt but not organic matters.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, mask co-existing ammonium and other salts
with formaldehyde, and make potassium ion and tetraphenylborate react with each other.
Measure unconsumed tetraphenylborate by conducting a precipitate titration to obtain
water-soluble potassium (W-K2O) in an analytical sample.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Formaldehyde solution: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8872 or a
reagent of equivalent quality.
b) Sodium hydroxide solution (120 g/L) (1): Dissolve 30 g of sodium hydroxide specified
in JIS K 8576 in water to make 250 mL.
c) Tetraphenylborate solution (1): Transfer 12.2 g of Sodium tetraphenylborate to a
1000-mL volumetric flask, dissolve by adding about 800 mL of water and add 3 mL of
sodium hydroxide (120g/L) to total filtrate, and further add water up to the marked line.
Filter with Type 3 filter paper in the case of usage.
d) Benzaikonium chloride solution (3.3 g/500 mL) (1): Dissolve 3.3 g of benzaikonium
chloride in 500 mL of water.
e) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.10 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
f) Titan Yellow solution (0.04 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.04 g of Titan Yellow in 100 mL of
water in the case of usage.
g) Potassium standard solution (K2O 2 mg/mL)(1): Heat potassium chloride specified in
JIS K 8121 at 110 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 2 hours, let it stand to cool in a desiccator, and
weigh 3.166 g into a weighing dish. Dissolve with a small amount of water, transfer to a
1000-mL volumetric flask, and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as follows:

a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate a 500-mL volumetric flask upside down
at 30- 40 revolutions/min.
b) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Mixed fertilizers containing potassium salts and magnesium potassium sulfate
a) Weigh 2.5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 300-mL tall
beaker.
b) Add about 200 mL of water, and cover with a watch glass and heat on a hot plate to boil
for about 15 minutes.
c) After standing to cool, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask with water.
d) Add water up to the marked line.
e) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the extract.

Comment 1 In the procedure in a), a 250-mL volumetric flask can be used instead of a
300-mL tall beaker. However the volumetric flask used should be
distinguished as an extraction flask and should not be used for the other
purposes. Additionally, “cover with a watch glass” in b) is replaced by “place

177
 a funnel”. Skip “transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask with water” in the
procedure in c).
Comment 2 The procedure of (4.1.1) is the same as (4.1.1) of 4.3.3.a

(4.1.2) Mixed fertilizers containing no magnesium potassium sulfate

a) Weigh 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 500-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 400 mL of water, and shake to mix at 30 - 40 revolutions/min for about 30
minutes.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 3 In the procedure of a), it is also allowed to weigh 2.5 g of an analytical

sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it into a 250-mL volumetric flask
Comment 4 The procedure in (4.1.2) is the same as the procedure (4.1) of 4.2.4.a.

(4.2) Precipitate formation: Form precipitate as shown below.

a) Transfer 5 mL - 15 mL (no more than the equivalents of 30 mg as K2O) of the extract to
a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add water to the solution to make about 30 mL.
c) Add about 5 mL of formaldehyde solution and add 5 mL of sodium hydroxide (120
g/L).
d) Add 25 mL of tetraphenylborate solution at the rate of one or two drop(s) per second
while shaking to mix.
e) Add water up to the marked line and leave at rest for about 10 minutes.
f) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Calibration curve preparation
1) Transfer 1 mL - 15 mL of potassium solution (K2O 2 mg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric
flasks step-by-step.
2) Conduct the same procedures as (4.2) b) - f) to make K2O 2 mg/100 mL - 30 mg/100
mL of the potassium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.
3) Conduct the same procedure as 2) to make the blank test solution for the calibration
curve preparation in another 100-mL volumetric flask.
4) Transfer 40 mL of the potassium standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation to an
Erlenmeyer flask respectively.
5) Add a few drops of Titan Yellow solution.
6) Titrate with a benzaikonium chloride solution (3.3 g/500 mL) until the color of the
solution changes to light red (2).
7) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the potassium concentration and the
volume of the benzaikonium chloride solution (3.3 g/500 mL) required for the
titration of the potassium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and
the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.

b) Sample measurement
1) Transfer 40 mL of the sample solution of (4.2) f) to a 100-mL Erlenmeyer flask.
2) Conduct similarly as in a) 5) - 6) to obtain the volume of the benzaikonium chloride
solution (3.3 g/500 mL) required for the titration.

178
 3) Obtain the potassium content from the calibration curve, and calculate water-soluble
potassium (W-K2O) in the analytical sample.

Note (2) If the solution temperature is no more than 20 ºC, the reaction does not advance
in some cases. Therefore it is recommended to heat the solution up to about 30
ºC.

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.128 - 132, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

5) Flow sheet for water-soluble potassium t: The flow sheet for water-soluble potassium
in fertilizers is shown below:

2.5 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 300-mL tall beaker
(potassium salts, etc.)
← About 200 mL of water
Heating Cover with a watch glass, boil for about 15 minutes
Standing to cool

Transfer Water, 250-mL volumetric flask

← Water (up to the marked line)

5 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 500-mL volumetric flask

(compound fertilizer)
← Water (up to the marked line)
Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min)
Shaking to mix
For 30 minutes
← Water (up to the marked line)

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(5 mL to 15 mL)
← Water (the liquid volume to reach about 30 mL)
← About 5mL of formaldehyde solution
← 5 mL of sodium hydroxide solution (120 g/L)
← 25 mL tetraphenylborate solution
(one or two drop (s) per second while shaking to mix)
← Water (up to the marked line)
Leaving at rest 10 minutes

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL Erlenmeyer flask
(40 mL)
← A few drops of Titan Yellow solution
Benzaikonium chloride solution (3.3 g/500 mL)
Titration
(until the solution changes to light red)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble potassium in fertilizers

179
4.3.3.d ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fluid mixed fertilizers and the fluid fertilizers of home
garden-use mixed fertilizers.
Add water to an analytical sample to extract, introduce it to an ICP Optical Emission
Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and measure the potassium at a wavelength of 766.491 nm to
obtain water-soluble potassium acid (K-P2O). In addition, the performance of this testing
method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Potassium solution (K2O 1 mg/mL)(1): Heat potassium chloride specified in JIS K
8121 at 110 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 2 hours, let it stand to cool in a desiccator, and weigh
1.583 g into a weighing dish. Dissolve with a small amount of water, transfer to a
1000-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the marked line.
d) Potassium standard solutions (K2O 20 µg/mL - 0.16 mg/mL) for the calibration
curve preparation (1): Transfer 2 mL - 16 mL of potassium standard solution (K2O 1
mg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add 25 mL of hydrochloric acid
(1+5) up to the marked line.
e) Potassiumtandard solutions (K2O 2 µg/mL - 20 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2 mL - 20 mL of potassium standard solution (K2O 100
µg/mL) for the calibration curve preparation to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step,
and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the marked line.
f) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedures in e).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the potassium standard solution in (2), a potassium standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
potassium standard solution (K 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology. In this case, multiply the concentration (K) of a potassium
standard solution for calibration curve preparation or a measurement value
(K) obtained in (4.2) by a conversion factor (1.2046) to calculate
water-soluble potassium (W-K2O) in the analytical sample.
Comment 2 There are two modes to observe emission from an ICP-OES, a horizontal
observation mode and an axial observation mode. The axial observation mode
does not apply to potassium since interference is serious.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: An Optical Emission Spectrometer specified in
JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample (2) to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 100-mL
volumetric flask.
180
 b) Add about 50 mL of water, shake to mix and add water up to the marked line.
c) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (2) The sampling amount of the analytical sample is 10 g when there is less
phosphoric acid content in the fertilizers such as a home garden-use fertilizer.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) of 4.2.4.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0116 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the ICP
Optical Emission Spectrometry used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 766.491 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the potassium standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into inductively coupled
plasma, and read the indicated value at a wavelength of 766.491 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the potassium concentration and the
indicated value of the potassium standard solution for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution (the equivalents of 0.2 mg – 16
mg as K2O) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5), and add water up to the marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the potassium content from the calibration curve, and calculate the
water-soluble potassium (K-P2O).

Comment 4 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.

In this case, refer to Comment 3 in 4.2.4.d.
Comment 5 The comparison of the measurement value (yi：0.641 % - 7.23 % (mass
fraction )) by ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value
(xi) by Frame Atomic Absorbance Spectrometry was conducted to evaluate
trueness using fluid fertilizers (12 samples). As a result, a regression equation
was y = -0.021+0.969x, and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.999.
Additionally, additive recovery testing was conducted using a liquid mixed
fertilizer (1 brand) and a home garden-use mixed fertilizer (1 brand). As a
result, the mean recovery at additive level of 5 % (mass fraction) and 0.4 %
(mass fraction) were 102.3 % and 104.0 % respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a liquid mixed
fertilizer and a home garden-use mixed fertilizer to evaluate precision were
analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance. Table 1 shows the calculation
results of intermediate precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.05 % (mass fraction).

181
 Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Liquid mixed fertilizer 7 5.69 0.02 0.4 0.06 1.1
Home garder-use mixed
7 2.29 0.02 0.8 0.04 1.6
fertilizer（liquid)
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

References
1) Keisuke AOYAMA: Simultaneous Determination of Water-Soluble Principal
Ingredients (W-P2O5, W-K2O, W-MgO, W-MnO and W-B2O3) in Liquid Fertilizer using
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), Research
Report of Fertilizer, Vol.8, p. 1 – 9 (2015)

(5) Flow sheet: The flow sheet for water-soluble potassium of the fluid mixed fertilizers is
shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a 100-mL volumetric flask

← Water, about 50 mL
Shaking to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration

Aliquot 100-mL volmetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
← Water (up to the marked line)

Measurement ICP-OES (766.491nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble potassium

in fluid mixed fertilizers

182
4.4 Silicic acid
4.4.1 Soluble silicic acid
4.4.1.a Potassium fluoride method
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing no silica gel fertilizers.
Extract by adding hydrochloric acid (1+23) to an analytical sample, add hydrochloric acid,
potassium fluoride solution and potassium chloride and cool in a refrigerator, and then filter
after forming precipitate as potassium silicofluoride (K2SiF6). Put the precipitate in water and
heat, and measure potassium silicofluoride (K2SiF6) dissolved by precipitation titration to
obtain the hydrochloric acid (1+23) soluble silicic acid (soluble silicic acid (S-SiO2)) in an
analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment
4.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution(1): Transfer about 30 mL of water to
a polyethylene bottle, dissolve about 35 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576
by adding in small portions while cooling, seal tightly and leave at rest for 4 - 5 days.
Transfer 5.5 mL - 11 mL of the supernatant to a ground-in stoppered storage container,
and add 1000 mL of water.
Standardization: Dry sulfamic acid reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 by leaving at rest in a desiccator at no more than 2 kPa for about
48 hours, then transfer about 2.5 g to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Dissolve with a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask,
and add water up to the marked line (1). Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution
to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of bromothymol blue solution
(0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator, and titrate with 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution until the color of the solution becomes green. Calculate the factor of a 0.1
mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution by the following formula:

Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (f)

= (W1 × A × 0.01/97.095) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C)

W1:Mass (g) of sulfamic acid sampled

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of sulfamic acid
V1:Volume (mL) of sulfamic acid solution transferred
V2:Constant volume (250 mL) of sulfamic acid solution
V3:Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution

b) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of

equivalent quality.
c) Potassium chloride: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8121 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
d) Potassium chloride solution (1): Add 250 mL of ethanol specified in JIS K 8101
to 750 mL of water to mix, and add 150 mL of potassium chloride to dissolve.
Add a few drops of methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator and drop
hydrochloric acid until the color of the solution becomes red to make it acidic. After
leaving at rest for 1 day, neutralize with the 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution.
183
 e) Potassium fluoride solution (1): Dissolve 58 g of potassium fluoride specified in JIS K
8815 in 1000 mL of water (2).
f) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.10 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
g) Phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 1 g of phenolphthalein specified in
JIS K 8799 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store in a container made of polymer that contains no silicon.

Comment 1 Instead of a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution in (2) a), a 0.1
mol/L sodium hydroxide solution or a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
conforming to ISO/IEC 17025 can be used.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as follows:

a) Constant-temperature rotary shaker: A constant-temperature rotary shaker that can
rotate a 250-mL volumetric flask, set up in a thermostat adjustable to 30 ºC ± 1 ºC,
upside down at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.
c) Beaker made of polymer: A beaker made of polyethylene, etc. and which prevents
silicic acid from eluting in the extract procedure in (4.1).
d) Filter made of polymer: A Gooch crucible made of polymer (compatible filter
diameter: 25 mm) or a funnel for absorptive filtering made of polymer (compatible filter
diameter: 21 mm). A filter made of polyethylene, etc. and which prevents silicic acid
from eluting in the extract procedure in (4.1).

Comment 2 A funnel for absorptive filtering made of polymer (compatible filter

diameter: 21 mm) is sold under the name Polyethylene Kiriyama Funnel
SB-21.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 250-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add 150 mL of hydrochloric acid heated up to about 30 ºC, and shake to mix at 30 - 40
revolutions/min (30 ºC ± 1 ºC) for 1 hour.
c) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) of 4.4.1.d.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer a predetermined volume (the equivalents of 20 mg - 50 mg as SiO2 and no
more than 25 mL of liquid volume) to a 200-mL beaker made of polymer.
b) Add about 10 mL of hydrochloric acid and about 15 mL of potassium fluoride solution,
and further add about 2 g of potassium chloride to dissolve, and then cool in a
refrigerator for 30 minutes or more (3) to form the precipitate of potassium fluoride.
c) Filter under reduced pressure with a filter made of polymer (4) topped with Type 6 filter
paper, and wash the container 3 times with a potassium chloride solution, then move the
whole precipitate into the crucible, and further wash 6 - 7 times with a small amount of
potassium chloride solution (5).
184
d) Move the precipitate on the filter together with the filter paper into a 300-mL tall beaker
with water, and further add water to make about 200 mL and heat it up to 70 ºC - 80 ºC
on a hot plate.
e) Add a few drops of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL) to the sample solution as an
indicator and titrate with the 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the
color of the solution becomes light red.
f) Calculate soluble silicic acid (S-SiO2) by the following formula.

Soluble silicic acid (S-SiO2) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

= V4 × C × f × (V5/V6) × (15.021/W2) × (100/1000)

V4: Volume of the 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution required for
titration
C: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
f: Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
V5: Predetermined volume (mL) of the extract in (4.1) c)
V6: Volume (mL) of the extract transferred in (4.2) a)
W2: Mass (g) of an analytical sample

Note (3) To be no more than 10 ºC

(4) Filter paper pulp can be stuffed to restrain precipitate from outflowing.
(5) Until the filtrate becomes neutral.

Comment 4 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 25 % -
40 % (mass fraction) and 10 % (mass fraction ) are 98.4 % - 100.5 % and
101.0 % as soluble silicic acid (S-SiO2) respectively.
Table 1 shows results (limited to reports by a potassium fluoride method)
from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples (proficiency testing and
external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality
Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.3 % (mass fraction).

185
 Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for soluble silicic acid hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
2) 4) 5)
Number of Median (Μ ) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample
laboratories (%)
3)
(%)
3)
(%)
2008 Slag silicate fertilizer 55 33.34 0.47 1.4
2009 Slag silicate fertilizer 59 32.67 0.59 1.8
2010 Slag silicate fertilizer 52 33.50 0.59 1.8
2011 Slag silicate fertilizer 46 30.69 0.76 2.5
2012 Slag silicate fertilizer 46 35.96 0.37 1.0
2013 Slag silicate fertilizer 46 35.14 0.55 1.6
2014 Slag silicate fertilizer 45 34.06 0.3 0.9
2015 Slag silicate fertilizer 44 32.3 0.69 2.2
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR/M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 144 - 146, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Yasushi MIYASHITA: Verification of Performance Characteristics of Testing Method
for Soluble Silicic Acid in Fertilizer by Potassium Fluoride Method, Research Report of
Fertilizer Vol. 7, p. 123 – 130 (2014)

186
5) Flow sheet for soluble silicic acid: The flow sheet for soluble silicic acid in fertilizers is
shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a 250-mL volumetric flask.

← About 150 mL hydrochloric acid (1+23) [about 30 ºC]
Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min)
Shaking to mix
30 ºC ± 1 ºC, 1 hour

Standing to cool Room temperature

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
200-mL beaker made of polymer
(predetermined amount)
← About 10 mL hydrochloric acid
← About 15mL potassium fluoride solution
← About 2 g of potassium chloride
Cooling For 30 minutes or more in a refrigerator

Filter made of polymer

Filtration
Type 6 filter paper

Washing Wash 6 - 7 times with potassium chloride solution

Transfer 300-mL tall beaker, water

← Water (until the liquid volume reaches about 200 mL)
Heating 70 ºC - 80 ºC
← A few drops of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL)
0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
Titration
(Until the solution becomes light red)

Figure Flow sheet for soluble silicic acid in fertilizers

187
4.4.1.b Potassium fluoride method (Silica gel fertilizers, etc.)
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to silica gel fertilizers and silica hydrogel fertilizers.
Extract by adding sodium hydroxide (20 g/L) to an analytical sample, add hydrochloric acid, a
potassium fluoride solution and potassium chloride and cool in a refrigerator, and then filter
after forming precipitate as potassium silicofluoride (K2SiF6). Put the precipitate in water and
heat, and measure potassium silicofluoride (K2SiF6) dissolved by precipitation titration to
obtain the sodium hydroxide (20 g/L) soluble silicic acid (soluble silicic acid (S-SiO2)) in an
analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment
3.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution(1): Transfer about 30 mL of water to
a polyethylene bottle, dissolve about 35 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576
by adding in small portions while cooling, seal tightly and leave at rest for 4 - 5 days.
Transfer 5.5 mL - 11 mL of the supernatant to a ground-in stoppered storage container,
and add 1000 mL of water.
Standardization: Dry sulfamic acid reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 by leaving at rest in a desiccator at no more than 2 kPa for about
48 hours, then transfer about 2.5 g to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Dissolve with a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask,
and add water up to the marked line (1). Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution
to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of bromothymol blue solution
(0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator, and titrate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium
hydroxide solution until the color of the solution becomes green. Calculate the factor of
0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution by the following formula:

Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (f1)

= (W1 × A × 0.01/97.095) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C1)

W1: Mass (g) of sulfamic acid sampled

A: Purity (%) of sulfamic acid
V1: Volume (mL) of sulfamic acid solution transferred
V2: Constant volume (250 mL) of sulfamic acid solution
V3: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution

b) Sodium hydroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8576 or a reagent of

equivalent quality.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
d) Potassium chloride: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8121 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
e) Potassium chloride solution (1): Add 250 mL of ethanol specified in JIS K 8101
to 750 mL of water to mix, and add 150 mL of potassium chloride to dissolve.
Add a few drops of methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator and drop
hydrochloric acid until the color of the solution becomes red to make it acidic, and after
leaving at rest for 1 day, neutralize with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution.

188
 f) Potassium fluoride solution (1): Dissolve 58 g of potassium fluoride specified in JIS K
8815 in 1000 mL of water (2).
g) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.10 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
h) Phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 1 g of phenolphthalein specified in
JIS K 8799 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store in a container made of polyethylene, etc. that contains no silicon.

Comment 1 Instead of a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution in (2) a), a 0.1
mol/L sodium hydroxide solution or a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
conforming to ISO/IEC 17025 can be used.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as follows:

a) Constant-temperature bath: A constant-temperature bath adjustable up to 65 ºC ± 2
ºC.
b) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.
c) Volumetric flask and beaker made of polymer: A flask and a beaker that are made of
polyethylene, etc. of a quality of material which prevents silicic acid from eluting in the
extract procedure in (4.1).
d) Filter made of polymer: A Gooch crucible made of polymer (compatible filter
diameter: 25 mm) or a funnel for absorptive filtering made of polymer (compatible filter
diameter: 21 mm) that are made of polyethylene, etc. of a quality of material which
prevents silicic acid from eluting in the extract procedure in (4.1).

Comment 2 A funnel for absorptive filtering made of polymer (compatible filter

diameter: 21 mm) is sold under the name Polyethylene Kiriyama Funnel
SB-21.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 250-mL
volumetric flask made of polymer.
b) Add about 150 mL of sodium hydroxide solution heated up to about 65 ºC, and heat for
1 hour while shaking to mix at every 10 minutes in a water bath at 65 ºC ± 2 ºC.
c) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer a predetermined volume (the equivalents of 20 mg - 50 mg as SiO2 and no
more than 25 mL of liquid volume) to a 200-mL beaker made of polyethylene.
b) Add about 10 mL of hydrochloric acid and about 15 mL of potassium fluoride solution,
and further add about 2 g of potassium chloride to dissolve, and then cool in a
refrigerator for about 30 minutes (3) to form the precipitate of potassium fluoride.
c) Filter under reduced pressure with a filter made of polymer (4) topped with Type 6 filter
paper, and wash the container 3 times with a potassium chloride solution, then move the
whole precipitate into the crucible, and further wash 6 - 7 times with a small amount of
potassium chloride solution (5).

189
 d) Move the precipitate on the filter together with the filter paper into a 300-mL tall beaker
with water, and further add water to make about 200 mL and heat up to 70 ºC - 80 ºC on
a hot plate.
e) Add a few drops of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL) to the sample solution as an
indicator and titrate with the 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the
color of the solution becomes light red.
f) Calculate soluble silicic acid (S-SiO2) in the analytical sample by the following formula.

Soluble silicic acid (S-SiO2) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

= V4 × C × f × (V5/V6) × (15.021/W2) × (100/1000)

V4: Volume of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide required for titration
C: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
f: factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
V5: Predetermined volume (mL) of the extract in (4.1) c)
V6: Volume (mL) of the extract transferred in (4.2) a)
W2: Mass (g) of an analytical sample

Note (3) To be no more than 10 ºC

(4) Filter paper pulp can be stuffed to restrain precipitate from outflowing.
(5) Until the filtrate becomes neutral.

Comment 3 Table 1 shows results and analysis results from a collaborative study for test
method validation.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study

for the test method validation of soluble silicic acid in silica gel fertilizers
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
Number of Mean sr RSD r sR RSD R
Sample name 1)
laboratories 3) 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Silica gel fertilizers 1 8 79.37 0.23 0.3 0.55 0.7
Silica gel fertilizers 2 8 84.68 0.42 0.5 0.85 1
Silica gel fertilizers 3 8 89.58 0.4 0.4 0.51 0.6
Silica gel fertilizers 4 8 84.44 0.37 0.4 0.77 0.9
Silica gel fertilizers 5 8 85.77 0.46 0.5 0.59 0.7
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n= number of laboratories × number of samples (2))
3) Mass fraction
4) Repeatability standard deviation
5) Repeatability relative standard deviation
6) Reproducibility standard deviation
7) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Takeshi HASHIMOTO, Akira SHIMIZU and Kaori OKADA: Validation of a Method of
Potassium Fluoride for Determination of Sodium Hydroxide-Soluble Silicic Acid in
Silica Gel Fertilizer, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.3, p. 19 - 24 (2010)
2) Akira SHIMIZU, Shin ABE and Jun ITO: Determination of Solubility Silicic Acid in
Silica gel Fertilizer and Silica gel-including Fertilizer by Potassium Fluoride Method: A
Collaborative Study, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.5, p. 31 - 40 (2012)
190
5) Flow sheet for soluble silicic acid: The flow sheet for soluble silicic acid in silica gel
fertilizers, etc. is shown below:

1g Weigh to the order of 1 mg

analytical sample into a 250-mL volumetric flask made of polymer.
← About 150 mL sodium hydroxide (20 g/L) [about 65 ºC]
65 ºC ± 2 ºC, 1 hour, shaking to mix every 10 minutes
Heating

Standing to cool Room temperature

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
200-mL beaker made of polymer
(predetermined amount)
← About 10 mL of hydrochloric acid
← About 15 mL of potassium fluoride solution
← About 2 g of potassium chloride
Standing to cool For 30 minutes in a refrigerator

Filter made of polymer

Filtration
Type 6 filter paper

Washing Wash 6 - 7 times with potassium chloride solution

Transfer 300-mL tall beaker, water

← Water (until the liquid volume reaches about 200 mL)
Heating 70 ºC - 80 ºC
← A few drops of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL)
0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
Titration
(Until the solution becomes light red)

Figure Flow sheet for soluble silicic acid in silica gel fertilizers

191
4.4.1.c Potassium fluoride method (Fertilizers containing silica gel fertilizers)
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing silica gel fertilizers.
Mix the equivalent volumes of the extract which is extracted by adding hydrochloric acid
(1+23) to an analytical sample and the liquid by extracting non-dissolved matter on a filter
paper with sodium hydroxide (20 g/L), and add hydrochloric acid, a potassium fluoride
solution and potassium chloride. Cool it in a refrigerator, and then filter after forming
precipitate as potassium silicofluoride (K2SiF6). Then transfer water in the precipitate, heat
and measure potassium silicofluoride (K2SiF6) dissolved by precipitation titration to obtain
soluble silicic acid (S-SiO2) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this
testing method is shown in Comment 3.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution(1): Transfer about 30 mL of water to
a polyethylene bottle, dissolve about 35 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576
by adding in small portions while cooling, seal tightly and leave at rest for 4 - 5 days.
Transfer 5.5 mL - 11 mL of the supernatant to a ground-in stoppered storage container,
and add 1000 mL of water.
Standardization: Dry sulfamic acid reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 by leaving at rest in a desiccator at no more than 2 kPa for about
48 hours, then transfer about 2.5 g to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Dissolve with a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask,
and add water up to the marked line (1). Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution
to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of bromothymol blue solution
(0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator, and titrate with 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution until the color of the solution becomes green. Calculate the factor of a 0.1
mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution by the following formula:

Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (f)

= (W1× A × 0.01/97.095) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C)

W1:Mass (g) of sulfamic acid sampled

A: Purity (%) of sulfamic acid
V1:Volume (mL) of sulfamic acid solution transferred
V2:Constant volume (250 mL) of sulfamic acid solution
V3:Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution

b) Sodium hydroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8576 or a reagent of

equivalent quality.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
d) Potassium chloride: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8121 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
e) Potassium chloride solution (1): Add 250 mL of ethanol specified in JIS K 8101
to 750 mL of water to mix, and add 150 mL of potassium chloride to dissolve.
Add a few drops of methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator and drop
hydrochloric acid until the color of the solution becomes red to make it acidic. After
leaving at rest for 1 day, neutralize with the 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution.
192
 f) Potassium fluoride solution (1): Dissolve 58 g of potassium fluoride specified in JIS K
8815 in 1000 mL of water (2).
g) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.10 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
h) Phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 1 g of phenolphthalein specified in
JIS K 8799 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store in a container made of polymer, etc. that contains no silicon.

Comment 1 Instead of a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution in (2) a), a 0.1
mol/L sodium hydroxide solution or a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
conforming to ISO/IEC 17025 can be used.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Constant-temperature bath: A constant-temperature bath adjustable up to 65 ºC ± 2
ºC.
b) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.
c) Volumetric flask and beaker made of polymer: A flask and a beaker that are made of
polyethylene, etc. of a quality of material which prevents silicic acid from eluting in the
extract procedure in (4.1).
d) Filter made of polymer: A Gooch crucible made of polymer (compatible filter
diameter: 25 mm) or a funnel for absorptive filtering made of polymer (compatible filter
diameter: 21 mm) that are made of polyethylene, etc. of a quality of material which
prevents silicic acid from eluting in the extract procedure in (4.1).

Comment 2 A funnel for absorptive filtering made of polymer (compatible filter

diameter: 21 mm) is sold under the name Polyethylene Kiriyama Funnel
SB-21.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 300-mL tall
beaker.
b) Add 150 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+23) warmed up to about 30 ºC, and warm it in a
water bath at 30 ºC ± 2 ºC while stirring every 10minutes with a glass rod for 1 hour.
c) After standing to cool, filter with Type 6 filter paper to a 250-mL volumetric flask as an
acceptor. Wash the tall beaker with water, then move the whole residue on the filter
paper and add water up to the marked line to make the sample solution (1).
d) Transfer the non-dissolved matter on the filter paper together with the filter paper to a
250- mL volumetric flask made of polymer.
e) Add about 150 mL of sodium hydroxide solution (20 g/L) warmed up to about 65 ºC,
and heat for 1 hour while shaking to mix at every 10 minutes in a water bath at 65 ºC ±
2 ºC.
f) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line and filter with Type 3 filter paper
to make the sample solution (2).

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer a predetermined volume (the equivalents of 20 mg - 50 mg as SiO2) (3) of the
sample solution (1) and (2) to a 200-mL beaker made of polymer.

193
b) Add about 10 mL of hydrochloric acid and about 15 mL of potassium fluoride solution,
and further add about 2 g of potassium chloride to dissolve, and then cool in a
refrigerator for about 30 minutes (4) to form the precipitate of potassium fluoride.
c) Filter under reduced pressure with a filter made of polymer (5) topped with Type 6 filter
paper, and wash the container 3 times with a potassium chloride solution, then move the
whole precipitate into the filter, and further wash 6 - 7 times with a small amount of
potassium chloride solution (6).
d) Move the precipitate on the filter together with the filter paper into a 300-mL tall beaker
with water, and further add water to make about 200 mL of solution and heat up to 70
ºC - 80 ºC on a hot plate.
e) Add a few drops of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL) to the sample solution as an
indicator and titrate with the 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the
color of the solution becomes light red.
f) Calculate soluble silicic acid (S-SiO2) in the analytical sample by the following formula.

Soluble silicic acid (S-SiO2) (%) in an analytical sample

= V4 × C × f × (V5/V6) × (15.021/W2) × (100/1000)

V4: Volume of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide required for titration
C: Estimated concentration (mol/L) of sodium hydroxide solution (0.1 mol/L - 0.2
mol/L)
f: factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
V5: Predetermined volume (250 mL) of the sample solution in (4.1) c)
V6: Volume (mL) of the sample solution transferred in (4.2) a)
W2: Mass (g) of an analytical sample

Note (3) The transferred volumes of the sample solution (1) and (2) should be equal.
(4) To be no more than 10 ºC
(5) Filter paper pulp can be stuffed to restrain precipitate from outflowing.
(6) Until the filtrate becomes neutral.

Comment 3 Table 1 shows results and analysis results from a collaborative study for test
method validation.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.6 % (mass fraction).

194
 Table 1 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study for the test method validation
of soluble silicic acid in fertilizers including a silica gel fertilizer
Number of Mean2) sr
4)
RSD r
5)
sR
6)
RSD R
7)

Sample name laboratorie 3) 3) 3)

1) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
s
Mixed phosphate
8.00 24.99 0.16 0.6 0.33 1.3
fertilizer 1
Mixed phosphate
8.00 34.50 0.26 0.7 0.48 1.4
fertilizer 2
Compound
8.00 30.30 0.13 0.4 0.60 2.0
fertilizers 1
Compound
8.00 33.34 0.13 0.4 0.47 1.4
fertilizers 2
Compound
8.00 15.76 0.11 0.7 0.21 1.3
fertilizers 3
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Total mean (n= number of laboratories × number of replication(2))
3) Mass fraction
4) Repeatability standard deviation
5) Repeatability relative standard deviation
6) Reproducibility standard deviation
7) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Akira SHIMIZU, Jun ITO and Shin ABE: Method Validation of Potassium Fluoride
Method for Determination of Acid-Soluble and Base-Soluble Silicic Acid in Fertilizer
containing Silica gel, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.4, p. 1 - 8 (2011)
2) Akira SHIMIZU: Method Validation of Potassium Fluoride Method for Determination
of Acid-Soluble and Base-Soluble Silicic Acid in Fertilizer containing Silica Gel,
Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.6, p. 1 - 8 (2013)
3) Shinji KAWAGUCHI and Akira SHIMIZU: Determination of Soluble Silicic Acid in
Fertilizers Containing Silica Gel Fertilizer by Potassium Fluoride Method: A
Collaborative Study, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 7, p. 36 – 42 (2014)

195
5) Flow sheet for soluble silicic acid: The flow sheet for soluble silicic acid in
fertilizers including silica gel fertilizers is shown below:

1g Weigh to the order of 1 mg

analytical sample into a 300-mL tall beaker
← About 150 mL hydrochloric acid (1+23) [30 ºC]
Warming 1 hour in water bath at 30 ºC ± 2 ºC
(Stir at every 10 minutes)

Filtration Type 6 filter paper, a 250-mL volumetric flask

(supernatant)
Transfer Move the residue to a filter paper
← Wash with water
<Residue> <Filtrate>
← Wash (up to the marked line)
Sample solution (1)

Transfer 250-mL volumetric flask made of polyer

together wiyh a filter paper
← Add about 150 mL of sodium hydroxide solution (20 g/L) [65ºC] to stopple.
Then, shake to mix until the filter paper completely breaks down
Heating 65 ºC ± 2 ºC, while shaking to mix
at every 10 minutes for 1 hour
Standing to cool
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Sample solution (2)

Figure Flow sheet　(1) for soluble silicic acid in fertilizers

(Preparation of sample solution)

196
Sample solution (1) and (2) Transfer the equal volume of the sample (1) and (2) to
Aliquot
a 200-mL beaker made of polymer
(predetermined amount)
← About 10 mL of hydrochloric acid
← About 15 mL of potassium fluoride solution
← About 2 g of potassium chloride
Cooling For 30 minutes in a refrigerator

Filtration Filter made of polymer

Type 6 filter paper

Washing Wash 6 - 7 times with potassium chloride solution

Transfer 300-mL tall beaker, water

← Water (until the liquid volume reaches about 200 mL)
Heating 70 ºC - 80 ºC
← A few drops of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL)
0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
Titration
(Until the color of solution becomes light red)

Figure Flow sheet (2) for soluble silicic acid in fertilizers

(Measurement procedures)

197
4.4.1.d Perchloric acid method
(1) Summary
Extract by adding hydrochloric acid (1+23) to an analytical sample, add perchloric acid and
heat, and then measure the formed silicic acid anhydride to obtain hydrochloric acid (1+23)
soluble silicic acid (soluble silicic acid (S-SiO2)) in an analytical sample. In addition, the
performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 2.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Perchloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8223 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as follows:

a) Constant-temperature rotary shaker: A constant-temperature rotary shaker that can
rotate a 250-mL volumetric flask, set up in a thermostat adjustable to 30 ºC ± 1 ºC,
upside down at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.
c) Electric funnel: An electric funnel that can be adjusted to 1000 ºC - 1100 ºC.
d) Crucible: After heating a chemical analysis porcelain crucible specified in JIS R 1301
in an electric funnel at 1000 ºC - 1100 ºC, let it stand to cool in a desiccator and measure
the mass to the order of 1 mg.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction:
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 250-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add 150 mL of hydrochloric acid heated up to about 30 ºC, and shake to mix at 30 - 40
revolutions/min (30 ºC ± 1 ºC) for 1 hour.
c) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 1 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) of 4.4.1.a.

(4.2) Measurement:
a) Transfer a predetermined volume to a 100-mL tall beaker.
b) Add about 10 mL of perchloric acid and heat.
c) When white smoke from the perchloric acid starts evolving, cover with a watch glass,
then heat for 15 - 20 minutes to form precipitate of silicone dioxide.
d) After standing to cool, add about 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+4) and cover with a
watch glass and heat at 70 ºC - 80 ºC on a hot plate for several minutes.
e) Immediately after heating, filter with Type 5-C filter paper, wash the container with
heated hydrochloric acid (1+10) and move the whole precipitate to a filter paper.
f) Wash the precipitate and the filter paper 2 times with heated hydrochloric acid (1+10),
and further wash several times with hot water (1).
g) Put the precipitate together with the filter paper into the crucible.
h) Put the crucible into a drying apparatus and dry at about 120 ºC for 1 hour.
i) After standing to cool, put the crucible into an electric funnel and heat gently to char.
j) Ignite at 1000 ºC - 1100 ºC for 1 hour.
k) After ignition, move the crucible to a desiccator and let it stand to cool.

198
 l) After standing to cool, remove the crucible from the desiccator and measure the mass to
the order of 1 mg.
m) Calculate soluble silicic acid (S-SiO2) in an analytical sample by the following formula.

Soluble silicic acid (S-SiO2) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

= A × (V1/V2)/W × 100

A: Mass (g) of precipitate

W: Mass (g) of an analytical sample
V1: Predetermined volume (mL) of the sample solution in (4.1) c)
V2: Volume (mL) of the sample solution transferred in (4.2) a)

Note (1) Wash until no reaction by chloride appears in the filtrate.

Comment 2 Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for soluble silicic acid hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
2) 4) 5)
Number of Median (Μ ) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample
laboratories (%)
3)
(%)
3)
(%)
2008 Slag silicate fertilizer 13 33.58 0.42 1.2

2010 Slag silicate fertilizer 12 33.72 0.30 0.9

2012 Slag silicate fertilizer 13 36.09 0.63 1.7

2013 Slag silicate fertilizer 11 35.50 0.70 2.0

2014 Slag silicate fertilizer 15 34.21 0.46 1.3

2015 Slag silicate fertilizer 14 32.37 0.68 2.1

1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR/M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 143 - 144, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

199
5) Flow sheet for soluble silicic acid: The flow sheet for soluble silicic acid in fertilizers is
shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 250-mL volumetric flask.

← About 150 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+23) [about 30 ºC]
Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min)
Shaking to mix
30 ºC ± 1 ºC, 1 hour

Standing to cool Room temperature

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
(predetermined 100-mL tall beaker
amount)
←About 10 mL of perchloric acid
When white smoke of perchloric acid starts evolving,
Heating
cover with a watch glass, heat for 15 - 20 minutes

Standing to cool
←About 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+4)
Cover with a watch glass,
Heating
heat at 70 ºC - 80 ºC for several minutes

Type 5-C filter paper

Filtration

←Wash 2 times with about 10 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+10)

←Wash several times with hot water
Drying Drying apparatus, about 120 ºC, 1 hour

Standing to cool

Charring Heat gently in an electric furnace

Incineration 1000 ºC - 1100 ºC for no less than 1 hour

Standing to cool Desiccator

Measurement Measure the mass to the order of 1 mg

Figure Flow sheet for soluble silicic acid in fertilizers

200
4.4.2 Water-soluble silicic acid
4.4.2.a Potassium fluoride method
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to liquid potassium silicate fertilizers.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, add hydrochloric acid, a potassium fluoride
solution and potassium chloride and cool in a refrigerator, and then filter after forming
precipitate as potassium silicofluoride (K2SiF6). Put the precipitate in water and heat, and
measure potassium silicofluoride (K2SiF6) dissolved by precipitation titration to obtain the
water- soluble silicic acid (W-SiO2) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of
this testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution(1): Transfer about 30 mL of water to
a polyethylene bottle, dissolve about 35 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576
by adding in small portions while cooling, seal tightly and leave at rest for 4 - 5 days.
Transfer 5.5 mL - 11 mL of the supernatant to a ground-in stoppered storage container,
and add 1000 mL of water.
Standardization: Dry sulfamic acid reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 by leaving at rest in a desiccator at no more than 2 kPa for about
48 hours, then transfer about 2.5 g to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Dissolve with a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask,
and add water up to the marked line (1). Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution
to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of bromothymol blue solution
(0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator, and titrate with 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution until the color of the solution becomes green. Calculate the factor of a 0.1
mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution by the following formula:

Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (f)

= (W1 × A × 0.01/97.095) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C)

W1:Mass (g) of sulfamic acid sampled

A: Purity (%) of sulfamic acid
V1:Volume (mL) of sulfamic acid solution transferred
V2:Constant volume (250 mL) of sulfamic acid solution
V3:Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution

b) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of

equivalent quality.
c) Potassium chloride: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8121 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
d) Potassium chloride solution (1): Add 250 mL of ethanol specified in JIS K 8101
to 750 mL of water to mix, and add 150 mL of potassium chloride to dissolve.
Add a few drops of methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator and drop
hydrochloric acid until the color of the solution becomes red to make it acidic. After
leaving at rest for 1 day, neutralize with the 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution.
e) Potassium fluoride solution (1): Dissolve 58 g of potassium fluoride specified in JIS K
8815 in 1000 mL of water (2).

201
 f) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.10 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
g) Phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 1 g of phenolphthalein specified in
JIS K 8799 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store in a container made of polyethylene, etc. that contains no silicon.

Comment 1 Instead of a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution in (2) a), a 0.1
mol/L sodium hydroxide solution or a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
conforming to ISO/IEC 17025 can be used.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as follows:

a) Constant-temperature rotary shaker: A constant-temperature rotary shaker that can
rotate a 500-mL volumetric flask upside down at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.
c) Beaker made of polymer: A beaker that is made of polyethylene, etc. of a quality of
material which prevents silicic acid from eluting in the extract procedure in (4.1).
d) Filter made of polymer: A Gooch crucible made of polymer (compatible filter
diameter: 25 mm) or a funnel for absorptive filtering made of polymer (compatible filter
diameter: 21 mm) that are made of polyethylene, etc. of a quality of material which
prevents silicic acid from eluting in the extract procedure in (4.1).

Comment 2 A funnel for absorptive filtering made of polymer (compatible filter diameter:
21 mm) is sold under the name Polyethylene Kiriyama Funnel SB-21.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 500-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add 400 mL of water, and shake to mix at 30 - 40 revolutions/min for about 30 minutes.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 3 In the procedure of a), it is also allowed to weigh 2.5 g of an analytical

sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it into a 250-mL volumetric flask
Comment 4 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) of 4.2.4.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer a predetermined volume (the equivalents of 20 mg - 50 mg as SiO2 and no
more than 25 mL of liquid volume) to a 200-mL beaker made of polymer.
b) Add about 10 mL of hydrochloric acid and about 15 mL of potassium fluoride solution,
and further add about 2 g of potassium chloride to dissolve, and then cool in a
refrigerator for 30 minutes or more (3) to form the precipitate of potassium fluoride.
c) Filter under reduced pressure with a filter made of polymer(4) topped with Type 6 filter
paper, and wash the container 3 times with a potassium chloride solution, then move the
whole precipitate into the filter, and further wash 6 - 7 times with a small amount of
potassium chloride solution (5).
d) Move the precipitate on the filter together with the filter paper into a 300-mL tall beaker
with water, and further add water to make about 200 mL and heat it up to 70 ºC - 80 ºC
on a hot plate.
202
 e) Add a few drops of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL) to the sample solution as an
indicator and titrate with the 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the
color of the solution becomes light red.
f) Calculate water-soluble silicic acid (W-SiO2) by the following formula.

Soluble silicic acid (S-SiO2) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

= V4 × C × f × (V5/V6) × (15.021/W2) × (100/1000)

V4: Volume of the 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution required for
titration
C: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
f: Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
V5: Predetermined volume (mL) of the extract in (4.1) c)
V6: Volume (mL) of the extract transferred in (4.2) a)
W2: Mass (g) of an analytical sample

Note (3) To be no more than 10 ºC

(4) Filter paper pulp can be stuffed to restrain precipitate from outflowing.
(5) Until the filtrate becomes neutral.

Comment 5 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 30 %
(mass fraction) and 12 % - 20% (mass fraction ) are 100.7 % and 99.5 % -
100.5 as water-soluble silicic acid (W-SiO2) respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a liquid potassium
silicate fertilizer to evaluate precision were analyzed by the one-way analysis
of variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision
and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.2 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days

Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
sample repeatability Average2) sr
4)
RSD r
5) 6)
s I(T) RSD I(T)
7)

1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Liquid potassium silicate fertilizer 1 7 24.01 0.07 0.3 0.08 0.4
Liquid potassium silicate fertilizer 2 7 16.07 0.03 0.2 0.04 0.3
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 144 - 146, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Shinji KAWAGUCHI: Verification of Performance Characteristics of Testing Method
for Water-Soluble Silicic Acid in Fertilizer by Potassium Fluoride Method, Research
Report of Fertilizer, Vol.8, p. 174 – 181 (2015)

203
5) Flow sheet for water-soluble silicic acid: The flow sheet for water-soluble silicic acid in
fertilizers is shown below:

5 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a 500-mL volumetric flask.

← About 400 mL of water
Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min)
Shaking to mix
30 minutes
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
200-mL beaker made of polymer
(predetermined amount)
← About 10 mL hydrochloric acid
← About 15mL potassium fluoride solution
← About 2 g of potassium chloride
Cooling For 30 minutes or more in a refrigerator

Filter made of polymer

Filtration
Type 6 filter paper

Washing Wash 6 - 7 times with potassium chloride solution

Transfer 300-mL tall beaker, water

← Water (until the liquid volume reaches about 200 mL)
Heating 70 ºC - 80 ºC
← A few drops of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL)
0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
Titration
(Until the solution becomes light red)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble silicic acid in fertilizers

204
4.5 Lime, calcium and alkalinity
4.5.1 Total lime
4.5.1.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing organic matters.
Pretreat an analytical sample with incineration and hydrochloric acid, add an interference
suppressor solution, and then spray in an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic
absorption with calcium at a wavelength of 422.7 nm to quantify total lime (T-CaO) in an
analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment
4.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Interference suppressor solution: Weigh 60.9 g - 152.1 g of strontium chloride
hexahydrate specified in JIS K 8132(1) into a 2000-mL beaker, add a small amount of
water, gradually add 420 mL of hydrochloric acid to dissolve, and further add water to
make 1000 mL.
c) Calcium standard solution (CaO 1 mg/mL)(2): Heat calcium carbonate specified in
JIS K 8617 at 110 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 2 hours, let it stand to cool in a desiccator, and
weigh 1.785 g into a weighing dish. Transfer to a 1000-mL volumetric flask with a
small amount of water, add 20 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+3) to dissolve, and add water
up to the marked line.
d) Calcium standard solution (CaO 5 µg/mL - 50 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation(2): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of a calcium standard solution (CaO 1 mg/mL)
to 500-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add about 50 mL of interference suppressor
solution(3), and add water up to the marked line(4).
e) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (2): Transfer about 50 mL of
an interference suppressor solution to a 500-mL volumetric flask (3), and add water up to
the marked line (4).

Note (1) 29 g of lanthanum oxide (atomic absorption analysis grade or equivalents) can
also be used.
(2) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.
(3) Add an interference suppressor solution that is 1/10 volume of the volume to be
prepared.
(4) For storage, use a sealable container made of materials which are not likely to
dissolve calcium, such as borosilicate glass-1 specified in JIS R 3503 or Teflon.

Comment 1 Instead of the calcium standard solution in (2), a calcium standard solution for
the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a calcium standard
solution (Ca 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology. In this
case, calculate total lime (T-CaO) in the analytical sample by multiplying the
concentration (Ca) of the calcium standard solution for calibration curve
preparation or a measurement value (Ca) obtained in (4.2) by a conversion
factor (1.3992).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121.
205
 1) Light source: A calcium hollow cathode lamp
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
b) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be adjusted to 550 ºC ± 5 ºC.
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
(4.1.2) Incineration-hydrochloric acid boiling
a) Weigh about 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 200-mL-
300-mL tall beaker.
b) Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char(5).
c) Ignite (at 550 ºC ± 5 ºC) for no less than 4 hours to incinerate.
d) After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, add gradually
about 10 mL of hydrochloric acid, and further add water to make about 20 mL.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to boil
for about 5 minutes.
f) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask with
water.
g) Add water up to the marked line.
h) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (5) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.

Comment 2 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1.2) in 4.2.1.a.

(4.1.2) Incineration-aqua regia digestion

a) Weigh 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 200-mL -
300-mL tall beaker.
b) Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char (5).
c) Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC to incinerate (6).
d) After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, and add about
10 mL of nitric acid and about 30 mL of hydrochloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to digest.
f) Slightly move the watch glass (7), and continue heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until nearly dried up.
g) After standing to cool, add 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5) (8) to the digest,
cover the tall beaker with the watch glass, and heat quietly to dissolve.
h) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask with
water, add water up to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the
sample solution.

Note (6) Example of ignition period: 8 - 16 hours

(7) The watch glass can be removed.
(8) Add hydrochloric acid (1+5) so that the hydrochloric acid concentration of the
sample solution will be hydrochloric acid (1+23). For example, when a 100-mL

206
 volumetric flask is used in the procedure in h), about 25 mL of hydrochloric
acid (1+5) should be added.

Comment 3 The procedures in (4.1.2) is the same as the procedures in (4.1.3) in 4.2.1.a
and in (4.1) a) - h) in 5.3.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 422.7 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the calcium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 422.7 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the calcium concentration and the
indicated value of the calcium standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.5 mg
- 5 mg as CaO) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 10 mL of an interference suppressor solution (3), and add water up to the
marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the calcium content from the calibration curve, and calculate total lime
(T-CaO) in the analytical sample.

Comment 4 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 15 %
(mass fraction) and 1 % (mass fraction) are 101.8 % and 97.9% as total lime
(T-CaO) respectively.
The results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference
material fertilizer were analyzed using the three level nesting analysis of
variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate
precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.05 % (mass fraction).

207
 Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
2) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)
certified reference laboratory Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T) sR RSD R
1) 3) 3) 3) 3)
material fertilizer p (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
FAMIC-C-12 11 5.82 0.07 1.2 0.11 2.0 0.29 5.0
1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
conducting flame atomic absorbance spectrometry
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Mass fraction 8）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability standard deviation 9）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

References
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 156 – 158, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Kimie KATO, Masayuki YOSHIMOTO and Yuji SHIRAI: Systematization of
Determination Methods of Major Components in Sludge Fertilizer, Compost and
Organic Fertilizer, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.3, 2010. (107 - 116)
3) Souichi IGARASHI and Yasuharu KIMURA: Verification of Performance
Characteristics of Testing Methods for Calcium Content in Fertilizer by Atomic
Absorption Spectrometry: Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 6, p. 183 – 192 (2013)

208
(5) Flow sheet for total lime: The flow sheet for total lime in fertilizers is shown below:

5 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 200-mL- 300-mL tall beaker.

Charring Heat gently

Incineration Heat at 550 ºC ±5 ºC, no less than 4 hours

Standing to cool Room temperature

← Small amount of water, moisten the residue
← About 10 mL of hydrochloric acid
← Water (up to about 20 mL)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and boil for 5 minutes.

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask, water

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined amount)
←About 10 mL interference suppressor solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer

Figure 1 Flow sheet (1) for total lime in fertilizers.

　　(Preaparation of sample solution and measurement by incineration-hydrochloric acid boiling)

209
 5g
Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample

Charring Heat gently

Incineration Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water
← About 10 mL of nitric acid
← About 30 mL of hydrochloric acid
Heating Cover with a watch glass to digest

Heating Slightly move the watch glass and remove acid

Standing to cool Room temperature

← 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
Heating Cover with a watch glass to dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined amount)
←About 10 mL interference suppressor solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer

Figure 2 Flow sheet (2) for total lime in fertilizers

　　(Preaparation of sample solution and measurement by incineration-aqua regia digestion)

210
4.5.2 Soluble lime
4.5.2.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers that guarantee alkalinity.
Add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to an analytical sample, boil to extract, and add an interference
suppressor solution, and then spray in an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic
absorption with calcium at a wavelength of 422.7 nm to quantify hydrochloric acid (1+23)
soluble lime (soluble lime (S-CaO)) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of
this testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Interference suppressor solution(2): Weigh 60.9g - 152.1g of strontium chloride
hexahydrate specified in JIS K 8132(1) into a 2000-mL beaker, add a small amount of
water, add gradually 420 mL of hydrochloric acid to dissolve, and further add water to
make 1000 mL.
c) Calcium standard solution (CaO 1 mg/mL)(2): Put calcium carbonate specified in JIS
K 8617 in a drying apparatus, heat at 110 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 2 hours, let it stand to cool
in a desiccator, and weigh 1.785 g into a weighing dish. Transfer to a 1000-mL
volumetric flask with a small amount of water, add about 20 mL of hydrochloric acid
(1+3) to dissolve, and add water up to the marked line.
d) Calcium standard solution (CaO 5 µg/mL - 50 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation(2): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of calcium standard solution (CaO 1 mg/mL)
to 500-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add about 50 mL of an interference
suppressor solution(3), and add water up to the marked line(4).
e) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (2): Transfer about 50 mL of
interference suppressor solution used in the procedure in d) to a 500-mL volumetric
flask (3), and add water up to the marked line (4).

Note (1) 29 g of lanthanum oxide (atomic absorption analysis grade or equivalents) can
also be used.
(2) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.
(3) Add an interference suppressor solution that is 1/10 volume of the volume to be
prepared.
(4) For storage, use a sealable container made of materials which are not like to
dissolve calcium, such as borosilicate glass-1 specified in JIS R 3503 or Teflon.

Comment 1 Instead of the potassium standard solution in (2), a calcium standard solution
for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a calcium
standard solution (Ca 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
In this case, calculate soluble lime (S-CaO) in the analytical sample by
multiplying the concentration (Ca) of the calcium standard solution for
calibration curve preparation or a measurement value (Ca) obtained in (4.2)
by a conversion factor (1.3992).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121.
1) Light source: A calcium hollow cathode lamp

211
 2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
b) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh about 2 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 500-mL tall
beaker.
b) Add about 20 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+23), cover with a watch glass, and boil on a
hot plate for about 5 minutes (5).
c) After standing to cool, transfer to a 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask with water.
d) Add water up to the marked line.
e) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (5) Be aware that an analytical sample should not solidify in the bottom of a beaker.

Comment 2 In the case of a by-product magnesia fertilizer or a fertilizer containing a

by-product magnesia, if the pH of the sample solution of d) is neutral or basic,
prepare a sample solution anew by replacing “2 g of an analytical sample” in
the procedure in a) with “1 g - 1.5 g of an analytical sample”.
Comment 3 In the procedure in a), a 500-mL volumetric flask can be used instead of a
500-mL tall beaker. However the volumetric flask used should be
distinguished as an extraction flask and should not be used for the other
purposes. In addition, “cover with a watch glass” in b) is replaced by “place a
funnel”, and “transfer to a 250-mL - 500 mL volumetric flask with water” in
the procedure in c) is skipped.
Comment 4 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as in (4.1) in 4.6.1.a and 4.7.1.a

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 422.7 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the calcium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 422.7 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the calcium concentration and the
indicated value of the calcium standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.5 mg
- 5 mg as CaO) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 10 mL of interference suppressor solution (3), and add water up to the
marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the calcium content from the calibration curve, and calculate soluble lime
(S-CaO) in the analytical sample.
212
 Comment 5 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation
sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 20 %
(mass fraction) and 1 % (mass fraction) are 100.9 % and 101.1% as soluble
lime (S-CaO) respectively.
Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.05 %.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for soluble lime hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
2) 4) 5)
Number of Median (Μ ) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample
laboratories (%)
3)
(%)
3)
(%)
2009 Slag silicate fertilizer 58 32.68 0.90 2.8
2010 Slag silicate fertilizer 60 41.64 0.78 1.9
2011 Slag silicate fertilizer 55 40.78 0.79 1.9
2012 Slag silicate fertilizer 59 40.53 0.60 1.5
2013 Slag silicate fertilizer 59 30.06 0.65 2.2
2014 Slag silicate fertilizer 57 42.79 1.14 2.7
2015 Slag silicate fertilizer 58 41.02 1.02 2.5
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.167 - 169, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Souichi IGARASHI and Yasuharu KIMURA: Verification of Performance
Characteristics of Testing Methods for Calcium Content in Fertilizer by Atomic
Absorption Spectrometry: Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 6, p. 183 – 192 (2013)

213
(5) Flow sheet for soluble lime: The flow sheet for soluble lime in fertilizers is shown
below:

2 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 500-mL tall beaker.

← About 200 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+23)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and boil for 5 minutes.

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer Water, 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined amount)
←About 10 mL interference suppressor solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer

Figure Flow sheet for soluble lime in fertilizers.

214
4.5.3 Water-soluble calcium
4.5.3.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers that indicate calcium content as a response
modifier.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, and add an interference suppressor solution,
and then spray in an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic absorption with calcium at a
wavelength of 422.7 nm to quantify water-soluble calcium (W-Ca) in an analytical sample. In
addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 3.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Interference suppressor solution (2): Weigh 60.9 g-152.1 g of strontium chloride
hexahydrate (1) specified in JIS K 8132 into a 2000-mL beaker, add a small amount of
water, add gradually 420 mL of hydrochloric acid to dissolve, and further add water to
make 1000 mL.
c) Calcium standard solution (Ca 1 mg/mL): Calcium standard solution (Ca 1 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology.
d) Calcium standard solution (Ca 5 µg/mL - 50 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation(2): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of calcium standard solution (Ca 1 mg/mL) to
500-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add about 50 mL of interference suppressor
solution(3), and add water up to the marked line(4).
e) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (2): Transfer about 50 mL of
interference suppressor solution to a 500-mL volumetric flask (3), and add water up to
the marked line (4).

Note (1) 29 g of lanthanum oxide (atomic absorption analysis grade or equivalents) can
also be used.
(2) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.
(3) Add an interference suppressor solution that is 1/10 volume of the volume to be
prepared.
(4) For storage, use a sealable container made of materials which are not like to
dissolve calcium, such as borosilicate glass-1 specified in JIS R 3503 or Teflon.

Comment 1 Instead of the calcium standard solution in (2), a calcium standard solution for
the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a calcium standard
solution (Ca 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
Comment 2 Instead of the calcium standard solution in (2), a calcium standard solution for
the calibration curve preparation prepared in (2) in 4.5.1.a can be prepared by
using a calcium standard solution (CaO 5 µg/mL - 50 µg/mL). In this case,
calculate water-soluble calcium (W-Ca) in the analytical sample by
multiplying the concentration (CaO) of a calcium standard solution for
calibration curve preparation or a measurement value (CaO) obtained in (4.2)
by a conversion factor (0.7147).

3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate a 500-mL volumetric flask upside down
at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.

215
 b) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121.
1) Light source: A calcium hollow cathode lamp
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1)
Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a)Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 500-mL volumetric flask.
b)Add about 400 mL of water, and shake to mix at 30 - 40 revolutions/min for about 30
minutes.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 422.7 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the calcium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 422.7 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the calcium concentration and the
indicated value of the calcium standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.5 mg
- 5 mg as CaO) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 10 mL of interference suppressor solution (3), and add water up to the
marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the calcium content from the calibration curve, and calculate water-soluble
calcium (W-Ca) in the analytical sample by the following formula.

Water-soluble calcium (W-Ca) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

= A × 0.7147

A: Content volume of W-CaO (% (mass fraction))

Comment 3 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 1 % -
5 % (mass fraction) is 98.1 % - 101.1% as water-soluble calcium (W-Ca)
respectively.
Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.

216
 Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.07 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers, and 0.04 % (mass fraction) for
fluid fertilizers.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for water-soluble calcium hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
5)
Number of Median (Μ )2) NIQR 4) RSD rob
Year Sample
laboratories 3) 3) (%)
(%) (%)
2015 Fluid mixed fertilizer 87 0.223 0.021 9.3
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100

References
1) Souichi IGARASHI and Yasuharu KIMURA: Verification of Performance
Characteristics of Testing Methods for Calcium Content in Fertilizer by Atomic
Absorption Spectrometry: Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 6, p. 183 – 192 (2013)

(5) Flow sheet for water-soluble calcium: The flow sheet for water-soluble calcium in
fertilizers is shown below:

1.00 g analytical sample 500-mL volumetric flask

← About 400 mL of water
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min), for 30 minutes
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined amount)
← About 10 mL interference suppressor solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (422.7 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble calcium in fertilizers.

217
4.5.3.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fluid mixed fertilizers, liquid microelement mixed fertilizers
and the fluid fertilizers of home garden-use mixed fertilizers. Add water to an analytical
sample to extract, introduce it to an ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and
measure the calcium at a wavelength of 393.366 nm to obtain water-soluble calcium (W-Ca).
In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Calcium standard solution (Ca 1 mg/mL): A calcium standard solution (Ca 1 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology.
d) Calcium standard solution (Ca 0.1 mg/mL) (1): Transfer 10 mL of calcium standard
solution (Ca 1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL flask and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the
marked line.
e) Calcium standard solutions (Ca 1 µg/mL – 20µg /mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 1 mL - 20 mL of calcium standard solution (Ca 0.1 mg/mL) to
100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the
marked line.
f) Calcium standard solutions (Ca 0.1 µg/mL - 1 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 1 mL - 10 mL of calcium standard solution (Ca 10 µg/mL) for
the calibration curve preparation to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add
hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the marked line.
g) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedures in d), e) and f).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the calcium standard solution in (2), a calcium standard solution for
the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a calcium standard
solution (Ca 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
Comment 2 There are two modes to observe emission from an ICP-OES, a horizontal
observation mode and an axial observation mode. The range of the
concentration of the standard solution for the calibration preparation curve in
e) and f) applies to a horizontal observation mode. While an axial observation
mode can observe a measurement component of low level concentrations, it
cannot gain the linearity of a calibration curve in the range of high level
concentrations. Therefore, when using the ICP-OES of an axial observation
mode, it is recommended to prepare a calcium standard solution for the
calibration curve in the concentration range which is suitable to a device used.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: An Optical Emission Spectrometer specified in
JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
218
 a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample (2) to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 100-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, shake to mix and add water up to the marked line.
c) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (2) The sampling amount of the analytical sample is 10 g when the content in the
analytical sample is less than 0.01 % (mass fraction) as water-soluble calcium.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) of 4.2.4.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0116 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the ICP
Optical Emission Spectrometry used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 393.366 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the calcium standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and blank
test solution for the calibration curve preparation into inductively coupled plasma,
and read the indicated value at a wavelength of 393.366 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the calcium concentration and the
indicated value of the calcium standard solution for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution (the equivalents of 0.01 mg – 2
mg as Ca) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5), and add water up to the marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the calcium content from the calibration curve, and calculate the
water-soluble calcium (W-Ca).

Comment 4 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.

In this case, refer to Comment 3 in 4.2.4.d.
Comment 5 The comparison of the measurement value (yi：0.095 % - 10.93 % (mass
fraction )) of ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value
(xi) of flame atomic absorbance spectrometry was conducted to evaluate
trueness using fluid fertilizers (12 samples). As a result, a regression equation
was y = 0.005 + 0.978x, and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.999.
Additionally, additive recovery testing was conducted using a fluid mixed
fertilizer (1 brand) and a home garden-use mixed fertilizer (1 brand). As a
result, the mean recovery at additive level of 0.01 % (mass fraction) and
0.1 % (mass fraction) were105.9 % and 106.4 % respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a fluid mixed
fertilizer and a home garden-use mixed fertilizer to evaluate precision were
analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance. Table 1 shows the calculation
results of intermediate precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.0005 % (mass fraction).

219
 Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
sample repeatability Average2) sr
4)
RSD r
5)
s I(T)
6)
RSD I(T)
7)

1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Fluid mixed fertilizer 7 2.14 0.02 0.7 0.05 2.1
Home garder-use mixed
7 0.103 0.001 0.9 0.001 1.0
fertilizer（fluid)
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

220
(5) Flow sheet: The flow sheet for water-soluble calcium of the fluid mixed fertilizers is
shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a 100-mL volumetric flask

← Water, about 50 mL
Shaking to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration

Aliquot 100-mL volmetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
← Water (up to the marked line)

Measurement ICP-OES (393.366 nm)

Figure The flow sheet for water-soluble calcium

in fluid fertilizers

221
4.5.4 Alkalinity
4.5.4.a Ethylenediamine tetraacetate method
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers that guarantee alkalinity.
Add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to an analytical sample, boil to extract, and mask with
2,2’,2”-nitrilotriethanol and a potassium cyanide solution, add a 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine
tetraacetate standard solution, and conduct a chelatometric titration with a 0.01 mol/L
magnesium standard solution to obtain alkalinity (AL). Or after masking, conduct a
chelatometric titration with an ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution to obtain
alkalinity (AL) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is
shown in Comment 6.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Sodium hydroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8576 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
c) Ascorbic acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 9502 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
d) 2,2’,2”-nitrilotriethanol (1): A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8663 or a
reagent of equivalent quality.
e) Acetone: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8034 or a reagent of equivalent
quality.
f) Ammonia solution: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (NH3 28 % (mass fraction)) specified in
JIS K 8085 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
g) 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution: Dissolve 3.72 g of
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium dihydrate in water to make 1000 mL.
Standardization: Wash zinc reference material for volumetric analysis specified in JIS
K 8005 with hydrochloric acid (1+3), water, ethanol (99.5) specified in JIS K 8101, and
diethyl ethel specified in JIS K 8103 successively, and immediately leave at rest in a
desiccator for about 12 hours under no more than 2 kPa to dry, and then weigh about
0.65 mg to the order of 0.1 mg, transfer it to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, add about 10
mL of hydrochloric acid to dissolve and then add water up to the marked line. Transfer
25 mL of the solution to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add about 15 mL of
water and about 5 mL of ammonium chloride buffer solution, and titrate with a 0.01
mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution, while adding Erio-chrome Black
T solution as an indicator, until the color of the solution becomes blue. Calculate the
factor of a 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution by the following
formula.

Factor of 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution (f1)

= W1 × (A/100) × (1/65.409) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C1)
= W1 × A × (1/65.409) × (0.25/V3)

W1: Mass (g) of d zinc sampled

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of zinc
V1: Volume (25 mL) of zinc solution transferred
V2: Constant volume (1000 mL) of zinc solution
V3: Volume (mL) of 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution
needed for titration

222
 C1: Set concentration (0.01 mol/L) of 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate
standard solution

h) 0.01 mol/L magnesium standard solution: Put 0.24 g of magnesium specified in JIS K
8875 into a 1000-mL beaker, add about 10 mL of hydrochloric acid to dissolve, add a
proper amount of water, and while adding a methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL) as an
indicator, neutralize with an ammonia solution (1+3) until the color of the solution
becomes achromatic, and then add water to make 1000 mL.
Standardization: Transfer 25 mL of 0.01 mol/L magnesium standard solution to a
200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add about 15 mL of water and about 5 mL of
ammonium chloride buffer solution, and while adding an Erio-chrome Black T solution
as an indicator, titrate with 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution
until the color of the solution becomes blue. Calculate the factor of a 0.01 mol/L
magnesium standard solution by the following formula.

Factor of 0.01 mol/L magnesium standard solution (f1)

= (C1 × f1 ×V4) × (1/V5) × (1/C2)
= (f1 × V4) × (1/V5)

C1: Set concentration (0.01 mol/L) of 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate

standard solution
C2: Set concentration (0.01 mol/L) of 0.01 mol/L magnesium standard solution
f1: Factor of 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution
V4: Volume (mL) of 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution
needed for titration
V5: Volume (mL) of 0.01 mol/L magnesium standard solution transferred.

i) Ammonium chloride solution: Dissolve 70 g of ammonium chloride specified in JIS K

8116 and 570 mL of ammonia solution in water to make 1000 mL.
j) 2-aminoethanol solution: Add 400 mL of water to 150 mL of 2-aminoethanol specified
in JIS K 8109, add gradually hydrochloric acid to a pH 10.6.
k) Potassium cyanide solution: Dissolve 100 g of potassium cyanide specified in JIS K
8443 in water to make 1000 mL.
l) Erio-chrome Black T solution: Dissolve 0.5 g of Erio-chrome Black T specified in JIS
K 8736 and 4.5 g of hydroxyl-ammonium chloride in methanol - water (95+5) to make
100 mL.
m) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.10 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
n) Methanol: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8891 or a reagent of equivalent
quality.

Note (1) The reagent corresponds to triethanolamine in the Official Methods of Analysis
of Fertilizers (1992).

Comment 1 Instead of a 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution in (2) g),
a 0.1 mol/L ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium dihydrate solution
conforming to ISO/IEC 17025 can be used.

3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.

223
(4) Test procedures
(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh about 2 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 500-mL tall
beaker.
b) Add about 200 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+23), cover with a watch glass, and boil on a
hot plate for about 5 minutes (2).
c) After standing to cool, move it to a 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask with water.
d) Add water up to the marked line.
e) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (2) Be aware that an analytical sample should not solidify in the bottom of a beaker.

Comment 2 In the case of a by-product magnesia fertilizer, if the pH of the sample

solution of d) is neutral or basic, prepare a sample solution anew by replacing
“2 g of an analytical sample” in the procedure in a) with “1 g - 1.5 g of an
analytical sample”.
Comment 3 In the procedure in a), a 500-mL volumetric flask can be used instead of a
500-mL tall beaker. However the volumetric flask used should be
distinguished as an extraction flask and should not be used for the other
purposes. In addition, “cover with a watch glass” in b) is replaced by “place a
funnel”, and “transfer to a 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask with water” in
the procedure in c) is skipped.
Comment 4 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as in (4.1) in 4.5.2.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below. Two examples of titration are
shown as follows.
(4.2.1) Measurement (A): Titration with a magnesium standard solution (0.01 mol/L)
a) Transfer a predetermined volume (the equivalents of 5 mg - 20 mg as CaO + MgO) of
sample solution to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add a proper amount of water, add a drop of methyl red solution as an indicator and
drop sodium hydroxide (5 g/100 mL) to neutralize until the color of the solution
becomes yellow.
c) Add 0.1 g of ascorbic acid, 1 ml - 10 mL of 2,2’,2”-nitrilotriethanol - water (1+3) and 1
mL - 10 mL of potassium cyanide solution.
d) Add a predetermined volume of 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate (3).
e) Add 20 mL of ammonium chloride solution or 2-aminoethanol solution.
f) Add several drops of Erio-chrome Black T solution, and titrate with a 0.01 mol/L
magnesium standard solution until the color of the solution becomes red.
g) Calculate the alkalinity (AL) content in an analytical sample by the following formula.

Alkalinity (AL) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

= ((C1 × f1 × V6/1000) – (C2 × f2 × V7/1000)) ×(56.077/W2) × (V8/V9) × 100
= ((f1 × V6) – (f2 × V7)) × (56.077/W2) × (V3/V4) × (1/1000)

C1: Set concentration (0.01 mol/L) of 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate

standard solution
C2: Set concentration (0.01 mol/L) of 0.01 mol/L magnesium standard solution
f 1: Factor of 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution
f 2: Factor of 0.01 mol/L magnesium standard solution
V6: Additive volume (mL) of 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard
solution
224
 V7: Volume (mL) of 0.01 mol/L magnesium standard solution needed for titration
V8: Predetermined volume (mL) of the sample solution in (4.1) d)
V9: Transferred volume (mL) of the sample solution subjected to titration in (4.2)
a).
W2: Mass (g) of a sample solution

Note (3) Add excess volume since 1.8 mL of ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard
solution (0.01 mol/L) is required for 1 mg of CaO.

(4.2.2) Measurement (B): Titration with an ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution

(0.01 mol/L)
a) Transfer a predetermined volume (the equivalents of 5 mg - 20 mg as CaO + MgO) of
sample solution to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add a proper amount of water, add a drop of methyl red solution as an indicator and
drop sodium hydroxide (5 g/100 mL) to neutralize until the color of the solution
becomes yellow.
c) Add 0.1 g of ascorbic acid, 1 ml - 10 mL of 2,2’,2”-nitrilotriethanol - water (1+3) and 1
mL - 10 mL of potassium cyanide solution.
d) Add 20 mL of ammonium chloride solution or 2-aminoethanol solution.
e) Add several drops of an Erio-chrome Black T solution, and titrate with a 0.01 mol/L
ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution until the color of the solution becomes
blue-green.
f) Calculate the alkalinity (AL) in an analytical sample by the following formula.

Alkalinity (AL) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

= (C1 × f1 × V10/1000) × (56.077/W3) × (V11/V12) × (1/W) × 100
= (f1 × V10) × (56.077/W3) × (V11/V12) × (1/1000)

C1: Set concentration (0.01 mol/L) of 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate

standard solution
f1: Factor of 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution
V10: Volume (mL) of 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution
needed for titration
V11: Predetermined volume (mL) of the sample solution in (4.1) d)
V12: Transferred volume (mL) of the sample solution subjected to titration in (4.2)
a)
W3: Mass (g) of a sample solution

Comment 5 Care should be fully taken in the case of using potassium cyanide and its
solution in accordance with the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). In addition, observe
laws and ordinances concerned such as the Poisonous and Deleterious
Substance Control Law.
Criteria of the abolition in the Poisonous and Deleterious Substance Control
Law (for reference):
Add a sodium hydroxide solution to make it alkalinity more than pH 11, and
further add an oxidizer (sodium hypochlorite, bleaching powder) solution to
conduct oxidative degradation processes. After dissolving CN ingredient,
neutralize with sulfuric acid, and discard it after diluting it with a large
amount of water. Take enough time to dissolve the CN ingredient with
alkalinity.

225
 Comment 6 Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for alkalinity hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
2) 3) 4)
Number of Median (Μ ) NIQ R RSD rob
Year Sample
laboratories (%)
5)
(%)
5)
(%)
2008 Slag silicate fertilizer 19 51.06 0.42 0.8
2009 Slag silicate fertilizer 21 39.69 1.25 3.2
2010 Slag silicate fertilizer 20 49.16 0.65 1.3
2011 Slag silicate fertilizer 16 49.44 0.59 1.2
2012 Slag silicate fertilizer 17 49.76 0.35 0.7
2013 Slag silicate fertilizer 15 35.14 0.55 1.6
2014 Slag silicate fertilizer 15 50.81 0.62 1.2
2015 Slag silicate fertilizer 16 50.56 0.39 0.8
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 162 - 164, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

(5) Flow sheet for alkalinity: The flow sheets for alkalinity in fertilizers are shown below:

2 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a 500-mL tall beaker

← About 200 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+23)
Heating Cover with a watch glass and boil for 5 minutes

Cooling

Transfer 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Sample solution

Figure Flow (1) sheet for alkalinity in fertilizers

(Preparation of sample solution)

226
 Sample solution

Aliquot
(predetermined 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer Flask
amount)
← Water (proper amount)
← A drop of methyl-red solution
Sodium hydroxide (5 g/100 mL)
Neutralization
(until the solution becomes yellow )
← 0.1 g ascorbic acid
← 1 mL - 10 mL of 2,2’,2”-nitrilotriethanol - solution (1+3)
← 1 mL - 10 mL potassium cyanide solution
← Predetermined volume of 0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution
← 20 mL of ammonium chloride solution or 2-aminoethanol solution
← Several drops of Erio-chrome Black T solution
0.01 mol/L magnesium standard solution
Titration
(until the solution becomes red)

Figure Flow (2) sheet for alkalinity in fertilizers

(Measurement (A) procedure)

Sample solution

Aliquot
200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer Flask
(predetermined
← Water (proper amount)
← A drop of methyl-red solution
Sodium hydroxide (5 g/100 mL)
Neutralization
(until the solution becomes yellow )
← 0.1 g of ascorbic acid
← 1 mL - 10 mL of 2,2’,2”-nitrilotriethanol - solution (1+3)
← 1 mL - 10 mL of potassium cyanide solution
← 20 mL of ammonium chloride solution or 2-aminoethanol solution
← Several drops of Erio-chrome Black T solution
0.01 mol/L ethylenediamine tetraacetate standard solution
Titration
(until the solution becomes blue-green)

Figure Flow (3) sheet for alkalinity in fertilizers

(Measurement (B) procedure)

227
4.5.4.b Calculation from soluble lime and soluble magnesia
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers that guarantee alkalinity (AL).
Multiply the soluble magnesia (S-MgO) obtained in 4.6.1 by the factor (1.3934) and add to
the soluble lime (S-CaO) obtained in 4.5.2 to calculate alkalinity (AL) in an analytical sample.

(2) Calculation of alkalinity

a) Calculate the alkalinity (AL) in a teat sample by the following formula.

Alkalinity (AL) (% (mass fraction)) in a test sample

= (S-CaO) + 1.3914 × (S-MgO)

S-CaO: Soluble lime (% (mass fraction)) (1) obtained in 4.5.2 in an analytical sample
S-MgO: Soluble magnesia (% (mass fraction)) (1) obtained in 4.6.1 in an analytical
sample

Note (1) S-CaO and S-MgO use raw data without rounding numerical value

Comment 1 Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for alkalinity hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
2) 4) 5)
Number of Median (Μ ) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample
laboratories (%)
3)
(%)
3)
(%)
2008 Slag silicate fertilizer 62 50.81 0.75 1.5
2009 Slag silicate fertilizer 59 38.82 0.90 2.3
2010 Slag silicate fertilizer 62 49.27 0.89 1.8
2011 Slag silicate fertilizer 56 49.48 0.62 1.3
2012 Slag silicate fertilizer 56 50.07 0.72 1.4
2013 Slag silicate fertilizer 59 36.56 0.86 2.4
2014 Slag silicate fertilizer 58 50.79 1.18 2.3
2015 Slag silicate fertilizer 57 50.22 0.80 1.6
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100

228
4.6 Magnesia
4.6.1 Soluble magnesia
4.6.1.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing by-product magnesia fertilizers and
fertilizers that guarantee alkalinity.
Add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to an analytical sample, boil to extract and add an interference
suppressor solution, and then spray in an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic
absorption with magnesium at a wavelength of 285.2 nm to obtain hydrochloric acid (1+23)
soluble magnesia (soluble magnesia (S-MgO)) in an analytical sample. In addition, the
performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 6.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Interference suppressor solution (1): Weigh 60.9 g - 152.1g of strontium chloride
hexahydrate (2) specified in JIS K 8132 into a 2000-mL beaker, add a small amount of
water, add gradually 420 mL of hydrochloric acid to dissolve, and further add water to
make 1000 mL.
c) Magnesium standard solution (MgO 1 mg/mL) (1): Weigh 0.603 g of magnesium
(powder) specified in JIS K 8876 into a weighing dish. Transfer to a 1000-mL
volumetric flask with a small amount of water, add about 10 mL of hydrochloric acid to
dissolve, and add water up to the marked line.
d) Magnesium standard solution (MgO 0.1 mg/mL): Transfer 10 mL of magnesium
standard solution (MgO 1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the
marked line.
e) Magnesium standard solution (MgO 1 µg/mL-10 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2.5 mL-25 mL of magnesium standard solution (MgO 0.1
mg/mL) to 250-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add about 25 mL of interference
suppressor solution (3), and add water up to the marked line.
f) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Transfer about 25 mL of
interference suppressor solution used in the procedure e) to a 250-mL volumetric flask
(3)
, and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) 29 g of lanthanum oxide (atomic absorption analysis grade or equivalents) can
also be used.
(3) Add an interference suppressor solution that is 1/10 volume of the volume to be
prepared.

Comment 1 Instead of the magnesium standard solution in (2), a magnesium standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
magnesium standard solution (Mg 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology. In this case, calculate soluble magnesia
(S-MgO) in the analytical sample by multiplying the concentration (Mg) of a
magnesium standard solution for calibration curve preparation or a
measurement value (Mg) obtained in (4.2) by a conversion factor (1.6583).

3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

229
 a) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121.
1) Light source: A magnesium hollow cathode lamp
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
b) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh about 2 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 500-mL tall
beaker.
b) Add about 200 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+23), cover with a watch glass, and boil on a
hot plate for about 5 minutes (4).
c) After standing to cool, transfer to a 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask with water.
d) Add water up to the marked line.
e) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (4) Be aware that an analytical sample should not solidify in the bottom of a beaker.

Comment 2 In the case of a by-product magnesia fertilizer or a fertilizer containing a

by-product magnesia, if the pH of the sample solution of d) is neutral or basic,
prepare a sample solution anew by replacing “2 g of an analytical sample” in
the procedure in a) with “1 g - 1.5 g of an analytical sample”.
Comment 3 In the procedure in a), a 500-mL volumetric flask can be used instead of a
500-mL tall beaker. However the volumetric flask used should be
distinguished as an extraction flask and should not be used for the other
purposes. In addition, “cover with a watch glass” in b) is replaced by “place a
funnel”. Skip “transfer to a 250-mL - 500 mL volumetric flask with water” in
the procedure in c).
Comment 4 In the case of a fertilizer containing Kieserite (magnesium sulfate fertilizers),
wash the non-dissolved matters with water obtained while preparing the
sample solution of water-soluble magnesia in (4.1) in 4.6.3.a to transfer it to a
250 mL volumetric flask, and then prepare a sample solution by the
procedures in (4.1) b) – d). Sum up the magnesia obtained in (4.2) regarding
this sample solution and the water-soluble magnesia obtained in 4.6.3.a
regarding the fertilizers subjected to the procedures to make citrate-soluble
magnesia.
Comment 5 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as in (4.1) in 4.5.2.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 285.2 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the magnesium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and
the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read
the indicated value at a wavelength of 285.2 nm.
230
 2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the magnesium concentration and the
indicated value of the magnesium standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.1 mg
- 1 mg as MgO) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 10 mL of interference suppressor solution (3), and add water up to the
marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the magnesium content from the calibration curve, and calculate the soluble
magnesia (S-MgO) in the analytical sample.

Comment 6 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 15 %
(mass fraction) and 1 % (mass fraction) are 101.7 % and 99.5% as soluble
magnesia (S-MgO) respectively.
Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.2 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers, and 0.05 % (mass fraction) for fluid
fertilizers.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for soluble magnesia hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
2) 4) 5)
Number of Median (Μ ) NIQ R RSD rob
Year Sample
laboratories (%)
3)
(%)
3)
(%)
2009 Slag silicate fertilizer 58 4.48 0.10 2.3
2010 Slag silicate fertilizer 60 5.47 0.08 1.4
2011 Slag silicate fertilizer 55 6.24 0.12 1.9
2012 Slag silicate fertilizer 56 6.86 0.14 2.0
2013 Slag silicate fertilizer 59 4.62 0.15 3.2
2014 Slag silicate fertilizer 58 5.78 0.13 2.2
2015 Slag silicate fertilizer 58 6.60 0.16 2.4
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 167 - 169, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

231
 2) Souichi IGARASHI and Yasuharu KIMURA: Verification of Performance
Characteristics of Testing Methods for Magnesium Content in Fertilizer by Atomic
Absorption Spectrometry: Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 6, p. 192 – 202 (2013)

(5) Flow sheet for soluble magnesia: The flow sheet for soluble magnesia in fertilizers is
shown below:

2 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 500-mL tall beaker.

← About 200 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+23)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and boil for 5 minutes.

Standing to cool

Transfer Water, 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined amount)
← About 10 mL of interference suppressor solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (285.2 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for soluble magnesia in fertilizers.

232
4.6.2 Citrate-soluble magnesia
4.6.2.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing magnesia hydroxide fertilizers, etc.
Extract by adding a citric acid solution to an analytical sample and add an interference
suppressor solution, and then spray in an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic
absorption with magnesium at a wavelength of 285.2 nm to obtain citrate-soluble magnesia
(C-MgO) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is
shown in Comment 6.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Citric acid solution (1): Dissolve 20 g of citric acid monohydrate specified in JIS K
8283 in water to make 1000 mL.
c) Interference suppressor solution (1): Weigh 60.9 g - 152.1 g of strontium chloride
hexahydrate (2) specified in JIS K 8132 into a 2000-mL beaker, add a small amount of
water, add gradually 420 mL of hydrochloric acid to dissolve, and further add water to
make 1000 mL.
d) Magnesium standard solution (MgO 1 mg/mL) (1): Weigh 0.603 g of magnesium
(powder) specified in JIS K 8876 into a weighing dish. Transfer to a 1000-mL
volumetric flask with a small amount of water, add about 10 mL of hydrochloric acid to
dissolve, and add water up to the marked line.
e) Magnesium standard solution (MgO 0.1 mg/mL): Transfer 10 mL of magnesium
standard solution (MgO 1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the
marked line.
f) Magnesium standard solution (MgO 1 µg/mL - 10 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of magnesium standard solution (MgO 0.1
mg/mL) to 250-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add about 25 mL of interference
suppressor solution (3), and add water up to the marked line.
g) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Transfer about 25 mL of
interference suppressor solution used in the procedure in f) to a 250-mL volumetric
flask (3), and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) 29 g of lanthanum oxide (atomic absorption analysis grade or equivalents) can
also be used.
(3) Add an interference suppressor solution that is 1/10 volume of the volume to be
prepared.

Comment 1 Instead of the magnesium standard solution in (2), a magnesium standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
magnesium standard solution (Mg 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology. In this case, calculate citrate-soluble
magnesia (C-MgO) in the analytical sample by multiplying the concentration
(Mg) of a magnesium standard solution for calibration curve preparation or a
measurement value (Mg) obtained in (4.2) by a conversion factor (1.6583).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

233
 a) Constant-temperature rotary shaker: A constant-temperature rotary shaker that can
rotate a 250-mL volumetric flask, set up in a thermostat adjustable to 30 ºC±1 ºC, upside
down at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121.
1) Light source: A magnesium hollow cathode lamp
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 250-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add 150 mL of citric acid solution heated up to about 30 ºC, and shake to mix at 30 - 40
revolutions/min (30 ºC ± 1 ºC) for 1 hour.
c) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 2 In the case of a by-product magnesia fertilizer or a fertilizer containing a

by-product magnesia, if the pH of the sample solution of d) is neutral or basic,
prepare a sample solution anew by replacing “1 g of an analytical sample” in
the procedure in a) with “0.5 g of an analytical sample”.
Comment 3 In some slag silicate fertilizers, the variation of measurement value of citrate
magnesia (C-MgO) may be observed according to the time variation of
heating state after adding a citric acid solution. Therefore, in the case of slag
silicate fertilizers, it is necessary to conduct the procedures of c) – d) as
quickly as possible after confirming the time of shaking to mix in the
procedure in b).
Comment 4 In the case of a fertilizer containing Kieserite (magnesium sulfate fertilizers),
wash the non-dissolved matters obtained while preparing the sample solution
of water-soluble magnesia in (4.1) in 4.6.3.a with water to transfer it to a 250
mL volumetric flask, and then prepare a sample solution by the procedures in
(4.1) b) – d). Mix the magnesia obtained in (4.2) regarding this sample
solution with the water-soluble magnesia in 4.6.3.a regarding the said
fertilizers to make citrate-soluble magnesia.
Comment 5 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) in 4.2.3.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 285.2 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the magnesium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and
the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read
the indicated value at a wavelength of 285.2 nm.

234
 2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the magnesium concentration and the
indicated value of the magnesium standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.1 mg
- 1 mg as MgO) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 10 mL of interference suppressor solution (3), and add water up to the
marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the magnesium content from the calibration curve, and calculate the citrate
soluble magnesia (C-MgO) in the analytical sample.

Comment 6 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 1 % -
5 % (mass fraction) is 98.9 % - 102.3% as citrate soluble magnesia (C-MgO)
respectively.
The results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference
material fertilizer were analyzed using the three level nesting analysis of
variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate
precision and repeatability.
Table 2 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.06 % (mass fraction) for solid fertilizers.

Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
2) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)
certified reference laboratory Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T) sR RSD R
1) 3) 3) 3) 3)
material fertilizer p (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
FAMIC-A-10 11 3.28 0.07 2.0 0.08 2.5 0.11 3.3
FAMIC-A-13 9 3.18 0.03 1.0 0.04 1.4 0.12 3.8
1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
conducting flame atomic absorbance spectrometry
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Mass fraction 8）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability standard deviation 9）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

235
 Table 2 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for soluble magnesia hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
2) 4) 5)
Number of Median (Μ ) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample
laboratories (%)
3)
(%)
3)
(%)
2006 Slag silicate fertilizer 78 6.18 0.13 2.0
2007 Organic compound fertilizer 137 3.41 0.07 2.2
Slag silicate fertilizer 86 3.13 0.21 6.6
2008 Organic compound fertilizer 127 4.62 0.11 2.5
Slag silicate fertilizer 76 5.83 0.16 2.8
2009 Slag silicate fertilizer 75 2.31 0.17 7.5
2010 High analysis compound fertilizer 123 3.11 0.07 2.2
Slag silicate fertilizer 76 5.42 0.12 2.1
2011 High analysis compound fertilizer 116 2.48 0.06 2.4
Slag silicate fertilizer 69 3.33 0.20 6.0
2012 Slag silicate fertilizer 69 6.59 0.18 2.7
2013 High analysis compound fertilizer 116 6.17 0.13 2.3
Slag silicate fertilizer 68 3.75 0.11 3.1
2014 Organic compound fertilizer 113 3.37 0.07 2.2
Slag silicate fertilizer 68 5.7 0.16 2.9
2015 Slag silicate fertilizer 72 4.87 0.22 4.6
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.167 - 169, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Souichi IGARASHI and Yasuharu KIMURA: Verification of Performance
Characteristics of Testing Methods for Calcium Content in Fertilizer by Atomic
Absorption Spectrometry: Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 6, p. 183 – 192 (2013)
3) Souichi IGARASHI and Yasuharu KIMURA: Effect of Time during Extraction
Operation on Measurements of Citric Acid-Soluble Magnesium in Silicate Slag
Fertilizer Vol. 7, p. 145 – 156 (2014)

236
(5) Flow sheet for citrate soluble magnesia: The flow sheet for citrate soluble magnesia
in fertilizers is shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 250-mL tall beaker.

← About 150 mL of citrate solution [about 30 ºC]

Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min),
Shaking to mix
30 ºC ± 1 ºC, for 1 hour

Standing to cool
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined amount)
← About 10 mL of interference suppressor solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (285.2 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for citrate-soluble magnesia in fertilizers.

237
4.6.3 Water-soluble magnesia
4.6.3.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing magnesia sulfate fertilizers, etc.
Add water to an analytical sample and boil to extract. Add an interference suppressor solution,
then spray in an acetylene-air flame and measure the atomic absorption with magnesium at a
wavelength of 285.2 nm to obtain water-soluble magnesia (W-MgO) in an analytical sample.
In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 3.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Interference suppressor solution (1): Weigh 60.9 g - 152.1 g of strontium chloride
hexahydrate (2) specified in JIS K 8132 into a 2000-mL beaker, add a small amount of
water, gradually add 420 mL of hydrochloric acid to dissolve, and further add water to
make 1000 mL.
c) Magnesium standard solution (MgO 1 mg/mL) (1): Weigh 0.603 g of magnesium
(powder) specified in JIS K 8876 into a weighing dish. Transfer to a 1000-mL
volumetric flask with a small amount of water, add about 10 mL of hydrochloric acid to
dissolve, and add water up to the marked line.
d) Magnesium standard solution (MgO 1 mg/mL): Transfer 10 mL of magnesium
standard solution (MgO 1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the
marked line.
e) Magnesium standard solution (MgO 1 µg/mL-10 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of magnesium standard solution (MgO 0.1
mg/mL) to 250-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add about 25 mL of interference
suppressor solution (3), and add water up to the marked line.
f) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Transfer about 25 mL of
interference suppressor solution used in the procedure in e) to a 250-mL volumetric
flask (3), and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) 29 g of lanthanum oxide (atomic absorption analysis grade or equivalents) can
also be used.
(3) Add an interference suppressor solution that is 1/10 volume of the volume to be
prepared.

Comment 1 Instead of the magnesium standard solution in (2), a magnesium standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
magnesium standard solution (Mg 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology. In this case, calculate water-soluble
magnesia (W-MgO) in the analytical sample by multiplying the concentration
(Mg) of a magnesium standard solution for calibration curve preparation or a
measurement value (Mg) obtained in (4.2) by a conversion factor (1.6583).

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121.
1) Light source: A magnesium hollow cathode lamp
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame

238
 (i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
b) Extraction flask (4): A 500-mL volumetric flask made of borosilicate glass
c) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.

Note (4) The volumetric flask used for extraction should be distinguished as an extraction
flask and should not be used for the other purposes.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 500-mL tall
beaker.
b) Add about 400 mL of water, and cover with a watch glass to boil on a hot plate for
about 30 minutes.
c) After standing to cool, transfer to a 500-mL volumetric flask with water.
d) Add water up to the marked line.
e) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 2 In the procedure in a), a 500-mL volumetric flask can be used instead of a
500-mL tall beaker. However the volumetric flask used should be
distinguished as an extraction flask and should not be used for the other
purposes. In addition, “cover with a watch glass” in b) is replaced by “place a
funnel”. Skip “transfer to a 500 mL volumetric flask with water” in the
procedure in c).

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 285.2 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the magnesium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and
the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read
the indicated value at a wavelength of 285.2 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the magnesium concentration and the
indicated value of the magnesium standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.1 mg
- 1 mg as MgO) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 10 mL of interference suppressor solution (3), and add water up to the
marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the magnesium content from the calibration curve, and calculate the
water-soluble magnesia (W-MgO) in the analytical sample.

Comment 3 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 1 % -

239
 5 % (mass fraction) is 100.4 % - 100.9 % as water-soluble magnesia
(W-MgO) respectively.
Table 2 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.07 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for water-soluble magnesia hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
2) 4) 5)
Number of Median (Μ ) NIQ R RSD rob
Year Sample
laboratories 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
High analysis
2011 110 1.94 0.08 4.1
compound fertilizer
Fluid mixed
2012 104 1.69 0.04 2.6
fertilizer
High analysis
2013 109 3.80 0.63 16.6
compound fertilizer
High analysis
2014 109 1.89 0.18 9.4
compound fertilizer
Fluid mixed
2015 109 1.15 0.04 3.2
fertilizer
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.167 - 169, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Souichi IGARASHI and Yasuharu KIMURA: Verification of Performance
Characteristics of Testing Methods for Magnesium Content in Fertilizer by Atomic
Absorption Spectrometry: Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 6, p. 192 – 202 (2013)

240
(5) Flow sheet for water-soluble magnesia: The flow sheet for water-soluble magnesia
in fertilizers is shown below:

1g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 500-mL beaker.

← About 400 mL of water
Heating Cover with a watch glass, boil for about 30 minutes

Standing to cool

Transfer Water, 500-mL volumetric flask

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined
←About 10 mL of interference suppressor solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (285.2 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble magnesia in fertilizers.

241
4.6.3.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fluid mixed fertilizers, liquid microelement mixed fertilizers
and the fluid fertilizers of home garden-use mixed fertilizers.
Add water to an analytical sample to extract, introduce it to an ICP Optical Emission
Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and measure the magnesium at a wavelength of 279.553 nm to
obtain water-soluble magnesia (W-MgO) in an analytical sample. In addition, the
performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Magnesium standard solution (MgO 1 mg/mL) (1): Weigh 0.603 g of guaranteed
magnesium (powder) specified in JIS K 8876 into a weighing dish. Transfer to a
1000-mL volumetric flask with a small amount of water, add about 10 mL of
hydrochloric acid to dissolve, and add water up to the marked line.
d) Magnesium standard solution (MgO 1 mg/mL): Transfer 10 mL of magnesium
standard solution (MgO 1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add hydrochloric
acid (1+23) up to the marked line.
e) Magnesium standard solution (MgO 1 µg/mL-10 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of magnesium standard solution (MgO 0.1
mg/mL) to 250-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add about 25 mL of interference
suppressor solution (3), and hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the marked line
f) Magnesium standard solution (MgO 0.2 µg/mL-2 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2 mL - 20 mL of magnesium standard solution (MgO 0.2
µg/mL-2 µg/mL) for the calibration curve preparation to 100-mL volumetric flasks
step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the marked line.
g) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedures in e) and f).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the magnesium standard solution in (2), a magnesium standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
magnesium standard solution (Mg 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to
National Metrology. In this case, calculate water-soluble magnesia (W-MgO)
in the analytical sample multiplying the concentration (Mg) of a magnesium
standard solution for calibration curve preparation or a measurement value
(Mg) obtained in (4.2) by a conversion factor (1.6583).

Comment 2 There are two modes to observe emission from an ICP-OES, a horizontal
observation mode and an axial observation mode. The range of the
concentration of a potassium standard solution for the calibration preparation
curve in d) and e) applies to a horizontal observation mode. While an axial
observation mode can observe a measurement component of low level
concentrations, it cannot gain the linearity of a calibration curve in the range
of high level concentrations. Therefore, when using the ICP-OES of an axial
observation mode, it is recommended to prepare a magnesium standard
solution for the calibration curve in the concentration range which is suitable
to a device used.
242
(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:
a) ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: An Optical Emission Spectrometer specified in
JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample (2) to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 100-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, shake to mix and add water up to the marked line.
c) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (2) The sampling amount of the analytical sample is 10 g when there is less
phosphoric acid content in the fertilizers such as a home garden-use fertilizer.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) in 4.2.4.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0116 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the ICP
Optical Emission Spectrometry used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 279.553 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the magnesium standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into inductively coupled
plasma, and read the indicated value at a wavelength of 279.553 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the magnesium concentration and the
indicated value of the magnesium standard solution for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution (the equivalents of 0.02 mg –
1.6 mg as MgO) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5), and add water up to the marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the magnesium content from the calibration curve, and calculate the
water-soluble magnesia (W-MgO).

Comment 4 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.

In that case, see 4.2.4.d Comment 3.
Comment 5 The comparison of the measurement value (yi：0.160 % - 9.36 % (mass
fraction )) of ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value
(xi) of Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was conducted to evaluate
trueness using fluid fertilizers (12 samples). As a result, a regression equation
was y = -0.006+0.985x-0.006, and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.999.
Additionally, additive recovery testing was conducted using a liquid mixed
fertilizer (1 brand) and a liquid microelement fertilizer (1 brand). As a result,
the mean recovery at additive level of 1 % (mass fraction) and 0.15 % (mass
fraction) were 98.7 % - 102.8 % and 102.3 % respectively.
243
 The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a fluid mixed
fertilizer and a home garden-use mixed fertilizer to evaluate precision were
analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance. Table 1 shows the calculation
results of intermediate precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.002 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days

Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Liquid mixed fertilizer 7 1.18 0.004 0.3 0.01 1.2
Home garder-use
7 0.392 0.002 0.5 0.008 2.2
mixed fertilizer（liquid)
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

References
1) Keisuke AOYAMA: Simultaneous Determination of Water-Soluble Principal
Ingredients (W-P2O5, W-K2O, W-MgO, W-MnO and W-B2O3) in Liquid Fertilizer using
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), Research
Report of Fertilizer, Vol.8, p. 1 – 9 (2015)

(5) Flow sheet: The flow sheet for water-soluble magnesia of the fluid mixed fertilizers is
shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a 100-mL volumetric flask

← Water, about 50 mL
Shaking to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration

Aliquot 100-mL volmetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
← Water (up to the marked line)

Measurement ICP-OES (279.553 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble magmesia

in fluid mixed fertilizers

244
4.7 Manganese
4.7.1 Soluble manganese
4.7.1.a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing manganese carbonate fertilizers.
Add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to an analytical sample, boil to extract and add an interference
suppressor solution, and then spray into an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic
absorption with manganese at a wavelength of 279.5 nm to obtain the hydrochloric acid
(1+23) soluble manganese (soluble manganese (S-MnO)) in an analytical sample. In addition,
the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 4.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Interference suppressor solution (1): Weigh 60.9 g - 152.1 g of strontium chloride
hexahydrate (2) specified in JIS K 8132 into a 2000-mL beaker, add a small amount of
water, gradually add 420 mL of hydrochloric acid to dissolve, and further add water to
make 1000 mL.
c) Manganese standard solution (MnO 1 mg/mL) (1): Weigh 0.775 g of manganese
powder (purity no less than 99 % (mass fraction)) into a weighing dish. Transfer to a
1000-mL volumetric flask with a small amount of water, add about 10 mL of
hydrochloric acid to dissolve, and add water up to the marked line.
d) Manganese standard solution (MnO 0.1 mg/mL): Transfer 10 mL of manganese
standard solution (MnO 1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the
marked line.
e) Manganese standard solution (MnO 1 µg/mL - 10 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of manganese standard solution (MnO 0.1
mg/mL) to 250-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add about 25 mL of interference
suppressor solution (3), and add water up to the marked line.
f) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Transfer about 25 mL of
interference suppressor solution used in the procedure in e) to a 250-mL volumetric
flask (3), and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) 29 g of lanthanum oxide (a reagent of atomic absorption analysis grade or
equivalents) can also be used.
(3) Add an interference suppressor solution that is 1/10 of the volume to be
prepared.

Comment 1 Instead of the manganese standard solution in (2), a manganese standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
manganese standard solution (Mn 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology. In this case, calculate soluble manganese
(S-MnO) in the analytical sample by multiplying the concentration (Mn) of a
manganese standard solution for calibration curve preparation or a manganese
value (Mg) obtained in (4.2) by a conversion factor (1.2912).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121.
245
 1) Light source: A manganese hollow cathode lamp
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
b) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh about 2 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 500-mL tall
beaker.
b) Add about 200 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+23), cover with a watch glass, and boil on a
hot plate for about 5 minutes (4).
c) After standing to cool, transfer to a 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask with water.
d) Add water up to the marked line.
e) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (4) Be aware that an analytical sample should not solidify in the bottom of a beaker.

Comment 2 In the procedure in a), a 500-mL volumetric flask can be used instead of a
500-mL tall beaker. However the volumetric flask used should be
distinguished as an extraction flask and should not be used for the other
purposes. In addition, “cover with a watch glass” in b) is replaced by “place a
funnel”. Skip “transfer to a 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask with water” in
the procedure in c) .
Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as in (4.1) in 4.5.2.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 279.5 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the manganese standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and
the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read
the indicated value at a wavelength of 279.5 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the manganese concentration and the
indicated value of the manganese standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.1 mg
- 1 mg as MnO) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 10 mL of interference suppressor solution (3), and add water up to the
marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the manganese content from the calibration curve, and calculate the soluble
manganese (S-MnO) in the analytical sample.

Comment 4 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 5 %
246
 (mass fraction) and 0.1 % (mass fraction) are 100.5 % and 101.3 % as soluble
manganese (S-MnO) respectively.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.006 % (mass fraction).

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 176 - 177, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Keiji YAGI, Natuki TOYODOME, Tokiya SUZUKI and Hideo SOETA: Verification of
Performance Characteristics of Testing Methods for Manganese Content in Fertilizer by
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 6, p. 203 – 212
(2013)

(5) Flow sheet for soluble manganese: The flow sheet for soluble manganese in
fertilizers is shown below:

2 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 500-mL tall beaker.

← About 200 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+23)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and boil for about 5 minutes.

Standing to cool

Transfer Water, 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined amount)
← About 10 mL of interference suppressor solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (279.5 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for soluble manganese in fertilizers.

247
4.7.2 Citrate-soluble manganese
4.7.2.a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing manganese carbonate fertilizers.
Extract by adding a citric acid solution to an analytical sample and add an interference
suppressor solution, and then spray into an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic
absorption with manganese at a wavelength of 279.5 nm to obtain citrate soluble manganese
(citrate-soluble manganese(C-MnO)) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of
this testing method is shown in Comment 3.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Citric acid solution (1): Dissolve 20 g of citric acid monohydrate specified in JIS K
8283 in water to make 1000 mL.
c) Interference suppressor solution (1): Weigh 60.9 g - 152.1 g of strontium chloride
hexahydrate (2) specified in JIS K 8132 into a 2000-mL beaker, add a small amount of
water, add gradually 420 mL of hydrochloric acid to dissolve, and further add water to
make 1000 mL.
d) Manganese standard solution (MnO 1 mg/mL) (1): Weigh 0.775 g of manganese
powder (purity no less than 99 % (mass fraction)) into a weighing dish. Transfer to a
1000-mL volumetric flask with a small amount of water, add about 10 mL of
hydrochloric acid to dissolve, and add water up to the marked line.
e) Manganese standard solution (MnO 0.1 mg/mL): Transfer 10 mL of manganese
standard solution (MnO 1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the
marked line.
f) Manganese standard solution (MnO 1 µg/mL - 10 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of manganese standard solution (Mn 0.1
mg/mL) to 250-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add about 25 mL of interference
suppressor solution (3), and add water up to the marked line.
g) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Transfer about 25 mL of
interference suppressor solution used in the procedure in f) to a 250-mL volumetric
flask (3), and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) 29 g of lanthanum oxide (atomic absorption analysis grade or equivalents) can
also be used.
(3) Add an interference suppressor solution that is 1/10 of the volume to be
prepared.

Comment 1 Instead of the manganese standard solution in (2), a manganese standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
manganese standard solution (Mn 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology. In this case, calculate citrate-soluble
manganese (C-MnO) in the analytical sample by a multiplying the
concentration (Mn) of manganese standard solution for calibration curve
preparation or a manganese value (Mn) obtained in (4.2) by a conversion
factor (1.2912).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

248
 a) Constant-temperature rotary shaker: A constant-temperature rotary shaker that can
rotate a 250-mL volumetric flask, set up in a thermostat adjustable to 30 ºC ± 1 ºC,
upside down at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121.
1) Light source: A manganese hollow cathode lamp
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 250-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add 150 mL of citric acid solution heated up to about 30 ºC, and shake to mix at 30 - 40
revolutions/min (30 ºC ± 1 ºC) for 1 hour.
c) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 2 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure (4.1) in 4.2.3.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 279.5 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the manganese standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and
the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read
the indicated value at a wavelength of 279.5 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the manganese concentration and the
indicated value of the manganese standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.1 mg
- 1 mg as MnO) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 10 mL of interference suppressor solution (3), and add water up to the
marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the manganese content from the calibration curve, and citrate soluble
manganese (C-MnO) in the analytical sample.

Comment 3 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 5 %
(mass fraction) and 0.1 % (mass fraction) are 101.9 % and 100.5 % as
citrate-soluble manganese (C-MnO) respectively.
The results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference
material fertilizer were analyzed using the three level nesting analysis of

249
 variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate
precision and repeatability.
Table 2 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.006 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
2) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)
certified reference laboratory Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T) sR RSD R
1) 3) 3) 3) 3)
material fertilizer p (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
FAMIC-A-10 9 0.403 0.004 1.1 0.01 1.3 0.010 2.4
FAMIC-A-13 10 0.356 0.010 2.7 0.01 3.9 0.018 4.9
1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
conducting flame atomic absorbance spectrometry
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Mass fraction 8）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability standard deviation 9）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Table 2 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for citrate soluble manganese hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
Median 4) 5)
Number of 2) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample (Μ )
laboratories 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
High analysis
2009 110 0.547 0.0017 3.0
compound fertilizer
High analysis
2013 102 0.513 0.013 2.5
compound fertilizer
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.176 - 177, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Keiji YAGI, Natuki TOYODOME, Tokiya SUZUKI and Hideo SOETA: Verification of
Performance Characteristics of Testing Methods for Manganese Content in Fertilizer by
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 6, p. 203 – 212
(2013)

250
(5) Flow sheet for citrate-soluble manganese: The flow sheet for citrate soluble
manganese in fertilizers is shown below:

1g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 250-mL tall beaker.

← About 150 mL of citrate-solution [about 30 ºC]
Constant temperature rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min),
Shaking to mix
30 ºC ± 1 ºC, for 1 hour

Standing to cool
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined amount)
← About 10 mL of interference suppressor solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (279.5 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for citrate-soluble manganese in fertilizers.

251
4.7.3 Water-soluble manganese
4.7.3.a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing manganese sulfate fertilizers.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample and add an interference suppressor solution,
and then spray in an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic absorption with manganese
at a wavelength of 279.5 nm to obtain water-soluble manganese (W-MnO) in an analytical
sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Interference suppressor solution (1): Weigh 60.9 g - 152.1 g of strontium chloride
hexahydrate (2) specified in JIS K 8132 into a 2000-mL beaker, add a small amount of
water, add gradually 420 mL of hydrochloric acid to dissolve, and further add water to
make 1000 mL.
c) Manganese standard solution (MnO 1 mg/mL) (1): Weigh 0.775 g of manganese
powder (purity no less than 99 % (mass fraction)) into a weighing dish. Transfer to a
1000-mL volumetric flask with a small amount of water, add about 10 mL of
hydrochloric acid to dissolve, and add water up to the marked line.
d) Manganese standard solution (MnO 0.1 mg/mL): Transfer 10 mL of manganese
standard solution (MnO 1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the
marked line.
e) Manganese standard solution (MnO 1 µg/mL - 10 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of manganese standard solution (MnO 0.1
mg/mL) to 250-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add about 25 mL of interference
suppressor solution (3), and add water up to the marked line.
f) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Transfer about 25 mL of
interference suppressor solution used in the procedure e) to a 250-mL volumetric flask
(3)
, and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) 29 g of lanthanum oxide (atomic absorption analysis grade or equivalents) can
also be used.
(3) Add an interference suppressor solution that is 1/10 of the volume to be
prepared.

Comment 1 Instead of the manganese standard solution in (2), a manganese standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
manganese standard solution (Mn 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology. In this case, calculate water-soluble
manganese (W-MnO) in the analytical sample by multiplying the
concentration (Mn) of a manganese standard solution for calibration curve
preparation or a manganese value (Mg) obtained in (4.2) by a conversion
factor (1.2912).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate upside down a 500-mL volumetric flask
at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.

252
 b) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121.
1) Light source: A manganese hollow cathode lamp
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Powdery test sample
a) Weigh 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 500-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 400 mL of water, and shake to mix at 30 - 40 revolutions/min for about 30
minutes.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 2 In the procedure in (4.1.1) a), it is also allowed to weigh 2.5 g of the
analytical sample to the order of 1 mg and transfer to a 250-mL volumetric
flask.
Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.1) in 4.2.4.a

(4.1.2) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 100-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, and shake to mix.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 4 The procedure in (4.1.2) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) in 4.2.4.a

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 279.5 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the manganese standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and
the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read
the indicated value at a wavelength of 279.5 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the manganese concentration and the
indicated value of the manganese standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.1 mg
- 1 mg as MnO) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 10 mL of interference suppressor solution (3), and add water up to the
marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
253
 4) Obtain the manganese content from the calibration curve, and water-soluble
manganese (W-MnO) in the analytical sample.

Comment 5 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 5 %
(mass fraction) and 0.1 % (mass fraction) are 101.2 % and 101.1 % as
water-soluble manganese (W-MnO) respectively.
Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a fluid mixed
fertilizer and a liquid microelement mixed fertilizer to evaluate the extract
precision of fluid fertilizers were analyzed by the one-way analysis of
variance. Table 2 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision and
repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.004 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for water-soluble manganese hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
2) 4) 5)
Number of Median (Μ ) NIQ R RSD rob
Year Sample
laboratories 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
2012 Fluid mixed fertilizer 99 1.23 0.03 2.7
2015 Fluid mixed fertilizer 109 1.15 0.04 3.2
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100

254
 Table 2 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Fluid mixed fertilizer 7 1.28 0.010 0.3 0.02 1.3
Liquid microelement
7 0.230 0.001 0.4 0.003 1.5
mixed fertilizers
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.176 - 177, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Keiji YAGI, Natuki TOYODOME, Tokiya SUZUKI and Hideo SOETA: Verification of
Performance Characteristics of Testing Methods for Manganese Content in Fertilizer by
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 6, p. 203 – 212
(2013)

(5) Flow sheet for water-soluble manganese: The flow sheet for water-soluble
manganese in fertilizers is shown below:

5 g analytical sample Weigh up to 1 mg into a 500-mL volumetric flask.

← Water, About 400 mL
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min), for 30 minutes

1g analytical sample Weigh up to 1 mg into a 100-mL volumetric flask.

← Water, About 50 mL
Shaking to mix

← Water (up to the marked line)

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined amount)
← About 10 mL of interference suppressor solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (279.5 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble manganese in fertilizers.

255
4.7.3.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fluid mixed fertilizers, liquid microelement mixed fertilizers,
liquid by-product manganese fertilizers and the fluid fertilizers of home garden-use mixed
fertilizers.
Add water to an analytical sample to extract, introduce it to an ICP Optical Emission
Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and measure the manganese at a wavelength of 257.610 nm to
obtain water-soluble manganese (W-MnO) in an analytical sample. In addition, the
performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Manganese standard solution (MnO 1 mg/mL) (1): Weigh 0.775 g of manganese
powder (purity no less than 99 % (mass fraction)) into a weighing dish. Transfer to a
1000-mL volumetric flask with a small amount of water, add about 10 mL of
hydrochloric acid to dissolve, and further add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the
marked line.
d) Manganese standard solution (MnO 0.1 mg/mL): Transfer 10 mL of manganese
standard solution (MnO 1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add hydrochloric
acid (1+23) up to the marked line.
e) Manganese standard solution (MnO 2 µg/mL - 8 µg/mL)(1) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2 mL - 8 mL of manganese standard solution (MnO 0.1
mg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up
to the marked line.
f) Manganese standard solution (MnO 0.1 µg/mL - 2 µg/mL)(1) for the calibration
curve preparation (1): Transfer 1 mL - 20 mL of manganese standard solution (MnO 10
µg /mL) for the calibration curve preparation to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step
and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the marked line.
g) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedures in d), e) and f).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the manganese standard solution in (2), a manganese standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
manganese standard solution (Mn 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to
National Metrology. In this case, calculate water-soluble manganese
(W_MnO) in the analytical sample by multiplying the concentration (Mn) of
a manganese standard solution for calibration curve preparation or a
measurement value (Mn) obtained in (4.2) by a conversion factor (1.2912).
Comment 2 There are two modes to observe emission from an ICP-OES, a horizontal
observation mode and an axial observation mode. The range of the
concentration of standard solution for the calibration preparation curve in d)
and e) applies to a horizontal observation mode. While an axial observation
mode can observe a measurement component of low level concentrations, it
cannot gain the linearity of a calibration curve in the range of high level
concentrations. Therefore, when using the ICP-OES of an axial observation
mode, it is recommended to prepare a manganese standard solution for the
calibration curve in the concentration range which is suitable to a device used.
256
(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:
a) ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: An Optical Emission Spectrometer specified in
JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample (2) to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 100-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, shake to mix and add water up to the marked line.
c) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (2) The sampling amount of the analytical sample is 10 g when there is less
manganese content in the fertilizers such as a home garden-use fertilizer.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) in 4.2.4.a

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0116 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the ICP
Optical Emission Spectrometry used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 257.610 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the manganese standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into inductively coupled
plasma, and read the indicated value at a wavelength of 257.610 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the manganese concentration and the
indicated value of the manganese standard solution for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution (the equivalents of 0.01 mg –
0.8 mg as MnO) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5), and add water up to the marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the manganese content from the calibration curve, and calculate the
water-soluble manganese (W-MnO).

Comment 4 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.

In that case, see 4.2.4.d Comment 3.
Comment 5 The comparison of the measurement value (yi：0.027 % - 1.49 % (mass
fraction )) of ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value
(xi) of Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was conducted to evaluate
trueness using fluid fertilizers (12 samples). As a result, a regression equation
was y = -0.0013+1.025x and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.999.
Additionally, additive recovery testing was conducted using a liquid mixed
fertilizer (1 brand) and a liquid microelement fertilizer (1 brand). As a result,
257
 the mean recovery at additive level of 0.15 % - 0.2 % (mass fraction) and
0.005 % (mass fraction) were 96.3 % - 96.5 % and 107.0 % respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a liquid mixed
fertilizer and a home garden-use mixed fertilizer to evaluate precision were
analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance. Table 1 shows the calculation
results of intermediate precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.0002 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days

Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Liquid mixed fertilizer 7 5.69 0.02 0.4 0.06 1.1
Home garder-use
7 2.29 0.02 0.8 0.040 1.6
mixed fertilizer（liquid)
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

References
1) Keisuke AOYAMA: Simultaneous Determination of Water-Soluble Principal
Ingredients (W-P2O5, W-K2O, W-MgO, W-MnO and W-B2O3) in Liquid Fertilizer using
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), Research
Report of Fertilizer, Vol.8, p. 1 – 9 (2015)

(5) Flow sheet: The flow sheet for water-soluble manganese of the fluid mixed fertilizers is
shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a 100-mL volumetric flask

← Water, about 50 mL
Shaking to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration

Aliquot 100-mL volmetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
← Water (up to the marked line)

Measurement ICP-OES (257.610 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble manganese in fluid mixed fertilizers

258
4.8 Boron
4.8.1 Citrate-soluble boron
4.8.1.a Azomethine-H method
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing borate fertilizers, etc.
Extract by adding a citric acid solution to an analytical sample, mask co-existing copper, iron
and other salts with ethylenediamine tetraacetate and measure the absorbance with
azomethine-H borate formed by the reaction with azomethine-H to obtain citrate soluble
boron (C-B2O3) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method
is shown in Comment 3.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Citric acid solution (1): Dissolve 20 g of citric acid monohydrate specified in JIS K
8283 in water to make 1000 mL.
b) Ethylenediamine tetraacetate solution (1): Dissolve 37.2 g of
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium dihydrate specified in JIS K 8107 in water to
make 1000 mL.
c) Ammonium acetate solution (1): Dissolve 250 g of ammonium acetate specified in JIS
K 8359 in water to make 500 mL and adjust pH with sulfuric acid (1+4) to pH 5.2 ± 0.1.
d) Azomethine-H solution: Add water to 0.6 g of azomethine-H and 2 g of L (+) –
ascorbic acid specified in JIS K 9502, and heat up to 35 ºC - 40 ºC to dissolve and add
water after cooling to make 100 mL.
e) Boron standard solution (B2O3 2.5 mg/mL) (1): After leaving boric acid specified in
JIS K 8863 at rest in a desiccator for about 24 hours to dry, weigh 4.441 g to a weighing
dish. Dissolve with a small amount of water, transfer to a 1000-mL volumetric flask and
add water up to the marked line.
f) Boron standard solution (B2O3 0.05 mg/mL): Dilute the predetermined volume of
boron standard solution (B2O3 2.5 mg/mL)with water exactly by a factor of 50.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the boron standard solution in (2), a boron standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a boron standard
solution (B 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology. In this
case, calculate citrate-soluble boron (C-B2O3) in the analytical sample by
multiplying the concentration (B) of a boron standard solution for calibration
curve preparation or a measurement value (B) obtained in (4.3) by a
conversion factor (3.220).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Constant-temperature rotary shaker: A constant-temperature rotary shaker that can
rotate a 250-mL volumetric flask, set up in a thermostat adjustable to 30 ºC ± 1 ºC,
upside down at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Spectrophotometer: A spectrophotometer specified in JIS K 0115

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 250-mL
volumetric flask.

259
 b) Add 150 mL of citric acid solution heated up to about 30 ºC, and shake to mix at 30 - 40
revolutions/min (30 ºC ± 1 ºC) for 1 hour.
c) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 2 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) in 4.2.3.a.

(4.2) Coloring: Conduct coloring as shown below.

a) Transfer a predetermined volume (the equivalents of 0.05 mg -1 mg of B2O3, and no
more than the equivalents of 15 mL of citric acid solution) of an analytical sample to a
100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add the solution to make the citric acid solution equivalent to 15 mL.
c) Add 25 mL of ethylenediamine tetraacetate solution, and add 10 mL of ammonium
acetate solution and then 10 mL of azomethine-H solution successively, and further add
water up to the marked line, then leave at rest for about 2 hours.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0115 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the
spectrophotometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the spectrophotometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the spectrophotometer considering the following:
Detection wavelength: 415 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Transfer 1mL - 20 mL of boron standard solution (B2O3 0.05 mg/mL) to 100-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step.
2) Add 15 mL of citric acid solution and conduct the same procedure as (4.2) c) to make
the B2O3 0.05 mg/100 mL - 1 mg/100 mL boron standard solution for the calibration
curve preparation.
3) Conduct the same procedures as 2) for another 100-mL volumetric flask to make the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
4) Measure absorbance at a wavelength of 415 nm of the boron standard solutions for
the calibration curve preparation using the blank test solution for the calibration
curve preparation as the control.
5) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the boron concentration and absorbance
of the boron standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Regarding the solution in (4.2) c), measure the absorbance by the same procedure as
b) 4).
2) Obtain the boron (B2O3) content from the calibration curve, and calculate the citrate
soluble boron (C-B2O3) in the analytical sample.

Comment 3 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 10 %
(mass fraction) and 0.05 % (mass fraction) are 101.5 % and 95.7 % as citrate
soluble boron (C-B2O3) respectively.
The results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference
material fertilizer were analyzed using the three level nesting analysis of
variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate
precision and repeatability.

260
 Table 2 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.02 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
2) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)
certified reference laboratory Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T) sR RSD R
1) 3) 3) 3) 3)
material fertilizer p (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
FAMIC-A-10 11 0.209 0.004 2.0 0.005 2.2 0.006 3.1
FAMIC-A-13 10 0.203 0.004 1.8 0.005 2.5 0.009 4.7
1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
conducting Azomethine-H method
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Mass fraction 8）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability standard deviation 9）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Table 2 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for citrate soluble boron hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
2) 4) 5)
Number of Median (Μ ) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample
laboratories
3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
High analysis
2009 110 0.280 0.015 5.3
compound fertilizer
High analysis
2013 95 0.243 0.014 5.6
compound fertilizer
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.184 - 187, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Kimie KATO, Sakiko TAKAHASHI and Yuji SHIRAI: Validation of a Color metric
Method for Determination of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Boron: Evaluation of
Calibration curve, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.2, p. 137 – 144 (2009)
3) Akira SHIMIZU: Verification of Performance Characteristics of Testing Methods for
Boron Content by Azomethine H Absorption Photometry, Research Report of Fertilizer
Vol. 6, p. 174 –182 (2013)

261
(5) Flow sheet for citrate-soluble boron: The flow sheet for citrate soluble boron in
fertilizers is shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 250-mL volumetric flask

← 150 mL of citric acid solution [about 30 ºC]
Constant temperature rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min),
Shaking to mix
30 ºC ± 1 ºC, for 1 hour

Standing to cool
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined amount)
← Citric acid solution, until the volume reaches
to the equivalents of 15 mL
← 25 mL of ethylenediamine tetraacetate solution
← 10 mL of ammonium acetate solution
← 10 mL of azomethine-H solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Leaving at rest For about 2 hours

Measurement Spectrophotometer (415 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for citrate-soluble boron in fertilizers.

262
4.8.2 Water-soluble boron
4.8.2.a Azomethine-H method
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers containing borate fertilizers, etc.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, boil to extract, and mask co-existing copper,
iron and other salts with ethylenediamine tetraacetate and measure the absorbance with
azomethine-H borate formed by the reaction with azomethine-H to obtain water-soluble boron
(W-B2O3). In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 7.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Ethylenediamine tetraacetate solution (1): Dissolve 37.2 g of
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium dihydrate specified in JIS K 8107 in water to
make 1000 mL.
b) Ammonium acetate solution (1): Dissolve 250 g of ammonium acetate specified in JIS
K 8359 in water to make 500 mL and adjust pH with sulfuric acid (1+4) to pH 5.2 ± 0.1.
c) Azomethine-H solution (1): Add water to 0.6 g of azomethine-H and 2 g of L (+) –
ascorbic acid specified in JIS K 9502, and heat up to 35 ºC - 40 ºC to dissolve and add
water after cooling to make100 mL.
d) Boron standard solution (B2O3 2.5 mg/mL) (1): After leaving boric acid specified in
JIS K 8863 at rest in a desiccator for about 24 hours to dry, weigh 4.441 g to a weighing
dish. Dissolve with a small amount of water, transfer to a 1000-mL volumetric flask and
add water up to the marked line.
e) Boron standard solution (B2O3 0.05 mg/mL): Dilute the predetermined volume of
boron standard solution (B2O3 2.5 mg/mL)with water precisely by a factor of 50.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the boron standard solution in (2), a boron standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a boron standard
solution (B 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology. In this
case, calculate water-soluble boron (W-B2O3) in the analytical sample by
multiplying the concentration (B) of a boron standard solution for calibration
curve preparation or a measurement value (B) obtained in (4.3) by a
conversion factor (3.220).

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Spectrophotometer: A spectrophotometer specified in JIS K 0115
b) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh about 2.5 g (2) of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 300-mL
tall beaker.
b) Add about 200 mL of water, cover with a watch glass, and boil on a hot plate for about
15 minutes.
c) After standing to cool, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask with water.
d) Add water up to the marked line.
e) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

263
 Note (2) The sampling amount of the analytical sample is 1 g when there is a high amount
of boric acid content in the fertilizers such as a borate fertilizer and boric acid
fertilizer.

Comment 2 In the procedure in (4.1.2) a) and (4.1.2) b), a 250-mLvolumetric flask can be
used instead of a 300-mL tall beaker. However the volumetric flask used
should be distinguished as an extraction flask and should not be used for the
other purposes. In addition, “cover with a watch glass” in b) is replaced by
“place a funnel”. Skip “transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask with water” in
the procedure in c).
Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as in (4.1) in 4.3.3.a.

(4.2) Coloring: Conduct coloring as shown below.

a) Transfer a predetermined volume (the equivalents of 0.05 mg -1 mg as B2O3) of an
analytical sample to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add 25 mL of ethylenediamine tetraacetate solution, and add 10 mL of ammonium
acetate solution and 10 mL of azomethine-H solution successively, and further add
water up to the marked line, then leave at rest for about 2 hours.

Comment 4 If formaldehyde processed urea, etc. coexists to affect quantification, transfer

a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.05 mg –
1 mg as B2O3, no less than 10 mL as a solution volume) to a 100-mL
separatory funnel, add 10 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+3), add water to about
20 mL and add 20 mL of 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol – 4-methyl-2-pentanone
(1+9) to shake to mix by a shaking apparatus for about 1 minute. After
allowing to rest, remove the lower layer (aqueous phase) and add 20 mL of
sodium hydroxide (20 mg/L) to shake to mix by a shaking apparatus for about
1 minute. After allowing to srest, transfer the lower layer (aqueous phase) to a
100-mL volumetric flask, add a few drops of phenolphthalein solution (1
g/100mL) to neutralize with hydrochloric acid (1+3) until the color of the
solution becomes achromatic, and conduct the procedure in (4.2) b).
Comment 5 Water-soluble boron can be measured simultaneously with citrate soluble
boron by adding 15 mL of citric acid solution before the procedure in (4.2) b).

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0115 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the
spectrophotometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the spectrophotometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the spectrophotometer considering the following:
Detection wavelength: 415 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Transfer 1mL - 20 mL of boron standard solution (B2O3 0.05 mg/mL) to 100-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step.
2) Conduct the same procedure as (4.2) b) to make the B2O3 0.05 mg/100 mL - 1
mg/100 mL boron standard solution for the calibration curve preparation.
3) Conduct the same procedures as 2) for another a 100-mL volumetric flask to make
the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
4) Measure the absorbance at a wavelength of 415 nm of the boron standard solutions
for the calibration curve preparation using the blank test solution for the calibration
curve preparation as the control.

264
 5) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the boron concentration and absorbance
of the boron standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Regarding the solution in (4.2) b), measure the absorbance by the same procedure as
b) 4).
2) Obtain the boron (B2O3) content from the calibration curve, and calculate the
water-soluble boron (W-B2O3) in the analytical sample.

Comment 6 Water-soluble boron can be measured simultaneously with citrate-soluble

boron by adding 15 mL of citric acid solution before the procedure in (4.3) b)
2).
Comment 7 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation
sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 10 %
(mass fraction) and 0.05 % (mass fraction) are 101.8 % and 107.1 % as
water-soluble boron (W-B2O3) respectively.
Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.02 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for water-soluble boron hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
Median 4) 5)
Number of 2) NIQ R RSD rob
Year Sample (Μ )
laboratories 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
High analysis compound
2006 132 0.40 0.02 4.2
fertilizer
High analysis compound
2008 113 0.26 0.01 2.9
fertilizer
High analysis compound
2010 109 0.291 0.009 3.1
fertilizer
Fluid mixed fertilizer
2012 92 0.240 0.008 3.2

Fluid mixed fertilizer

2015 92 0.126 0.004 3.5

1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing

2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 184 - 187, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
265
 2) Kimie KATO, Sakiko TAKAHASHI and Yuji SHIRAI: Validation of a Color metric
Method for Determination of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Boron: Evaluation of
Calibration curve, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.2, p. 137 – 144 (2009)
3) Akira SHIMIZU: Verification of Performance Characteristics of Testing Methods for
Boron Content by Azomethine H Absorption Photometry, Research Report of Fertilizer
Vol. 6, p. 174 –182 (2013)

(5) Flow sheet for water-soluble boron: The flow sheet for water-soluble boron in
fertilizers is shown below:

2.5 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 300-mL tall beaker.
← About 200 mL of Water
Heating Cover with a watch glass, boil for 15 minutes

Standing to cool

Transfer Water, 250-mL volumetric flask

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined amount)
← 25 mL of ethylenediamine tetraacetate solution
← 10 mL of ammonium acetate solution
← 10 mL of azomethine-H solution
← Water (up to the marked line)
Leaving at rest For about 2 hours

Measurement Spectrophotometer (415 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble boron in fertilizers.

266
4.8.2.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fluid mixed fertilizers, liquid microelement mixed fertilizers
and the fluid fertilizers of home garden-use mixed fertilizers.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, further dilute the filtered solution, introduce
it to an ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and measure the boron at a
wavelength of 249.773 nm to obtain water-soluble manganese (W-B2O3) in an analytical
sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 6.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Boron standard solution (B2O3 2.5 mg/mL) (1): After leaving boric acid specified in
JIS K 8863 at rest in a desiccator for about 24 hours to dry, weigh 4.441 g to a weighing
dish. Dissolve with a small amount of water, transfer to a 1000-mL volumetric flask and
add water up to the marked line.
d) Boron standard solution (B2O3 0.1 mg/mL): Transfer 4 mL of boron standard solution
(B2O3 2.5 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to
the marked line (2).
e) Boron standard solution (B2O3 2 µg/mL - 16 µg/mL)(1) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2 mL - 16 mL of boron standard solution (B2O3 0.1 mg/mL) to
100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the
marked line (2).
f) Boron standard solution (B2O3 0.2 µg/mL - 2 µg/mL)(1) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2 mL - 20 mL of boron standard solution (B2O3 10 µg /mL) for
the calibration curve preparation to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add
hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the marked line (2).
g) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedures in d), e) and f) (2).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) When preserving, use a container, which can be sealed tightly, made of material
such as PTFE that boron hardly elutes

Comment 1 Instead of the boron standard solution in (2), a boron standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a boron standard
solution (B 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology. In this
case, calculate water-soluble boron (W_B2O3) in the analytical sample by
multiplying the concentration (B) of a boron standard solution for calibration
curve preparation or a measurement value (B) obtained in (4.2) by a
conversion factor (3.2199).
Comment 2 There are two modes to observe emission from an ICP-OES, a horizontal
observation mode and an axial observation mode. The range of the
concentration of a standard solution for the calibration preparation curve in d)
and e) applies to a horizontal observation mode. While an axial observation
mode can observe a measurement component of low level concentrations, it
cannot gain the linearity of a calibration curve in the range of high level
concentrations. Therefore, when using the ICP-OES of an axial observation
mode, it is recommended to prepare a boron standard solution for the
calibration curve in the concentration range which is suitable to a device used.
267
(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:
a) ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: An Optical Emission Spectrometer specified in
JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample (2) to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 100-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, shake to mix and add water up to the marked line.
c) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (3) The sampling amount of the analytical sample is 10 g when there is less boron
content in the fertilizers such as a home garden-use fertilizer.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) in 4.2.4.a

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0116 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the ICP
Optical Emission Spectrometry used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 249.773 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the zinc standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and blank test
solution for the calibration curve preparation into inductively coupled plasma,
and read the indicated value at a wavelength of 249.773 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the boron concentration and the
indicated value of the boron standard solution for the calibration curve preparation
and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution (the equivalents of 0.02 mg –
1.6 mg as B2O3) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5), and add water up to the marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the boron content from the calibration curve, and calculate the water-soluble
boron (W- B2O3).

Comment 4 Wash the sample injector of an ICP-OES sufficiently with water because
boron easily causes the memory effect.
Comment 5 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.
In that case, see 4.2.4.d Comment 4.
Comment 6 The comparison of the measurement value (yi：0.013 % - 0.530 % (mass
fraction )) of ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value
(xi) of Azomethine-H method was conducted to evaluate trueness using fluid
fertilizers (12 samples). As a result, a regression equation was y =
-0.0041+0.986x and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.999. Additionally,
additive recovery testing was conducted using a fluid mixed fertilizer (1
268
 brand), a home-garden use mixed fertilizer and a liquid microelement
fertilizer (1 brand). As a result, the mean recovery at additive level of 0.15 %
- 0.2 % (mass fraction) and 0.001 % (mass fraction) were 95.5 % - 99.4 %
and 96.5% respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a fluid mixed
fertilizer and a home garden-use mixed fertilizer to evaluate precision were
analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance. Table 1 shows the calculation
results of intermediate precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.0005 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days

Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Liquid mixed fertilizer 7 0.166 0.001 0.7 0.002 1.2
Home garder-use
7 0.0134 0.0001 1.0 0.0001 1.0
mixed fertilizer（liquid)
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

References
1) Keisuke AOYAMA: Simultaneous Determination of Water-Soluble Principal
Ingredients (W-P2O5, W-K2O, W-MgO, W-MnO and W-B2O3) in Liquid Fertilizer using
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), Research
Report of Fertilizer, Vol.8, p. 1 – 9 (2015)

(5) Flow sheet: The flow sheet for water-soluble born in fluid fertilizers is shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1 mg to a 100-mL volumetric flask

← Water, about 50 mL
Shaking to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration

Aliquot 100-mL volmetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement ICP-OES (249.773 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble boron in fluid fertilizers

269
4.9 Zinc
4.9.1 Total zinc
4.9.1.a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers.
Pretreat an analytical sample with incineration and nitric acid-hydrochloric acid (1+3), and
then spray in an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic absorption with zinc at a
wavelength of 213.9 nm to quantify the total zinc. In addition, the performance of this testing
method is shown in Comment 6.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Zinc standard solution (Zn 0.1 mg/mL): A zinc standard solution (Zn 0.1 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology.
e) Zinc standard solutions (Zn 0.5 µg - 5 µg/mL) for the calibration curve preparation
(1)
: Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of zinc standard solution (Zn 0.1 mg/mL) to 500-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line.
f) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedure in e).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the zinc standard solution in (2), a zinc standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a zinc standard
solution (Zn 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer
specified in JIS K 0121 with the background correction (2) function.
1) Light source: A zinc hollow cathode lamp (when the continuous source method as
the background correction method is used, the light source is a deuterium lamp.)
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
b) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be adjusted to 450 ºC ± 5 ºC.
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.

Note (2) There are the continuous source method, the Zeeman method, the non-resonance
spectrum method, and the self-reversal method, etc.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
b) Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char(3).
270
 c) Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC to incinerate (4).
d) After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, and add about
10 mL of nitric acid and about 30 mL of hydrochloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to digest.
f) Slightly move the watch glass (5), and continue heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until nearly dried up.
g) After standing to cool, add 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)(6) to the digest,
cover the tall beaker with the watch glass, and heat quietly to dissolve.
h) After standing to cool, transfer to a 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask with water, add
water up to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample
solution.

Note (3) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.
(4) Example of ignition period: 8 - 16 hours
(5) The watch glass can be removed.
(6) Add hydrochloric acid (1+5) so that the hydrochloric acid concentration of the
sample solution will be hydrochloric acid (1+23). For example, when a 100-mL
volumetric flask is used in the procedure in h), about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid
(1+5) should be added.

Comment 2 Do not conduct the procedures in (4.1) b) - c) in the case of fertilizers not
containing organic matters.
Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) of 4.9.1.b, (4.1)
of 4.10.1.a, (4.1) of 4.10.1.b, (4.1) of 5.3.a, (4.1) of 5.3.b, (4.1) of 5.4.a, (4.1)
of 5.4.b, (4.1) of 5.5.a, (4.1) of 5.5.d, (4.1) of 5.6.a and (4.1) of 5.6.b. In
addition, the sample solution can be used in 4.2.1.a, 4.2.1.b, 4.3.1.a, 4.3.1.b
and 4.5.1.a.
Comment 4 The sample solution prepared in (4.1.2) in 4.2.1.a can also be used.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 213.9 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the zinc standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the blank
test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 213.9 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the zinc concentration and the
indicated value of the zinc standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation
and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Subject the sample solution (7) to the same procedure as in b) 1) to read the indicated
value.
2) Subject the blank test solution to the same procedure as in b) 1) to read the
indicated value, and correct the indicated value obtained for the sample solution.
3) Obtain the zinc content from the calibration curve, and calculate the total zinc
(T-Zn) in the analytical sample.
271
 Note (7) If there is a possibility that the zinc concentration in the sample solution will
exceed the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a predetermined
amount with hydrochloric acid (1+23).

Comment 5 The zinc concentration in the analytical sample can also be corrected by
subjecting the blank test solution to the same procedures as in 1) and 3) to
obtain the zinc content in the blank test solution.
Comment 6 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation
sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 1.2 %
(mass fraction) and 12 mg/kg are 99.5 % and 97.8 % as the total zinc (T-Zn)
respectively.
The results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference
material fertilizer were analyzed using the three level nesting analysis of
variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate
precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
5 mg/kg for solid fertilizers.

Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)
certified reference laboratory Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T) sR RSD R
1)
material fertilizer p (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (%) (mg/kg) (%) (mg/kg) (%)
FAMIC-C-12 12 992 11 1.1 17 1.7 32 3.3
1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 5）　Intermediate standard deviation
conducting Cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 6）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Repeatability standard deviation 7）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability relative standard deviation 8）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 193 - 194, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Kimie KATO, Masayuki YOSHIMOTO and Yuji SHIRAI: Systematization of
Determination Methods of Major Components in Sludge Fertilizer, Compost and
Organic Fertilizer, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.3, 107-116 (2010)
3) Shin ABE and Yoshiyuki SUNAGA: Verification of Performance Characteristics of
Testing Methods for Zinc in Fertilizer by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, Research
Report of Fertilizer Vol. 6, p. 156 –164 (2013)

272
(5) Flow sheet for total zinc: Flow sheet for total zinc in fertilizers is shown below:

5.00 g
200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample

Charring Heat gently

Incineration Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water
← About 10 mL of nitric acid
← About 30 mL of hydrochloric acid
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and digest

Heating Slightly move a watch glass to remove acid

Standing to cool Room temperature

← 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (213.9 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for total zinc in fertilizers

273
4.9.1.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to sludge fertilizers, etc.
Pretreat an analytical sample with incineration, nitric acid - hydrochloric acid (1+3), introduce
it to an ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and measure the emission with zinc
at a wavelength of 206.191 nm to obtain the total zinc (T-Zn) in an analytical sample. In
addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 6.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Zinc standard solution (Zn 0.1 mg/mL): A zinc standard solution (Zn 0.1 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology.
e) Zinc standard solution (Zn 25 µg/mL): Dilute a predetermined amount of zinc
standard solution (Zn 0.1 mg/mL) with hydrochloric acid (1+23) to prepare a zinc
standard solution (Zn 25 µg/mL).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the zinc standard solution in (2), a zinc standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a zinc standard
solution (Zn 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer: An atomic emission spectrometer specified in
JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity
b) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can keep the test temperature at 5 ºC
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1)
Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a)Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
b)Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char (2).
c)Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC to incinerate (3).
d)After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, and add about
10 mL of nitric acid and about 30 mL of hydrochloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to digest.
f) Slightly move the watch glass (4), and continue heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until nearly dried up.
g) After standing to cool, add 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5) (5) to the digest,
cover the tall beaker with the watch glass, and heat quietly to dissolve.
h) After standing to cool, transfer to a 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask with water, add
water up to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample
solution.
274
 i) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - h) using another tall beaker to prepare the
blank test solution.

Note (2) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.
(3) Example of ignition period: 8 - 16 hours
(4) The watch glass can be removed.
(5) Add hydrochloric acid (1+5) so that the hydrochloric acid concentration of the
sample solution will be hydrochloric acid (1+23). For example, when a 100-mL
volumetric flask is used in the procedure in h), about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid
(1+5) should be added.

Comment 2 Do not conduct the procedures in (4.1) b) - c) in the case of fertilizers not
containing organic matters.
Comment 3 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1) in 4.9.1.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement (Standard Addition Method) according to JIS K

0116 and as shown below. Specific measurement procedures are according to the
operation method of the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometry used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 206.191 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation and sample measurement.
1) Put 5mL of sample solution to three 10-mL volumetric flasks respectively.
2) Add 2mL and 4 mL (0.25 μg/mL) of zinc standard solution to volumetric flasks of
1) above, then add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the marked line to make the
sample solution of Standard Addition Method.
3) Add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line of the remaining volumetric flask
of 1) above to make the sample solution without a standard solution.
4) Spray the sample solution of Standard Addition Method and the sample solution
without a standard solution into the induction plasma, and read the indicated value
at a wavelength of 206.191 nm.
5) Transfer 5 mL of blank test solution to a 10-mL volumetric flask, conduct the same
procedures as in 3) - 4) to read the indicated value, and correct the indicated value
obtained from the respective sample solutions.
6) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the added zinc concentration and the
corrected indicated value of the sample solution for Standard Addition Method and
the sample solution without a standard solution.
7) Obtain the zinc content from the intercept of the calibration curve to calculate the
total zinc (T-Zn) in the analytical sample.

Comment 4 The total zinc (T-Zn) in the analytical sample can also be corrected by
subjecting the blank test solution to the same procedures as in b) 1) – b) 4)
and b) 6) – b) 7) to obtain the zinc content in the blank test solution.
Comment 5 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.
In this case, transfer a pre-determined amount of copper standard solution (Cu
0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL), zinc standard solution (Zn 0.1 mg/mL, 1
mg/mL or 10 mg/mL), cadmium standard solution (Cd 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL
or 10 mg/mL), nickel standard solution (Ni 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10
mg/mL), chromium standard solution (Cr 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL)
275
 and lead standard solution (Pb 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) to a
volumetric flask to mix, add hydrochloric acid (1+5) to make acid
concentration 0.5 mol/L and further add water up to the marked line to
prepare a primary mixed standard solution. Transfer a pre-determined amount
of primary mixed standard solution to volumetric flasks step-by-step, add
hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the marked line to prepare mixed standard
solutions for addition within the concentration range in Table 1. In this case,
the measurement wavelengths of respective elements are according to Table
1.
In addition, the additive amount of mixed standard solutions for addition and
the additive concentrations of respective elements in respective sample
solutions are shown in the Table below.

Table 1　　The preparation concentration of mixed standard solutions for addition

The additive concentrations and measurement wavelengths
of respective elements in sample solutions
Concentration of Additive concentration of
mixed standard element in sample solution　(µg/mL)
1) 1) 1)
Test item solution for Additive amount Additive amount Additive amount Measurement
addition (µg/mL) 0 mL 2 mL 4 mL wavelength (nm)
Total zinc Zn 25 0 5 10 206.191
Total copper Cu 25 0 5 10 324.754
Cadmium Cd 0.25 0 0.05 0.1 228.802
Nickel Ni 2.5 0 0.5 1 231.604
Chromium Cr 2.5 0 0.5 1 205.552
Lead Pb 2.5 0 0.5 1 220.351
1）　Additive amount of mixed standard solution for addition

Comment 6 The comparison of the measurement value (xi：65.0 mg/kg - 3310 mg/kg) of
ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value (yi) of
Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was conducted to evaluate trueness
using sludge fertilizers (49 samples). As a result, a regression equation was y
= -47.6+1.080x and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.995.
Triplicates measurement was conducted for each one sample of a sewage
sludge fertilizer, a human waste sludge fertilizer, a industrial sludge fertilizer,
a mixed sludge fertilizer, a calcined sludge fertilizer and a composted sludge
fertilizer. As a result, a repeatability obtained was 0.1 % - 2.3 % as a relative
standard deviation.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is
about 8 mg/kg.

Reference
1) Masahiro ECHI, Tomoe INOUE, Megumi TABUCHI and Tetuya NOMURA:
Simultaneous Determination of Cadmium, Lead, Nickel, Chromium, Copper and Zinc
in Sludge Fertilizer using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry
(ICP-AES), Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.4, p. 30 - 35 (2011)

276
(5) Flow sheet for total zinc: The flow sheet for total zinc in fertilizers is shown below:

5.00 g
200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample

Charring Heat gently

Incineration Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water
← About 10 mL of nitric acid
← About 30 mL of hydrochloric acid
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and digest for 30 minutes

Heating Slightly move a watch glass to remove acid

Standing to cool Room temperature

← 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 5 mL 10-mL volumetric flask, 3 flasks

← 0 mL, 2mL and 4 mL of zinc standard solution (25 μg / mL)
←　Hydrochloric acid (1+23) ( up to the marked line)
Measurement ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer (206.191nm)

Figure Flow sheet for total zinc in fertilizers

277
4.9.2 Water-soluble zinc
4.9.2.a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers that indicate zinc content as a response modifier.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, spray in an acetylene-air flame and measure
the atomic absorption with zinc at a wavelength of 213.9 nm to obtain water-soluble zinc
(W-Zn) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown
in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
c) Zinc standard solution (Zn 0.1 mg/mL): A zinc standard solution (0.1 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology.
d) Zinc standard solutions (Zn 0.5 µg - 5 µg/mL) for the calibration curve preparation
(1)
: Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of zinc standard solution (Zn 0.1 mg/mL) to 500-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line.
e) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedure in d).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the zinc standard solution in (2), a a zinc standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a zinc standard
solution (Zn 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate upside down a 500-mL volumetric flask
at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121 with the background correction (2) function.
1) Light source: A zinc hollow cathode lamp (In case of background correction
system using continuous spectrum source, the light source is a deuterium lamp.)
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.

Note (2) There are the continuous spectrum method, the Zeeman method, the
non-resonance spectrum method, and the self-reversal method, etc.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1.1) Powdery test sample
(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 500-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 400 mL of water, and shake to mix at 30 - 40 revolutions/min for about 30
minutes.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.
278
 Comment 2 In the procedure in (4.1.1) a), it is also allowed to weigh 2.50 g of the
analytical sample to the order of 1 mg and transfer to a 250-mL volumetric
flask.
Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.1) in 4.2.4.a

(4.1.2) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and transfer to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, and shake to mix.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 4 The procedure in (4.1.2) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) in 4.2.4.a

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 213.9 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the zinc standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the blank
test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 213.9 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the zinc concentration and the
indicated value of the zinc standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation
and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.05 mg
- 0.5 mg as Zn) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5), and add water up to the marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the zinc content from the calibration curve, and calculate the water-soluble
zinc (W-Zn) in the analytical sample.

Comment 5 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample (solid). As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of
10 % (mass fraction), 2 % (mass fraction) and 0.01 % (mass fraction) are
101.6 % , 101.9 % and 98.9 % as water-soluble zinc (W-Zn) respectively. In
addition, recovery testing was conducted using a preparation sample (fluid).
As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 1 % (mass
fraction), 0.05 % (mass fraction) and 20 mg/kg are 99.6 %, 100.4 % and
100.6 % as water-soluble copper respectively.
Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a fluid mixed
fertilizer and a liquid microelement mixed fertilizer to evaluate the extract
precision of fluid fertilizers were analyzed by the one-way analysis of

279
 variance. Table 2 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision and
repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
10 mg/kg (solid fertilizers) and 0.9 mg/kg (fluid fertilizers).

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for water-soluble zinc hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
Number of 2) 4) 5)
Year Sample Median (Μ ) NIQR RSD rob
laboratories
3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
Fluid mixed
2012 75 0.0586 0.0023 3.7
fertilizer
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100

Table 2 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days

Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I (T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Fluid mixed fertilizer 7 1.28 0.01 0.4 0.02 1.3
Liquid microelement
7 0.230 0.001 0.5 0.003 1.5
mixed fertilizers
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 192 - 194, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Shin ABE and Yoshiyuki SUNAGA: Verification of Performance Characteristics of
Testing Methods for Zinc in Fertilizer by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, Research
Report of Fertilizer Vol. 6, p. 156 –164 (2013)

280
(5) Flow sheet for water-soluble zinc: The flow sheet for water-soluble zinc in fertilizers
is shown below:

5.00 g analytical sample

500-mL volumetric flask.
(powdery)
← Water, About 400 mL
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min), for 30 minutes

1.00 g analytical sample

100-mL volumetric flask.
(fluid)
← Water, About 50 mL
Shaking to mix

← Water (up to the marked line)

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 100-mL volumetric flask

← 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (213.9 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble zinc in fertilizers.

281
4.9.2.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fluid mixed fertilizers, liquid microelement mixed fertilizers
and the fluid fertilizers of home garden-use mixed fertilizers.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, introduce it to an ICP Optical Emission
Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and measure the zinc at a wavelength of 213.856 nm to obtain
water-soluble zinc (W-Zn) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this
testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Zinc standard solution (Zn 1 mg/mL): A zinc standard solution (Zn 0.1 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology.
d) Zinc standard solution (Zn 0.1 mg/mL) (1): Transfer 10 mL of zinc standard solution
(Zn 1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the
marked line.
e) Zinc standard solutions (Zn 1 µg - 20 µg/mL) for the calibration curve preparation
(1)
: Transfer 1 mL - 20 mL of zinc standard solution (Zn 0.1 mg/mL) to 100-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line.
f) Zinc standard solutions (Zn 0.1 µg - 1 µg/mL) for the calibration curve preparation
(1)
: Transfer 1 mL - 10 mL of zinc standard solution (Zn 10 µg/mL) to 100-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line.
g) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedure in d), e) and f).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the zinc standard solution in (2), a a zinc standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a zinc standard
solution (Zn 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
Comment 2 There are two modes to observe emission from an ICP-OES, a horizontal
observation mode and an axial observation mode. The range of the
concentration of a standard solution for the calibration preparation curve in e)
and f) applies to a horizontal observation mode. While an axial observation
mode can observe a measurement component of low level concentrations, it
cannot gain the linearity of a calibration curve in the range of high level
concentrations. Therefore, in case of using the ICP-OES of an axial
observation mode, it is recommended to prepare a zinc standard solution for
the calibration curve in the concentration range which is suitable to a device
used.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: An Optical Emission Spectrometer specified in
JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
282
 a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample (2) to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 100-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, shake to mix and add water up to the marked line.
c) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (2) The sampling amount of the analytical sample is 10 g when the content in the
sample is less than 0.01 % (mass fraction ) as water-soluble zinc.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) in 4.2.4.a

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0116 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the ICP
Optical Emission Spectrometry used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 213.856 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the zinc standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and blank test
solution for the calibration curve preparation into inductively coupled plasma,
and read the indicated value at a wavelength of 213.856 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the zinc concentration and the
indicated value of the zinc standard solution for the calibration curve preparation
and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution (the equivalents of 0.01 mg – 2
mg as Zn) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5), and add water up to the marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the zinc content from the calibration curve, and calculate the water-soluble
zinc (W- Zn).

Comment 4 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.

In that case, see 4.2.4.d Comment 3.
Comment 5 The comparison of the measurement value (yi：0.0109 % - 0.0827 % (mass
fraction )) of ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value
(xi) of Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was conducted to evaluate
trueness using fluid fertilizers (12 samples). As a result, a regression equation
was y = -0.0007+0.948x and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.998.
Additionally, additive recovery testing was conducted using a fluid mixed
fertilizer (1 brand) and a home-garden use mixed fertilizer (1 brand). As a
result, the mean recovery at additive level of 0.01 % and 0. 1 % (mass
fraction) were 91.6 % and 95.9% respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a fluid mixed
fertilizer and a home garden-use mixed fertilizer to evaluate precision were
analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance. Table shows the calculation
results of intermediate precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.0005 % (mass fraction).

283
 Table Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Liquid mixed fertilizer 7 0.0677 0.0004 0.6 0.0005 0.7
Home garder-use
7 0.0107 0.0003 2.3 0.0004 4.2
mixed fertilizer（liquid)
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

(5) Flow sheet: The flow sheet for water-soluble zinc in fluid fertilizers is shown below:

1.00 g analytical sample 100-mL volumetric flask

← Water, about 50 mL
Shaking to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration

Aliquot 100-mL volmetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
← Water (up to the marked line)

Measurement ICP-OES (213.856 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble zinc in fertilizers

284
4.10 Copper
4.10.1 Total copper
4.10.1.a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers.
Pretreat an analytical sample with incineration and nitric acid-hydrochloric acid (1+3), and
then spray in an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic absorption with copper at a
wavelength of 324.8 nm to obtain the total copper (T-Cu) in an analytical sample. In
addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 6.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Copper standard solution (Cu 0.1 mg/mL): A copper standard solution (Cu 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
e) Copper standard solutions (Cu 0.5 µg/mL - 5 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of copper standard solution (0.1 mg/mL) to
500-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the
marked line.
f) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedure in e).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the copper standard solution in (2), a a copper standard solution for
the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a copper standard
solution (Cu 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121 with the background correction (2) function.
1) Light source: A copper hollow cathode lamp (In case of background correction
system using continuous spectrum source, the light source is a deuterium lamp.)
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
b) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be adjusted to 450 ºC ± 5 ºC.
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.

Note (2) There are the continuous spectrum method, the Zeeman method, the
non-resonance spectrum method, and the self-reversal method, etc.
(4) Test procedures
(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
b) Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char(3).
285
 c) Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC to incinerate (4).
d) After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, and add about
10 mL of nitric acid and about 30 mL of hydrochloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to digest.
f) Slightly move the watch glass (5), and continue heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until nearly dried up.
g) After standing to cool, add 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)(6) to the digest,
cover the tall beaker with the watch glass, and heat quietly to dissolve.
h) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask with
water, add water up to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the
sample solution.
i) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - h) using another tall beaker to prepare the
blank test solution.

Note (3) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.
(4) Example of ignition period: 8 - 16 hours
(5) The watch glass can be removed.
(6) Add hydrochloric acid (1+5) so that the hydrochloric acid concentration of the
sample solution will be hydrochloric acid (1+23). For example, when a 100-mL
volumetric flask is used in the procedure in h), about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid
(1+5) should be added.

Comment 2 Do not conduct the procedures in (4.1) b) - c) in the case of fertilizers not
containing organic matters.
Comment 3 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1) in 4.9.1.a.
Comment 4 The sample solution prepared in (4.1.2) in 4.2.1.a can also be used.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 324.8 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the copper standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 324.8 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the copper concentration and the
indicated value of the copper standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Subject the sample solution (7) to the same procedure as in b) 1) to read the
indicated value.
2) Subject the blank test solution to the same procedure as in b) 1) to read the
indicated value, and correct the indicated value obtained for the sample solution.
3) Obtain the copper content from the calibration curve, and calculate the total copper
in the analytical sample.

286
 Note (7) If there is a possibility that the copper concentration in the sample solution will
exceed the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a predetermined
amount with hydrochloric acid (1+23).

Comment 5 The copper concentration in the analytical sample can also be corrected by
subjecting the blank test solution to the same procedures as in 1) and 3) to
obtain the copper content in the blank test solution.
Comment 6 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation
sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 0.15 %
(mass fraction) and 0.03 % (mass fraction) are 100.4 % and 99.6 % as total
copper (T-Cu) respectively.
The results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference
material fertilizer were analyzed using the three level nesting analysis of
variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate
precision and repeatability.
Table 2 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
4 mg/kg.

Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
certified reference laboratory Average2) sr
3)
RSD r
4)
s I(T)
5)
RSD I(T)
6)
sR
7)
RSD R
8)

1)
material fertilizer p (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (%) (mg/kg) (%) (mg/kg) (%)
FAMIC-C-12 11 583 7 1.1 11 1.9 22 3.8
1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 5）　Intermediate standard deviation
conducting Cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 6）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Repeatability standard deviation 7）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability relative standard deviation 8）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 254 - 255, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Kimie KATO, Masayuki YOSHIMOTO and Yuji SHIRAI: Systematization of
Determination Methods of Major Components in Sludge Fertilizer, Compost and
Organic Fertilizer, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.3, p. 107 - 116 (2010)
3) Shin ABE and Yoshiyuki SUNAGA: Verification of Performance Characteristics of
Testing Methods for Copper in Fertilizer by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, Research
Report of Fertilizer, Vol. 6, p. 165 – 173 (2013)

287
(5) Flow sheet for total copper: The flow sheet for total copper in fertilizers is shown
below:

5.00 g
200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample

Charring Heat gently

Incineration Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water
← About 10 mL of nitric acid
← About 30 mL of hydrochloric acid
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and digest

Heating Slightly move a watch glass to remove acid

Standing to cool Room temperature

← 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (324.8nm)

Figure Flow sheet for total copper in fertilizers

288
4.10.1.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to sludge fertilizers, etc.
Pretreat an analytical sample with incineration, nitric acid - hydrochloric acid (1+3), introduce
it to ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry (“ICP-OES”) and measure the emission with copper
at a wavelength of 324.754 nm to quantify the total copper (T-Cu) in an analytical sample.
In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 6.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Copper standard solution (Cu 0.1 mg/mL): A copper standard solution (Cu 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
e) Copper standard solutions (Cu 25 µg/mL) (1): Dilute a predetermined amount of
copper standard solution (Cu 0.1 mg/mL) with hydrochloric acid (1+23) to prepare a
copper standard solution (Cu 25 µg/mL).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the copper standard solution in (2), a copper standard solution for
the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a copper standard
solution (Cu 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer: An atomic emission spectrometer specified in
JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity
b) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be kept at 450 ºC 5 ºC
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1)
Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a)Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
b)Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char(2).
c)Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC to incinerate (3).
d)After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, and add about
10 mL of nitric acid and about 30 mL of hydrochloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to digest.
f) Slightly move the watch glass (4), and continue heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until nearly dried up.
g) After standing to cool, add 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5) (5) to the digest,
cover the tall beaker with the watch glass, and heat quietly to dissolve.

289
 h) After standing to cool, transfer to a 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask with water, add
water up to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample
solution.
i) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - h) using another tall beaker to prepare the
blank test solution.

Note (2) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.
(3) Example of ignition period: 8 - 16 hours
(4) The watch glass can be removed.
(5) Add hydrochloric acid (1+5) so that the hydrochloric acid concentration of the
sample solution will be hydrochloric acid (1+23). For example, when a 100-mL
volumetric flask is used in the procedure in h), about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid
(1+5) should be added.

Comment 2 Do not conduct the procedures in (4.1) b) - c) in the case of fertilizers not
containing organic matters.
Comment 3 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1) in 4.9.1.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement (Standard Addition Method) according to JIS K

0116 and as shown below. Specific measurement procedures are according to the
operation method of the ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 324.754 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation and sample measurement.
1) Put 5mL of sample solution to three 10-mL volumetric flasks respectively.
2) Add 2mL and 4 mL (2.5 μg/mL) of copper standard solution to volumetric flasks of
1) above, then add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line to make the sample
solution of Standard Addition Method.
3) Add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line of the remaining volumetric flask
of 1) above to make the sample solution without a standard solution.
4) Spray the sample solution of Standard Addition Method and the sample solution
without a standard solution into the induction plasma, and read the indicated value
at a wavelength of 324.754 nm.
5) Transfer 5mL of the blank test solution to a 10-mL volumetric flask, conduct the
same procedures as in 3) - 4) to read the indicated value, and correct the indicated
value obtained from the respective sample solutions.
6) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the added copper concentration and the
corrected indicated value of the sample solution for Standard Addition Method and
the sample solution without a standard solution.
7) Obtain the copper content from the intercept of the calibration curve to calculate the
total copper (T-Cu) in the analytical sample.

Comment 4 The copper concentration in the analytical sample can also be corrected by
subjecting the blank test solution to the same procedures as in 1) - 4) and 6) -
7) to obtain the copper content in the blank test solution.
Comment 5 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.
In that case, see 4.9.1.b Comment 5.

290
 Comment 6 The comparison of the measurement value（xi：12.0 mg/kg - 1400 mg/kg）of
ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value (yi) of Flame
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was conducted to evaluate trueness using
sludge fertilizers (49 samples). As a result, a regression equation was y =
-5.5+1.062x and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.997.
Triplicates measurement for each one sample of sewage sludge fertilizer,
human waste sludge fertilizer, industrial sludge fertilizer, mixed sludge
fertilizer, calcined sludge fertilizers and composted sludge fertilizer was
conducted. As a result, a repeatability obtained was 0.6 % - 1.8 % as a relative
standard deviation.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
3 mg/kg.

Reference
1) Masahiro ECHI, Tomoe INOUE, Megumi TABUCHI and Tetuya NOMURA:
Simultaneous Determination of Cadmium, Lead, Nickel, Chromium, Copper and Zinc
in Sludge Fertilizer using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry
(ICP-AES), Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.4, p. 30 - 35 (2011)

291
(5) Flow sheet for copper: The flow sheet for total copper in fertilizers is shown below:

5.00 g
200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample

Charring Heat gently

Incineration Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water
← About 10 mL of nitric acid
← About 30 mL of hydrochloric acid
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and digest for 30 minutes

Heating Slightly move a watch glass to remove acid

Standing to cool Room temperature

← 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 5 mL 10-mL volumetric flask, 3 flasks

← 0, 2 and 4 mL of copper standard solution (25 μg / mL)
← Hydrochloric acid (1+23) ( up to the marked line)
Measurement ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer (324.754 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for total copper in fertilizers

292
4.10.2 Water-soluble copper
4.10.2.a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers that indicate copper content as a response modifier.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, spray in an acetylene-air flame and measure
the atomic absorption with copper at a wavelength of 324.8 nm to obtain water-soluble copper
(W-Cu) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is
shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
c) Copper standard solution (Cu 0.1 mg/mL): A copper standard solution (Cu 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology
d) Copper standard solutions (Cu 0.5 µg - 5 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of copper standard solution (Cu 0.1 mg/mL)
to 500-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the
marked line.
e) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedure in d).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the copper standard solution in (2), a copper standard solution for
the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a copper standard
solution (Cu 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate upside down a 500-mL volumetric flask
at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121 with the background correction (2) function.
1) Light source: A copper hollow cathode lamp (In case of background correction
system using continuous spectrum source, the light source is a deuterium lamp.)
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.

Note (2) There are the continuous spectrum method, the Zeeman method, the
non-resonance spectrum method, and the self-reversal method, etc.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1.1) Powdery test sample
(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and transfer to a 500-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 400 mL of water, and shake to mix at 30 - 40 revolutions/min for about 30
minutes.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
293
 d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 2 In the procedure in (4.1.1) a), it is also allowed to weigh 2.50 g of the
analytical sample to the order of 1 mg and transfer to a 250-mL volumetric
flask.
Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.1) in 4.2.4.a

(4.1.2) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and transfer to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, and shake to mix.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 4 The procedure in (4.1.2) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) in 4.2.4.a

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 324.8 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the copper standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 324.8 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the copper concentration and the
indicated value of the copper standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.05 mg
- 0.5 mg as Cu) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid, and add water up to the marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the copper content from the calibration curve, and calculate the
water-soluble copper (W-Cu).

Comment 5 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample (solid). As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of
10 % (mass fraction), 1 % (mass fraction) and 0.03 % (mass fraction) are
100.7 %, 99.4 % and 102.6 % as water-soluble copper (W-Cu) respectively.
In addition, recovery testing was conducted using a preparation sample (fluid).
As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 1 % (mass
fraction), 0.05 % (mass fraction) and 20 mg/kg are 98.8 %, 99.3 % and
101.4 % respectively.
Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a fluid mixed
fertilizer and a liquid microelement mixed fertilizer to evaluate the extract
precision of fluid fertilizers were analyzed by the one-way analysis of
294
 variance.Table 2 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision and
repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
10 mg/kg for solid fertilizers and 3 mg/kg for fluid fertilizers.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for water-soluble cupper hosted by Japan Ferttilizer Quality Assuarance Committee
Median 4) 5)
Number of 2) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample (Μ )
laboratories
3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
2012 Fluid mixed fertilizer 76 0.0546 0.0014 2.5
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100
Table Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Liquid mixed fertilizer 7 0.0643 0.0006 0.9 0.0011 1.7
Home garder-use
7 0.00976 0.00006 0.6 0.00033 3.4
mixed fertilizer（liquid)
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation
Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 254 - 255, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Shin ABE and Yoshiyuki SUNAGA: Verification of Performance Characteristics of
Testing Methods for Copper in Fertilizer by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, Research
Report of Fertilizer, Vol. 6, p. 165 – 173 (2013)

295
(5) Flow sheet for water-soluble copper: The flow sheet for water-soluble copper in
fertilizers is shown below:

5.00 g analytical sample

500-mL volumetric flask.
(powdery)
← Water, About 400 mL
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min), for 30 minutes

1.00 g analytical sample

100-mL volumetric flask.
(fluid)
← Water, About 50 mL
Shaking to mix

← Water (up to the marked line)

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 100-mL volumetric flask

← 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (324.8 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble copper in fertilizers.

296
4.10.2.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fluid mixed fertilizers, liquid microelement mixed fertilizers
and the fluid fertilizers of home garden-use mixed fertilizers.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, introduce it to an ICP Optical Emission
Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and measure the copper at a wavelength of 327.396 nm to obtain
water-soluble copper (W-Cu) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this
testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Copper standard solution (Cu 1 mg/mL): A copper standard solution (Cu 1 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology.
d) Copper standard solution (Cu 0.1 mg/mL) (1): Transfer 10 mL of copper standard
solution (Cu 1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add hydrochloric acid (1+23)
up to the marked line.
e) Copper standard solutions (Cu 1 µg - 20 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 1 mL - 20 mL of copper standard solution (Cu 0.1 mg/mL) to
100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked
line.
f) Copper standard solutions (Cu 0.1 µg - 1 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 1 mL - 10 mL of copper standard solution (Cu 10 µg/mL) to
100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked
line.
g) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedure in d), e) and f).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the copper standard solution in (2), a copper standard solution for
the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a copper standard
solution (Cu 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
Comment 2 There are two modes to observe emission from an ICP-OES, a horizontal
observation mode and an axial observation mode. The range of the
concentration of a standard solution for the calibration preparation curve in e)
and f) applies to a horizontal observation mode. While an axial observation
mode can observe a measurement component of low level concentrations, it
cannot gain the linearity of a calibration curve in the range of high level
concentrations. Therefore, in case of using the ICP-OES of an axial
observation mode, it is recommended to prepare a copper standard solution
for the calibration curve in the concentration range which is suitable to a
device used.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: An Optical Emission Spectrometer specified in
JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity

297
(4) Test procedures
(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample (2) to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 100-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, shake to mix and add water up to the marked line.
c) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (2) The sampling amount of the analytical sample is 10 g when the content in the
sample is less than 0.01 % (mass fraction ) as water-soluble copper.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) in 4.2.4.a

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0116 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the ICP
Optical Emission Spectrometry used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 327.396 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the copper standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and blank
test solution for the calibration curve preparation into inductively coupled plasma,
and read the indicated value at a wavelength of 327.396 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the copper concentration and the
indicated value of the copper standard solution for the calibration curve preparation
and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution (the equivalents of 0.01 mg – 2
mg as Cu) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5), and add water up to the marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the copper content from the calibration curve, and calculate the
water-soluble copper (W- Cu).

Comment 4 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.

In that case, see 4.2.4.d Comment 4.
Comment 5 The comparison of the measurement value (yi：0.00982 % - 0.0819 % (mass
fraction )) of ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value
(xi) of Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was conducted to evaluate
trueness using fluid fertilizers (12 samples). As a result, a regression equation
was y = -0.0006+0.966x and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.999.
Additionally, additive recovery testing was conducted using a fluid mixed
fertilizer (1 brand) and a home-garden use mixed fertilizer (1 brand). As a
result, the mean recovery at additive level of 0.01 % and 0. 1 % (mass
fraction) were 93.5 % and 95.3% respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a fluid mixed
fertilizer and a home garden-use mixed fertilizer to evaluate precision were
analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance. Table shows the calculation
results of intermediate precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.0005 % (mass fraction).
298
 Table Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Liquid mixed fertilizer 7 0.0643 0.0006 0.9 0.0011 1.7
Home garder-use
7 0.00976 0.00006 0.6 0.00033 3.4
mixed fertilizer（liquid)
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

(5) Flow sheet: The flow sheet for water-soluble copper in fluid fertilizers is shown below:

1.00 g analytical sample 100-mL volumetric flask

← Water, about 50 mL
Shaking to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration

Aliquot 100-mL volmetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
← Water (up to the marked line)

Measurement ICP-OES (327.396 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble copper in fertilizers

299
4.11 Organic carbon and carbon-nitrogen ratio
4.11.1 Organic carbon
4.11.1.a Dichromate oxidation
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to sludge fertilizers and compost, etc.
Add a potassium dichromate-sulfuric acid solution to an analytical sample and heat to oxidize
organic carbon with potassium dichromate. Quantify unconsumed potassium dichromate by
oxidation-reduction titration to obtain organic carbon (O-C). This test method is also referred
to as the Method of Tyulin. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in
Comment 2.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Sulfuric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
c) 0.2 mol/L ammonium iron (II) sulfate solution (1): Weigh 80 g of ammonium iron (II)
sulfate hexahydrate specified in JIS K 8979 into a 2000-mL beaker, and add 1000 mL of
sulfuric acid (1+50) to dissolve.
Standardization: Grind potassium dichromate reference material for volumetric
analysis specified in JIS K 8005 in an agate mortar to powder, heat at 150 ºC ± 2 ºC for
1 hour, let it stand to cool in a desiccator, and then transfer about 1 g to a weighing dish,
and weigh the mass to the order of 0.1 mg. Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer
to a 100-mL volumetric flask, and add water up to the marked line to make the
potassium dichromate standard solution(1) (2). On each day to use a 0.2 mol/L ammonium
iron (II) sulfate solution, transfer 10 mL of the potassium dichromate standard solution
to a 100-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add about 5 mL of sulfuric acid (1+2), and then conduct
the procedures in (4.2) b) - c), and calculate the factor of a 0.2 mol/L ammonium iron
(II) sulfate solution by the following formula:

Factor (f) of 0.2 mol/L ammonium iron (II) sulfate solution

= W1 × (A/100) × (6/294.18) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) /C
= (W1 × A/V3) × (30/294.18)

W1: Mass (g) of potassium dichromate weighed

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of potassium dichromate
V1: Volume (10 mL) of potassium dichromate solution transferred
V2: Constant volume (100 mL) of potassium dichromate solution
V3: Volume (mL) of 0.2 mol/L ammonium iron (II) sulfate solution needed for
titration
C: Set concentration (0.2 mol/L) of 0.2 mol/L ammonium iron (II) sulfate
solution

d) Potassium dichromate-sulfuric acid solution (1): Weigh 40 g of potassium dichromate

specified in JIS K 8517 to a 3000-mL beaker. Add 1000 mL of water to dissolve, and
further add gradually 1000 mL of sulfuric acid while cooling and mixing.
e) N-Phenylanthranilic acid solution: Dissolve 0.2 g of N-phenylanthranilic acid of no
less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity and 0.2 g of sodium carbonate specified in JIS
K 8625 in a small amount of water, and add water to make 100 mL.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

300
 (2) This corresponds to the standard potassium dichromate solution (0.2 M (1/6
K2Cr2O7) solution) in 7.1 B 1) in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(1992).

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as follows:

a) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.
b) Sample digestion flask (3): A 100-mL borosilicate glass volumetric flask 100 mL (180
mm total height, 13 mm mouth diameter)

Note (3) Distinguish the volumetric flask used in digestion as a sample digestion flask
and do not use it for any other purposes.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Dichromate oxidation: Conduct oxidation as follows:
a) Weigh 0.05 g of an analytical sample to the order of 0.1 mg (4), and transfer to a sample
digestion flask.
b) Add 25 mL of potassium dichromate-sulfuric acid solution.
c) Heat on a hot plate at 200 ºC until organic matters are completely digested.
d) After standing to cool, fill up with water to 100 mL to make the sample solution.
e) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) and d) using another sample digestion
flask to prepare the blank test solution.

Note (4) Up to about 28 mg as organic carbon (O-C).

(5) Heat for no less than 1 hour after boiling

Comment 1 Sample an analytical sample from a test sample prepared in 2.3.3 Grinding
(3) Procedure (3.1) by grinding with a mill until it completely passes through
a sieve of 500 µm aperture or from a test sample prepared in 2.3.3 Grinding
Comment 1.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer 20 mL of the sample solution to a 100-mL Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add a 0.2 mol/L ammonium iron (II) sulfate solution drop-by-drop until the brown
color of dichromate ion almost disappears from the sample solution.
c) Add about a 0.25 mL of N-phenylanthranilic acid solution(6), and titrate with a 0.2
mol/L ammonium iron (II) sulfate solution until the color of the solution changes from
dark red-purple to blue-green.
d) Transfer 20 mL of the blank test solution to a 100-mL Erlenmeyer flask, and conduct the
procedures in b) - c) to titrate.
e) Calculate the organic carbon (O-C) in the analytical sample by the following formula:

Organic carbon (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

= (V4 - V5) × C × f × (12.011/4)/W2 × (100/1000) × (V6/V7)
= (V4 - V5) × f × (12.011/40)/ W2

V4: Volume (mL) of 0.2 mol/L ammonium iron (II) sulfate solution needed for
the titration of the blank test solution
V5: Volume (mL) of 0.2 mol/L ammonium iron (II) sulfate solution needed for
the titration of the sample solution
C: Set concentration (0.2 mol/L) of 0.2 mol/L ammonium iron (II) sulfate
solution
301
 f: Factor of 0.2 mol/L ammonium iron (II) sulfate solution
V6: Predetermined volume (100 mL) of the sample solution and the blank test
solution in (4.1) d)
V7: Transferred volume (20 mL) of the sample solution and the blank test
solution subjected to titration in (4.2) a) and (4.2) d)
W2: Mass (g) of an analytical sample

Note (6) About 5 drops with a 1-mL - 2-mL Komagome pipette. Add the same volume to
the sample solution and the blank test solution.

Comment 2 The results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference

material fertilizer were analyzed using the three level nesting analysis of
variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate
precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
1.5 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
2) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)
certified reference laboratory Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T) sR RSD R
1) 3) 3) 3) 3)
material fertilizer p (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
FAMIC-C-12 12 20.2 0.3 1.5 0.5 2.3 0.6 3.1
1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
conducting Dichromate oxidation
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Mass fraction 8）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability standard deviation 9）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Reference
1) Yuji SHIRAI, Yuko SEKINE, and Toshiaki HIROI: Validation of Determination Method
for Organic Form Carbon in Sludge Fertilizer and Compost, Research Report of
Fertilizer, Vol.3, p. 117 - 122 (2010)

302
(5) Flow sheet for organic carbon: The flow sheet for organic carbon in sludge fertilizers
and compost, etc. is shown below:

0.05 g Weigh to the order of 0.1 mg into a sample digestion flask.

analytical sample (Up to about 28 mg as organic carbon.)
← 25 mL potassium dichromate-sulfuric acid solution
Heating Boil for about 1 hour, 200 ºC

Standing to cool Room temperature

← Water (fill up to100 mL)
20 mL aliquot 100-mL Erlenmeyer flask

Adding 0.2 mol/L Ammonium iron (II) sulfate solution

drop by drop (until the brown color of dichromate ion
almost disappears from the solution)
← About 0.25 mL N-phenylanthranilic acid solution

0.2 mol/L ammonium iron (II) sulfate solution

Titration
(until the solution becomes blue-green)

Figure Flow sheet for organic carbon in sludge fertilizers and compost, etc.

303
4.11.1.b Combustion method
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to compost and sludge fertilizers.
Drop hydrochloric acid (1+3) to an analytical sample and evaporate inorganic carbon as
carbon dioxide, then thermally decompose carbon compounds using a total nitrogen-total
carbon analyzer by the combustion method to measure carbon dioxide gas with a thermal
conductivity detector and obtain organic carbon (O-C) in an analytical sample. In addition, the
performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 4.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Sea sand: Particle diameter 425 µm – 850 µm
b) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.

Comment 1 Sea sand (particle diameter 425 µm – 850 µm) is commercially sold by Wako
Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. and YONEYAMA YAKUHIN KOGYO Co.,
Ltd.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Total nitrogen-total carbon analyzer by the combustion method: A total
nitrogen-total carbon analyzer configured on the basis of the principle of the combustion
method (modified Dumas’ method).
1) Turn on the total nitrogen-total carbon analyzer by the combustion method (1), and
adjust so that stable indicated values can be obtained.
(i) Combustion gas: Oxygen having purity no less than 99.99 % (volume percentage)
(ii) Carrier gas: Helium having purity no less than 99.99 % (volume percentage)
b) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.
c) Drying apparatus: A drying apparatus that can adjust test temperature to 105 ºC ± 2
ºC.

Note (1) The setup of the program and the parameters of the analyzer are according to the
specification and the operation method of the total nitrogen-total carbon analyzer
by the combustion method used.

(4) Test procedures: Conduct measurement as shown below. However, confirm that there
is no difference from the measured value of organic carbon obtained in advance
according to 4.11.1.a by using an analytical sample.

(4.1) Hydrochloric acid treatment

a) Weigh 0.05 g of an analytical sample to the order of 0.1 mg, and transfer to a container
for combustion.
b) Cover the analytical sample with about 0.2 g of sea sand and moisten the analytical
sample by dropping a few drops of water.
c) After dropping 0.5 mL - 0.7 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+3) little by little (2), drop about
0.3 mL of water (3) (4).
d) Heat a container for combustion on a hot plate at 100 ºC for 90 minutes to make it dry
up.
e) Put the container for combustion into a drying apparatus and heat for 30 minutes (5).
f) After heating, let it stand to cool to make a test sample.

304
 Note (2) The additive amount of hydrochloric acid (1+3) is merely a target. It is enough
to make the whole analytical sample come into contact with hydrochloric acid.
Let it stand for a short time in the case of producing bubbles.
(3) In some cases, it is not necessary to add water due to the capacity of a container.
(4) Shake calmly the container for combustion to make the analytical sample
completely come into contact with hydrochloric acid.
(5) Remove hydrochloric acid completely

Comment 2 Sample an analytical sample from a test sample prepared in 2.3.3 Grinding
(3) Procedure (3.1) by grinding with a mill until it completely passes through
a sieve of 500 µm aperture or from a test sample prepared in 2.3.3 Grinding
Comment 1.
Comment 3 When it is confirmed that, for example, the volatilization of hydrogen
chloride is not detected by using a test paper, etc. and hydrochloric is
completely removed in the procedure d), the procedure e) can be skipped.

(4.2) Measurement: Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method
of a total nitrogen-total carbon analyzer by the combustion method.
a) Measurement conditions for the total nitrogen-total carbon analyzer by the
combustion method: Set up the total nitrogen-total carbon analyzer considering the
following:
Combustion temperature: No less than 870 ºC
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Turn on the total nitrogen-total carbon analyzer by the combustion method (1), and
adjust so that stable indicated values can be obtained.
2) Weigh a predetermined amount of the standard for calibration curves (6) to the order
of 0.1 mg into a combustion vessel.
3) Insert the combustion vessel into the total nitrogen-total carbon analyzer by the
combustion method, and read the indicated value.
4) Conduct the procedure in 3) for another combustion vessel for a blank test, and read
the indicated value.
5) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the carbon content and the indicated
value of the standard for calibration curves and the blank test for calibration curves.
c) Sample measurement
1) Insert the combustion vessel containing the test sample to the total nitrogen-total
carbon analyzer by the combustion method, and read the indicated value.
2) Obtain the carbon content from the calibration curve, and calculate organic carbon in
the analytical sample.

Note (6) Standard for calibration curves: DL-Aspartic acid (purity no less than 99 %
(mass fraction)), EDTA (purity no less than 99 % (mass fraction)), hippuric acid
(purity no less than 98 % (mass fraction)) or other reagents having equivalent
purity recommended by the total nitrogen-total carbon analyzer by the
combustion method used.

Comment 4 The comparison of the measurement value（yi：0.21 % - 145.40 %）of

Combustion method and the measurement value (yi) of Dichromate oxidation
was conducted to evaluate trueness using sludge fertilizers and compost (total
25 samples). As a result, a regression equation was y = 0.004+1.0029x and its
correlation coefficient (r) were 0.999.

305
 Table 1 shows results and analysis results from a collaborative study for test
method validation.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.05 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Results and statistical analysis results from a collaborative study

for the organic carbon method
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
Number of Mean sr RSD r sR RSD R
Sample name 1) 3) 3) 3)
laboratories (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Human waste
8 34.96 0.07 0.2 0.62 1.8
sludge fertilizer
Industrial sludge
8 15.13 0.20 1.3 0.42 2.8
fertilizer
Calcined sludge
9 9.45 0.17 1.8 0.38 4.0
fertilizer
Composted
9 38.20 0.27 0.7 0.73 1.9
sludge fertilizer
Compost 9 20.50 0.76 3.7 0.94 4.6
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n = number of laboratories × number of samples (2))
3) Mass fraction
4) Repeatability standard deviation
5) Repeatability relative standard deviation
6) Reproducibility standard deviation
7) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

Reference
1) Aiko YANO, Satono AKIMOTO, and Yuji SHIRAI: Determination of Organic Carbon
in Sludge Fertilizer and Compost by Hydrochloric Acid-Treated Combustion Method,
Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.9, p. 9 - 19 (2013)
2) Aiko YANO and Yuji SHIRAI: Determination of Organic Carbon in Sludge Fertilizer
and Compost by Hydrochloric Acid-Treated Combustion Method: A Collaborative
Study, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol. 7, p. 22 – 27 (2014)

(5) Flow sheet for organic carbon: The flow sheet for organic carbon in compost and
sludge fertilizers is shown below:

0.05 g Weigh to the order of 0.1 mg into a combustion vessel.

analytical sample
← Cover the analytical sample with 0.2 g of sea sand
and drop a few drops of water.
← Drop 0.5mL - 0.7mL of hydrochloric acid (1+3) little by little
← Drop 0.3mL of water
Heating Heat to make it dry for 90 minutes, at 100 ºC

Drying Heat to make it dry for 30 minutes, at 105 ºC

Measurement Total nitrogen-total carbon analyzer by the combustion method

Figure Flow sheet for organic carbon by the combustion method

306
 Reference: Chromatograms of a standard calibration curve and an analytical sample are
shown below

1) Total carbon in a standard calibration curve (DL-Aspartic acid)

2) Total carbon in an analytical sample (sludge fertilizer)

Reference figures Chromatograms of organic carbon.

Measurement conditions for total nitrogen-total carbon analyzer by the combustion method
Combustion gas: Highly pure oxygen, purity no less than 99.99995 % (volume fraction),
flow rate 200 mL/min
Carrier gas: Highly pure helium, purity no less than 99.9999 % (volume fraction), flow rate
80 mL/min
Separation column: A silica gel stainless column (Length: 1 m)
Detector: Thermal Conductivity Detector (TCD)
Measurement cycle: Purge time = 60 seconds, circulation combustion time = 300 seconds,
measurement time = 270 seconds
Current value of Detector: 160 mA
Temperature conditions: Reaction furnace temperature: 870 ºC
Reduction furnace temperature: 600 ºC
Column oven temperature: 70 ºC
Detector temperature: 100 ºC

307
4.11.2 Carbon-nitrogen ratio
(1) Summary
Calculate carbon-nitrogen ratio (CN ratio) by dividing the organic carbon obtained in 4.11.1
by the total nitrogen obtained in 4.1.1.

(2) Calculation of carbon-nitrogen ratio

a) Calculate the carbon-nitrogen ratio in an analytical sample by the following formula:

Carbon-nitrogen ratio in an analytical sample

= O-C/T-N

O-C: Organic carbon (% (mass fraction)) (1) in the analytical sample obtained in
4.11.1
T-N: Total nitrogen (% (mass fraction)) (1) in the analytical sample obtained in
4.1.1

Note (1) O-C and T-N use raw data without rounding numerical value

308
4.12 Sulfur
4.12.1 Total sulfur content
4.12.1.a Potassium permanganate analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers mainly containing ferrous sulfate (iron (II) sulfate)
(FeSO4)) among sulfur and its compound.
Dissolve an analytical sample in water and diluted sulfuric acid, add phosphoric acid and then
titrate ferrous sulfate (iron (II) sulfate) (FeSO4)) by oxidation-reduction with a potassium
permanganate solution to obtain the total sulfate (T-SO3). In addition, the performance of this
testing method is shown in Comment 1.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below.

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Sulfuric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
c) Phosphoric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 90051 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
d) 0.02 mol/L potassium permanganate solution: Dissolve 3.16 g of potassium
permanganate specified in JIS K 8247 in about 800 mL of water to boil and add water to
make 1000 mL and leave at rest 1 - 2 day (s). Further filter with a funnel type glass filter
(G4) and store in a colored bottle. Or, a reagent of equivalent quality (volumetric
analysis grade) that is commercially available.
Standardization: Dry sodium oxalate of reference materials for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 at 200 ºC for 1 hour and let it stand to cool in a desiccator, and
then put about 0.3 g into a weighing dish to measure the mass to the order of 0.1 mg.
Add about 250 mL of sulfuric acid (1+20) cooled down to 25 ºC - 30 ºC after boiling
and dissolve. Add about 40 mL of 0.02 mol/L potassium permanganate solution while
gently shaking for about 1 minute. Heat up to 55 ºC - 60 ºC after the red color of a
potassium permanganate solution disappears. Titrate with a 0.02 mol/L potassium
permanganate solution while keeping the temperature and continue titrating until the
color of the solution becomes light red (1). Calculate the factor of a 0.02 potassium
permanganate solution by the following formula.

Factor (f) of 0.02 mol/L potassium permanganate solution

= (W1 × (A/100) × ((2/5)/133.999) × ((1000/V1)/C)
= W1 × (A/V1) × 1.4925

W1: Mass (g) of sodium oxalate sampled

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of sodium oxalate sampled
V1: Volume (mL) of 0.02 mol/L potassium permanganate needed for titration
C: 0.02 mol/L potassium permanganate solution

Note (1) The endpoint is reached when the color of solution keeps as it is for 30 seconds
after coloring

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Magnetic stirrer:

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.
309
 a) Weigh 0.5 g - 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 0.1 mg, and transfer to a
200-mL tall beaker.
b) Add about 50 mL of water and about 15 mL of sulfuric acid (1+5) and shake with a
magnetic stirrer to dissolve.
c) Immediately add about 1 mL of phosphate, and then titrate with a 0.02 mol/L potassium
permanganate solution until the color of the solution becomes light red.
d) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - c) using another sample digestion flask to
titrate (2).
e) Calculate the total sulfur content in an analytical sample by the following formula.

Total sulfur content (% (mass fraction)) = (5 × 0.02 × f × (V2-V3)/1000 × 80.064)/W2

× 100
= (f × (V2-V3))/ W2 × 0.80064

W2: Mass (g) of an analytical sample sampled

V2: Volume (mL) of 0.02 mol/L potassium permanganate solution needed for
titration
V3: Volume (mL) of 0.02 mol/L potassium permanganate solution needed for
titration of a blank test
f: Factor of 0.02 mol/L potassium permanganate solution

Note (2) Titrate using a brown burette.

Comment 1 Recovery testing was conducted using a regent (ferrous sulfate heptahydrate);
as a result, the average rate of recovery was 29.1 % (mass fraction) as total
sulfate content (T-SO3). The recovery rate to a theoretical value was 101.0 %.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.04 % (mass fraction).

References
1) Yasushi SUGIMURA and Shinjiro IZUKA: Method validation of Redox Titration for
Determination of Sulfur content (as sulfur trioxide) in Fertilizers of Ferrous sulfate and
its mixture materials, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.3, 2010. (25 - 29)
2) JIS K 8978: Iron (II) sulfate heptahydrate (Reagent) (2008)

(5) Flow sheet for total sulfur content: The flow sheet for total sulfur content in sludge
fertilizers mainly containing ferrous sulfate is shown below.

0.5 g - 1g
Weigh to the order of 0.1 mg into a 200-mL tall beaker
analytical sample
←　About 50 mL of water
←　About 15 mL of sulfuric acid (1+5)
Dissolution Shake to mix
←　About 1 mL of phosphate
0.02 mol/L potassium permanganate solution
Titration
(until the solution becomes light red)

Figure Flow sheet for total sulfur content (raw material: ferrous sulfate)

310
4.12.1.b Barium chloride gravimetric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers mainly containing sulfur or sulfuric acid among
sulfur and its compound.
Dissolve an analytical sample in a potassium hydroxide-ethanol solution and add hydrogen
peroxide to oxidize, and measure the mass of barium sulfate (BaSO4) formed by reaction with
barium chloride to obtain the total sulfate content (T-SO3). In addition, the performance of this
testing method is shown in Comment 1.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below.

a) Potassium hydroxide/ethanol solution: Dissolve 10 g of potassium hydroxide
specified in JIS K 8574 in 50 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102, further add 50
mL of water.
b) Hydrogen peroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (30 % (mass fraction)) specified in JIS
K 8230 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
d) Nitric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (HNO3 60 % (mass fraction)) specified in JIS K
8541 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
e) Barium chloride solution (100 g/L): Dissolve 100 g of barium chloride dihydrate
specified in JIS K 8155 in water to make 1000 mL.
f) Silver nitrate solution (2 g/100mL): Dissolve 2 g of silver nitrate specified in JIS K
8550 in water to make 100 mL.
g) Phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 1 g of phenolphthalein specified in
JIS K 8799 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as follows:

a)Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.
b)Water bath: A water bath that can adjust test temperature to 80 ºC - 90 ºC.
c)Crucible: After heating porcelain crucible or platinum crucible in an electric furnace at
800 ºC in advance, let it stand to cool in a desiccator and measure the mass to the order
of 1 mg.
d) Drying apparatus: A drying apparatus whose temperature can be adjusted to 110 ºC -
120 ºC.
e) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be kept at 800 ºC ± 5 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows (1):
a) Weigh 1 g - 5 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 200-mL tall
beaker.
b) Add about 50 mL of potassium hydroxide/ethanol solution, cover with a watch glass
and heat on a hot plate to boil (2).
c) After standing to cool, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the
marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper (3) to make the sample solution.

Note (1) Omit extraction if fluid fertilizers are made from only sulfuric acid and all
materials are dissolved
(2) Until sulfur content is dissolved. About 5 minutes when raw materials, etc. are
not dissolved.
(3) Omit the procedures in d) when all materials are dissolved.
311
(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.
a) Transfer a predetermined amount (the equivalents of about 30 mg - 170 mg as SO3) of
the sample solution to a 300-mL tall beaker. (4)
b) Add about 50 mL of water and about 5 mL of hydrogen peroxide and heat in a water
bath at 80 ºC - 90 ºC for about 1 hour while sometimes shaking (5).
c) After standing cool, add 1 - 2 drop(s) of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL) (6), and
add hydrochloric acid (2+1) until the color of the solution disappears (7).
d) Further add hydrochloric acid (2+1), add water to make about 100 mL and boil on a
hotplate for about 5 minutes.
e) Immediately add about 6 mL of thermal barium chloride solution (8) while sometimes
shaking in a water bath at 80 ºC - 90 ºC (9).
f) After standing to cool for a few minutes (10), add a few drops of thermal barium chloride
solution and check that new precipitate of barium sulfate is no longer formed.
g) Further add about 2 mL of thermal barium chloride solution (100 g/L) while shaking (11).
h) After heating in a water bath at 80 ºC - 90 ºC for about 2 hours, stop the heat source of
water bath and let it stand to cool for no less than 4 hours(5).
i) Filter with filter paper (Type 5 - C), wash a container with water and move the whole
precipitate to a filter paper.
j) Wash the precipitate and the filter paper (Type 5 - C) with water several times (12).
k) Put the precipitate together with the filter paper into a crucible.
l) Put the crucible into a drying apparatus and dry at about 110 ºC - 120 ºC for 1 hour.
m) After standing to cool, put the crucible into an electric furnace and heat gently to be
carbonized.
n) Ignite at about 800 ºC ± 5 ºC for 2 hours.
o) After ignition (13), move the crucible to a desiccator and let it stand to cool (14).
p) Measure the mass of crucible to the order of 0.1 mg.
q) Calculate the total sulfur content (T-SO3) in an analytical sample by the following
formula.

Total sulfur content (% (mass fraction)) = (A × 0.343)/(W×V2/V1) × 100

= 34.3 × A × V1/(W ×V2)

A: Mass (g) of precipitate in p)

W: Mass (g) of an analytical sample
V1: Constant volume (mL) of sample solution
V2: Volume (mL) of sample solution transferred

Note (4) Weigh 1g - 5g of an analytical sample to the order of 0.1 mg if the fluid
fertilizers of the analytical sample are made from only sulfuric acid and all
materials are dissolved.
(5) It can be suspended after the procedures end.
(6) A pH meter can be used for neutralization.
(7) Omit the procedures in c) if fluid fertilizers are made from only sulfuric acid and
all materials are dissolved.
(8) Heated up to 70 ºC - 80 ºC in a water bath in advance.
(9) Add drop-by-drop.
(10) Until precipitate settles.
(11) Add a barium chloride solution slightly excessively to reduce the solubility of
barium sulfate.

312
 (12) Wash the precipitate until a white turbidity is no longer formed when about 5 mL
of nitric acid (1+2) and about 1 mL of silver nitrate solution (2 g/100 mL) are
added to about 20 mL of washing.
(13) To prevent a crucible from chipping, it is recommended to let it stand to cool
gently in an electric furnace until the temperature of an electric furnace falls to
no more than 200 ºC.
(14) Time to let it stand to cool in a desiccator should be constant. In the case of a
porcelain crucible, it is about 45 - 60 minutes.

Comment 1 Testing was conducted using sulfur simple substance fertilizers containing no
materials (2 samples); as a result, the quantitative value of the total sulfur
content (T-SO3) was 99.9 % - 100.1 % to a theoretical value.
Table 1 shows results and analysis results from a collaborative study for test
method validation.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.4 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study

for total sulfur content with the barium chroride gravimetric analysis (analized as surfur (S))
2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7)
Number of Mean Mean sr RSD r sR RSD R
Sample name 1) 8) 8) 8) 8)
laboratories (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Surfur material a 8 8.32 3.33 0.02 0.7 0.05 1.4
Surfur material b 10 12.71 5.09 0.03 0.6 0.14 2.8
Surfur material c 9 247.6 99.17 0.24 0.2 1.39 1.4
Surfur material d 8 245.6 98.37 0.18 0.2 0.30 0.3
Surfur material e 8 1.41 0.564 0.002 0.4 0.003 0.6
Surfur material f 9 2.89 1.157 0.001 0.1 0.010 0.9
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Total mean as surfur trioxid (SO3 ) (number of laboratories × number of repetition (2))
3) Total mean as surfur (S) obtained by dividing the total mean in 2) by 2.4969
4) Repeatability standard deviation
5) Repeatability relative standard deviation
6) Reproducibility standard deviation
7) Reproducibility relative standard deviation
8) Mass fraction

References
1) JIS K 8088: Sulfur (Regent) (2010)
2) JIS M 8217: Iron ores - Methods for determination of sulfur content (1994)
3) Edited by KANTO CHEMICAL CO., INC.: Technique on Chemical Analysis of Regent
- Practical Basic Technique and Knowledge, p. 112 - 120 (2009)
4) Yasushi SUGIMURA: Validation of Gravimetric Analysis for Determination of Sulfur
Content (as Sulfur Trioxide) in Sulfur and its Compounds as Fertilizers, Research
Report of Fertilizer, Vol.4, P. 9 - 15 (2011)
5) Shin ABE, Chika SUZUKI and Yuji SHIRAI: Testing Method of the Total Amount of
Sulfur Content (as Sulfur Trioxide): A Collaborative Study, Research Report of
Fertilizer, Vol. 7, p. 28 – 35 (2014)

313
(5) Flow sheet for total sulfur content: The flow sheet for total sulfur content in fertilizers
mainly containing sulfur and sulfuric acid is shown below.

1 g -5 g
Weigh to the order of 0.1 mg into a 200-mL tall beaker
analytical sample
←　About 50 mL of potassium hydroxide/ethanol solution
Heating Cover with a watch glass and boil

Standing to cool

Transfer 250-mL volumetric flask, water

←　Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Sample solution 300-mL tall beaker

Figure Flow sheet (1) for total sulfur content in fertilizers

(Preaparation of sample solution)

314
 Sample solution

Aliquot 300-mL tall beaker

(predetermined volume)
←　About 50 mL of water
←　About 5 mL of hydrogen peroxide
Heating 80 ºC - 90 ºC, 1 hour

Standing to cool
←　1 - 2 drop(s) of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL)
Neutralization Hydrochloric acid (2+1) (until the solution becomes transparent)
←　About 1mL of hydrochloric acid (2+1)
←　Water (the liquid volume to reach about 100 mL)
Heating Boil, for 5 minutes
←　About 6 mL of thermal barium chloride solution, while shaking
Standing to cool For several minutes
←　A few drops of thermal barium chloride solution
(Check that new precipitate is no longer formed)
←　About 2 mL of thermal barium chloride solution, while shaking
Heating 80 ºC - 90 ºC, 2 hour

Standing to cool For no less than 4 hours, in a water bath whose heat source is stopped

Filtration Type 5-C filter paper

Transfer Type 5-C filter paper, water

←　Wash with water (until reaction of chloric matters disappears in filtrate)
Put Crucible

Drying Drying apparatus, about 100 ºC - 120 ºC, 1 hour

Standing to cool

Charring Heat gently in an electric furnace

Incineration 800 ºC ± 5ºC, 2 hours

Standing to cool Desiccator

Measurement Measure the mass to the order of 0.1 mg

Figure Flow sheet (2) for total sulfur content in fertilizers

(Measurement procedure)

315
4.12.1.c Transmitted light analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers mainly containing sulfur or sulfuric acid among
sulfur and its compound.
Dissolve an analytical sample in a potassium hydroxide-ethanol solution and add hydrogen
peroxide to oxidize, and then measure the intensity of transmitted light of suspension of
barium sulfate (BaSO4) formed by the reaction with barium chloride as the absorbance to
obtain total sulfur content (T-SO3) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of
this testing method is shown in Comment 2.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents are as shown below.

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Potassium hydroxide/ethanol solution: Dissolve 10 g of potassium hydroxide
specified in JIS K 8574 in 50 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102, further add 50
mL of water.
c) Hydrogen peroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (H2O2 30 % (mass fraction)) specified
in JIS K 8230 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
d) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
e) Glycerin – ethanol solution (1+1): Add 250 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K
8102 to 250 mL of glycerin specified in JIS K 8295.
f) Sodium chloride solution: Dilute 240 g of sodium chloride specified on JIS K 8150 in
water containing 20 mL of hydrochloric acid specified in JIS K 8180, further add water
to make 1000 mL.
g) Barium chloride: Sieve barium chloride dihydrate specified in JIS K 8155 to make
barium chloride whose particle size is between 710 μm and 500 μm.
h) Sulfate standard solution (SO3 2 mg/mL): Heat potassium sulfate specified in JIS K
8962 until it becomes constant weight value at 800 ºC in advance, stand to cool it in a
desiccator, and then transfer 4.3531 g to a weighing dosh. Disolve with a small amount
of water, move it into a 1000-mL of volumetric flask and add water up to the marked
line.
i) Sulfate standard solution (SO3 0.02 mg/mL – 0.1 mg/mL): Transfer 2mL – 10 mL of
sulfate standard solution (SO3 2 mg/mL) to 200-mL volumetric flasks step by step and
add water up to the marked line.
j) Phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 1 g of phenolphthalein specified in
JIS K 8799 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as follows:

a) Hot plate: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to 250 ºC.
b) Water bath: A water bath that can adjust test temperature to 80 ºC - 90 ºC.
c) Magnetic stirrer:
d) Spectrophotometer: A spectrophotometer specified in JIS K 0115

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows (1):
a) Weigh 1 g - 2 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 200-mL tall
beaker.
b) Add about 50 mL of potassium hydroxide/ethanol solution, cover with a watch glass
and heat on a hot plate to boil (2).
c) After standing to cool, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the
marked line.
316
 d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper (3) to make the extract.

Note (1) Omit extraction if fluid fertilizers are made from only sulfuric acid and all
materials are dissolved
(2) Until sulfur content is dissolved. About 5 minutes when raw materials, etc. are
not dissolved.
(3) Omit the procedures in d) when all materials are dissolved.

(4.2) Oxidation: Conduct oxidation as shown below.

a) Transfer a predetermined amount (the equivalents of about 5 mg - 200 mg as SO3) of
the extract to a 300-mL tall beaker. (4)
b) Add about 50 mL of water and about 5 mL of hydrogen peroxide and heat in a water
bath at 80 ºC - 90 ºC for about 1 hour while sometimes shaking (5).
c) After standing to cool, add 1 - 2 drop(s) of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL) (6),
and add hydrochloric acid (2+1) until the color of the solution disappears (7).
d) After standing to cool, transfer to a 200-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the
marked line.
e) Filter with 0.3μm glass filter paper.

Note (4) Weigh 1g - 5g of an analytical sample to the order of 0.1 mg if the fluid
fertilizers of the analytical sample are made from only sulfuric acid and all
materials are dissolved.
(5) It can be suspended after the procedures end.
(6) A pH meter can be used for neutralization.
(7) Omit the procedures in c) if fluid fertilizers are made from only sulfuric acid and
all materials are dissolved.

(4.3) Precipitate formation: Form precipitate as shown below.

a) Transfer 50 mL of filtrate to a 100-mL Erlenmeyer flask with screw cap.
b) Add about 10 mL of glycerin – ethanol solution (1+1) and about 5 mL of sodium
chloride solution in the Erlenmeyer flask with screw cap.
c) Warm up on a water bath at 30ºC± 2 ºC.
d) After warming, add 0.30 g of barium chloride and stir with a magnetic stirrer for about
2 minutes.
e) Warm up on a water bath at 30ºC± 2 ºC for about 4 minutes.
f) After warming, stir with a magnetic stirrer for about 3 minutes to make the sample
solution.
g) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in a) - e) and f) using another 100-mL
Erlenmeyer flask with screw cap to prepare the blank test solution.

(4.4) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0115 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the
spectrophotometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the spectrophotometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the spectrophotometer considering the following:
Detection wavelength: 450 nm
b) Preparation of calibration curve
1) Transfer 50 mL of sulfate standard solution (SO3 0.02 mg/mL – 0.1 mg/mL) to a
100-mL Erlenmeyer flasks with screw cap and conduct the procedure (4.3) b) - f)
to make the SO3 1 mg/65 mL - 5 mg/65 mL sulfate standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation.
317
 2) Transfer 50 mL of water to another 100-mL Erlenmeyer flask with screw cap and
conduct the same procedures as 1) to make the blank test solution for the calibration
curve preparation.
3) Measure absorbance at wavelength 450 nm of the sulfate standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation using the blank test solution for the calibration curve
preparation as the control(8)(9).
4) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the sulfate concentration and the
absorbance of the sulfate standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) For the sample solution, conduct procedures similarly as in b) 3) to measure
absorbance.
2) For the blank test solution, conduct procedures similarly as in 1) to measure
absorbance, and correct the absorbance obtained for the sample solution.
3) Obtain the sulfate (SO3) content from the calibration curve, and calculate the total
sulfur content (T-SO3) in the analytical sample.

Note (8) Measure right after stirring because barium sulfate easily precipitates.
(9) A spectrophotometer with automatic sample introducing device is preferable.

Comment 1 The range of calibration curve with linearity is SO3 1 mg/65 mL - 5 mg/65
mL and the curve does not pass through the origin.
Comment 2 Testing was conducted using sulfur simple substance fertilizers containing no
materials (two samples); as a result, the quantitative value of the total sulfur
content T-SO3) was 98.4 % - 99.4 % to a theoretical value.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
1 % (mass fraction).
.
References
1) JIS M 8001: General rule for test methods of reagents (2009)
2) JIS K 8088: Sulfur (Regent) (2010)
3) JAPAN Sewage Works Association: Sewage Sludge Analysis -2007-, p. 132 – 134
Tokyo (1964)
4) Edited by KANTO CHEMICAL CO., INC.: Technique on Chemical Analysis of Regent
- Practical Basic Technique and Knowledge, p. 131 - 135 (2009)
5) Yasushi SUGIMURA: Method Validation of Turbidimetry for Determination of Sulfur
Content (as Sulfur Trioxide) in Fertilizers of Sulfur, Sulfuric acid and Its Mixture ,
Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.6, p. 20 - 26 (2013)

318
(5) Flow sheet for total sulfur content: The flow sheet for total sulfur content in fertilizers
mainly containing sulfur and sulfuric acid is shown below:

1g-2g Weigh to the order of 0.1 mg into a 200-mL tall beaker

analytical sample
←　About 50 mL of potassium hydroxide/ethanol solution
Heating Cover with a watch glass and boil

Standing to cool

Transfer 250-mL volumetric flask, water

←　Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 300-mL tall beaker

(predetermined volume)
←　About 50 mL of water
←　About 5 mL of hydrogen peroxide
Heating 80 ºC - 90 ºC, 1 hour

Standing to cool
←　1 - 2 drop(s) of phenolphthalein solution (1 g/100 mL)
Neutralization Hydrochloric acid (2+1) (until the color of solution becomes transparent)

Transfer 200-mL volumetric flask, water

Filtration 0.3μm glass filter paper

Aliquot Erlenmeyer flask Aliquot Erlenmeyer flask

(50 mL) with screw cap (50 mL) with screw cap

←　About 10 mL of glycerin – ethanol solution (1+1) →

←　About 5 mL of sodium chloride solution →

Warming 30 ºC Warming 30 ºC
←　Barium chloride 0.30 g
Stirring 2 minutes

Warming 30 ºC, 4 minutes

Stirring 3 minutes Stirring 3 minutes

Sample solution Blank test solution

Measurement Measurement
Spectrophotometer(450 nm) Spectrophotometer(450 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for total sulfur content in fertilizers

319
4.13 Iron
4.13.1 Water-soluble iron
4.13.1.a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers that indicate iron content as a response modifier.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, spray in an acetylene-air flame and measure
the atomic absorption with iron at a wavelength of 248.3 nm to obtain water-soluble iron
(W-Fe) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown
in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Iron standard solution (Fe 0.1 mg/mL): An iron standard solution (Fe 0.1 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology.
d) Iron standard solutions (Fe 0.5 µg/ mL - 5 µg/ mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of iron standard solution (Fe 0.1 mg/mL) to
500-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the
marked line.
e) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedure in d).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the iron standard solution in (2), an iron standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using an iron standard
solution (Fe 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate upside down a 500-mL volumetric flask
at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121 with the background correction (2) function.
1) Light source: An iron hollow cathode lamp (In case of background correction
system using continuous spectrum source, the light source is a deuterium lamp.)
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.

Note (2) There are the continuous spectrum method, the Zeeman method, the
non-resonance spectrum method, and the self-reversal method, etc.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Powdery test sample
a) Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample, and transfer to a 500-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add about 400 mL of water, and shake to mix at 30 - 40 revolutions/min for about 30
minutes.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
320
 d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 2 In the procedure in (4.1.1) a), it is also allowed to weigh 2.50 g of the
analytical sample to the order of 1 mg and transfer to a 250-mL volumetric
flask.
Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.1) in 4.2.4.a

(4.1.2) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and transfer to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, and shake to mix.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 4 The procedure in (4.1.2) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) in 4.2.4.a

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 248.3 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the iron standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the blank
test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 248.3 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the iron concentration and the
indicated value of the iron standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation
and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.05 mg
- 0.5 mg as Fe) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1 + 5), and add water up to the marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the iron content from the calibration curve, and calculate the water-soluble
iron (W-Fe) in the analytical sample.

Comment 5 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample (solid). As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of
10 % (mass fraction), 5 % (mass fraction) and 0.05 % (mass fraction) are
101.1 %, 102.8 % and 107.0 % as water-soluble iron (W-Fe) respectively. In
addition, recovery testing was conducted using a preparation sample (fluid).
As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 1 % (mass
fraction), 0.1 % (mass fraction) and 0.01 % (mass fraction) are 103.6 %,
105.7 % and 105.1 % respectively.
Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a fluid mixed
fertilizer and a liquid microelement mixed fertilizer to evaluate the extract
precision of fluid fertilizers were analyzed by the one-way analysis of
321
 variance. Table 2 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision and
repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
40 mg/kg for solid fertilizers and 4 mg/kg for fluid fertilizers.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for water-soluble iron hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
2) 4) 5)
Number of Median (Μ ) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample
laboratories (%)
3)
(%)
3)
(%)
Fluid mixed
2012 71 0.243 0.013 5.5
fertilizer
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100

Table 2 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days

Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Fluid mixed fertilizer 7 0.2440 0.002 0.6 0.003 1.4
Liquid microelement
7 0.0990 0.001 0.5 0.003 2.9
mixed fertilizers
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 252, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Shinei TAKAHASHI, Chika SUZUKI and Noriyuki SASAKI: Verification of
Performance Characteristics of Testing Method for Iron in Fertilizer by Atomic
Absorption Spectrometry, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol. 7, p. 131 – 137 (2014)

322
(5) Flow sheet for water-soluble iron: The flow sheet for water-soluble iron in fertilizers
is shown below:

5.00 g analytical sample

Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 500-mL volumetric flask.
(powdery)
← Water, About 400 mL
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min), for 30 minutes

1.00 g analytical sample

Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 100-mL volumetric flask.
(Fluid)
← Water, About 50 mL
Shaking to mix

← Water (up to the marked line)

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 100-mL volumetric flask

← 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
← Water (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (248.3 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble iron in fertilizers.

323
4.13.1.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fluid mixed fertilizers, liquid microelement mixed fertilizers
and the fluid fertilizers of home garden-use mixed fertilizers.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, introduce it to an ICP Optical Emission
Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and measure the iron at a wavelength of 259.940 nm to obtain
water-soluble iron (W-Fe) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this
testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Iron standard solution (Fe 1 mg/mL): An iron standard solution (Fe 1 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology.
d) Iron standard solution (Fe 0.1 mg/mL) (1): Transfer 10 mL of iron standard solution
(Fe 1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the
marked line.
e) Iron standard solutions (Fe 1 µg - 20 µg/mL) for the calibration curve preparation
(1)
: Transfer 1 mL - 20 mL of iron standard solution (Fe 0.1 mg/mL) to 100-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line.
f) Iron standard solutions (Fe 0.1 µg - 1 µg/mL) for the calibration curve preparation
(1)
: Transfer 1 mL - 10 mL of iron standard solution (Fe 10 µg/mL) to 100-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line.
g) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedure in d), e) and f).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the iron standard solution in (2), an iron standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using an iron standard
solution (Fe 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
Comment 2 There are two modes to observe emission from an ICP-OES, a horizontal
observation mode and an axial observation mode. The range of the
concentration of a standard solution for the calibration preparation curve in e)
and f) applies to a horizontal observation mode. While an axial observation
mode can observe a measurement component of low level concentrations, it
cannot gain the linearity of a calibration curve in the range of high level
concentrations. Therefore, in case of using the ICP-OES of an axial
observation mode, it is recommended to prepare an iron standard solution for
the calibration curve in the concentration range which is suitable to a device
used.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP OES: An Optical Emission Spectrometer specified in JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:

324
 a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample (2) to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 100-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, shake to mix and add water up to the marked line.
c) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (2) The sampling amount of the analytical sample is 10 g when the content in the
sample is less than 0.01 % (mass fraction) as water-soluble iron.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) in 4.2.4.a

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0116 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the ICP
Optical Emission Spectrometry used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 259.940 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the iron standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and blank test
solution for the calibration curve preparation into inductively coupled plasma,
and read the indicated value at a wavelength of 259.940 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the iron concentration and the
indicated value of the iron standard solution for the calibration curve preparation
and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution (the equivalents of 0.01 mg – 2
mg as iron) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5), and add water up to the marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the iron content from the calibration curve, and calculate the water-soluble
iron (W- Fe).

Comment 4 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.

In that case, see 4.2.4.d Comment 4.
Comment 5 The comparison of the measurement value (yi：0.0191 % - 0.517 % (mass
fraction )) of ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value
(xi) of Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was conducted to evaluate
trueness using fluid fertilizers (12 samples). As a result, a regression equation
was y = 0.001+0.968x and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.999.
Additionally, additive recovery testing was conducted using a fluid mixed
fertilizer (1 brand) and a home-garden use mixed fertilizer (1 brand). As a
result, the mean recovery at additive level of 0.01 % and 0. 1 % (mass
fraction) was 96.5 % and 93.9% respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a fluid mixed
fertilizer and a home garden-use mixed fertilizer to evaluate precision were
analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance. Table shows the calculation
results of intermediate precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.0005 % (mass fraction).

325
 Table Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Liquid mixed fertilizer 7 0.145 0.001 0.6 0.002 1.1
Home garder-use
7 0.0485 0.0003 0.5 0.0005 0.9
mixed fertilizer（liquid)
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

326
(5) Flow sheet: The flow sheet for water-soluble iron in fluid fertilizers is shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1mg into a 100-mL volumetric flask
← Water, about 50 mL
Shaking to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration

Aliquot 100-mL volmetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
← Water (up to the marked line)

Measurement ICP-OES (259.940 nm)

Figure The flow sheet for water-soluble iron in fertilizers

327
4.14 Molybdenum
4.14.1 Water-soluble molybdenum
4.14.1.a Sodium thiocyanate absorptiometric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers that indicate molybdenum content as a response
modifier.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, add sulfuric acid (1+1) and perchloric acid,
further add a sodium thiocyanate solution and a tin (II) chloride solution, and measure the
absorbance with thiocyanate complex formed by the reaction of reduced molybdenum (V)
with thiocyanate ion to obtain water-soluble molybdenum (W-Mo) in an analytical sample. In
addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 6.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Sulfuric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Perchloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8223 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
c) Iron (III) sulfate solution (1): Dissolve 5 g of iron (III) sulfate specified in JIS K 8981 in
about 10 mL of sulfuric acid (1+1) and a proper amount of water, and further add water
to make 100 mL.
d) Sodium thiocyanate solution (1): Dissolve 50 g of sodium thiocyanate specified in JIS
K 9002 in water to make 500 mL.
e) Tin (II) chloride solution (1): Dissolve 20 g of tin (II) chloride dihydrate specified in JIS
K 8136 in 80 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+1) while heating, then add water to make 200
mL.
f) Molybdenum standard solution (Mo 1 mg/mL) (1): After leaving at rest molybdenum
(VI) oxide (2) in a desiccator for about 24 hours to dry, put it to a 1,500 g weighing dish.
Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer to a 1000 mL volumetric flask and add
about 5 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576 to dissolve and add water up to
the marked line.
g) Molybdenum standard solution (Mo 0.01 mg/mL): Dilute a predetermined amount of
molybdenum standard solution (Mo 1 mg/mL) precisely by a factor of 100 with water.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) A reagent of no less than 99.5 % (mass fraction) in purity is commercially sold
as molybdenum (VI) oxide.

Comment 1 Instead of the molybdenum standard solution in (2), a molybdenum standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
molybdenum standard solution (Mo 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate upside down a 500-mL volumetric flask
at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Spectrophotometer: A spectrophotometer specified in JIS K 0115.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Powdery test sample
328
 a) Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample and transfer to a 500-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add about 400 mL of water, and shake to mix at 30 - 40 revolutions/min for about 30
minutes.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 2 In the procedure in (4.1.1) a), it is also allowed to weigh 2.50 g of the
analytical sample and put it into a 250-mL volumetric flask.
Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.1) in 4.2.4.a.
Comment 4 When the sample solution in d) contains organic matters that affect the
determination, put a predetermined amount of the sample solution to a
100-mL tall beaker, add a small amount of sulfuric acid and nitric acid to heat
and digest the organic matters until white smoke of sulfuric acid evolves.
After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 100-mL volumetric flask and
add water up to the marked line to filter. The filtrate is used as the sample
solution in (4.2) a).

(4.1.2) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and transfer to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, and shake to mix.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Comment 5 The procedure in (4.1.2) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) in 4.2.4.a

(4.2) Coloring: Conduct coloring as shown below.

a) Put a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.01 mg - 0.3 mg
as Mo) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add about 5 mL of sulfuric acid (1+1), about 5 mL of perchloric acid and about 2 mL of
iron (III) sulfate solution.
c) Add about 16 mL of sodium thiocyanate solution and about 10 mL of tin (II) chloride
solution successively while shaking to mix and further add water up to the marked line
(3)
.

Note (3) When the solution becomes muddy, centrifuge after the procedure in c).
However if it is presumed that copper (I) thiocyanate caused the muddying,
centrifuge after leaving at rest for 1 hour.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the
spectrophotometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the spectrophotometer: Set up the measurement conditions
for the spectrophotometer considering the following:
Detection wavelength: 460 nm
b) Preparation of calibration curve
1) Transfer 1 mL - 30 mL of molybdenum standard solution (Mo 0.01 mg/mL) to
100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step.
2) Conduct the same procedure as (4.2) b) - c) to make the 0.01 mg/100 mL - 0.3
mg/100 mL molybdenum standard solution for the calibration curve preparation.
3) Conduct the same procedures as 2) for another 100-mL volumetric flask to make
the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
329
 4) Measure absorbance at wavelength 460 nm of the molybdenum standard solution
for the calibration curve preparation using the blank test solution for the calibration
curve preparation as the control.
5) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the molybdenum concentration and the
absorbance of the molybdenum standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation.
c) Measurement of a sample
1) Measure the absorbance of the solution in (4.2) c) by conducting the same
procedure as b) 4).
2) Obtain the molybdenum (Mo) content from the calibration curve and calculate the
water-soluble molybdenum (W-Mo) in the analytical sample.

Comment 6 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using a preparation

sample. As a result, the average rate of recovery at the content level of 2.5 %
(mass fraction) and 0.1 % (mass fraction) are 100.2 % and 100.8 % as
water-soluble molybdenum (W-Mo) respectively.
Table 1 shows results from a simultaneous analysis with the same samples
(proficiency testing and external quality control testing) hosted by the Japan
Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee analyzed by the robust method.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a fluid mixed
fertilizer and a liquid microelement mixed fertilizer to evaluate the extract
precision of fluid fertilizers were analyzed by the one-way analysis of
variance. Table 2 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision and
repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
60 mg/kg for solid fertilizers and 6 mg/kg for fluid fertilizers.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from simultaneous analysis with the same samples
1)
for water-soluble molybdenum hosted by the Japan Fertilizer Quality Assurance Committee
Median 4) 5)
Number of 2) NIQR RSD rob
Year Sample (Μ )
laboratories 3) 3)
(%) (%) (%)
Fluid mixed
2012 32 0.212 0.009 4.2
fertilizer
1) Proficiency testing and external quality control testing
2) Median (M ) agrees with the mean in normal distribution.
3) Mass fraction
4) Normalized interquartile range (NIQR ) is robust standard deviation
obtained from the robust method and calculated by the following formula.
In addition, this agrees with standard deviation in normal distribution.
Interquartile range (IQR ) = Upper quartile - Lower quartile
NIQR = IQR × 0.7413
5) RSD rob stands for relative standard deviation obtained from the robust method
by the formula shown below:
RSD rob = (NIQR /M ) × 100

330
 Table 2 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Fluid mixed fertilizer 7 0.242 0.001 0.4 0.002 1.0
Liquid microelement
7 0.0228 0.0001 0.4 0.0002 0.8
mixed fertilizers
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 281 - 283, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
2) Keiji YAGI, Natuki TOYODOME, Tokiya SUZUKI and Hideo SOETA: Verification of
Performance Characteristics of Testing Method for Water-soluble Molybdenum Content
in Fertilizer by Sodium Thiocyante Absorptiometric Analysis, Research Report of
Fertilizer Vol. 7, p. 138 – 144 (2014)

331
(5) Flow sheet for water-soluble molybdenum: The flow sheet for water-soluble
molybdenum in fertilizers is shown below:

5 g analytical sample
Wigh to the order of 1 mg into a 500-mL volumetric flask.
(powdery)
← About 400 mL of water
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min), for 30 minutes

1 g analytical sample
Wigh to the order of 1 mg into a 100-mL volumetric flask.
(fluid)
← About 50 mL of water
Shaking to mix

← Water (up to the marked line)

5.00 g analytical sample 500-mL volumetric flask.
← About 400 mL of water
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min), for 30 minutes
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask
(predetermined amount)
← About 5 mL of sulfuric acid (1+1)
← About 5 mL of perchloric acid
← About 2 mL of iron (III) sulfate solution
←16 mL of sodium thiocyanate solution (while shaking to mix)
←About 10 mL of tin (II) chloride solution (while shaking to mix)
← Water (up to the marked line)
Leaving at rest Until the red color of iron disappears

Measurement Spectrophotometer (460 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for water-soluble molybdenum in fertilizers.

332
4.14.1.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fluid mixed fertilizers, liquid microelement mixed fertilizers
and the fluid fertilizers of home garden-use mixed fertilizers.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, introduce it to an ICP Optical Emission
Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and measure the molybdenum at a wavelength of 202.030 nm to
obtain water-soluble molybdenum (W-Mo) in an analytical sample. In addition, the
performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Molybdenum standard solution (Mo 1 mg/mL): A molybdenum standard solution
(Mo 1 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
d) Molybdenum standard solution (Mo 0.1 mg/mL) (1): Transfer 10 mL of molybdenum
standard solution (Mo 1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add hydrochloric
acid (1+23) up to the marked line.
e) Molybdenum standard solutions (Mo 1 µg - 20 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 1 mL - 20 mL of molybdenum standard solution (Mo 0.1
mg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to
the marked line.
f) Molybdenum standard solutions (Mo 0.1 µg - 1 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 1 mL - 10 mL of molybdenum standard solution (Mo 10
µg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to
the marked line.
g) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedure in d), e) and f).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the molybdenum standard solution in (2), a molybdenum standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
molybdenum standard solution (Mo 10 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology.
Comment 2 There are two modes to observe emission from an ICP-OES, a horizontal
observation mode and an axial observation mode. The range of the
concentration of the standard solution for the calibration preparation curve in
e) and f) applies to a horizontal observation mode. While an axial observation
mode can observe a measurement component of low level concentrations, it
cannot gain the linearity of a calibration curve in the range of high level
concentrations. Therefore, when using the ICP-OES of an axial observation
mode, it is recommended to prepare a molybdenum standard solution for the
calibration curve in the concentration range which is suitable to a device used.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP OES: An Optical Emission Spectrometer specified in JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity

(4) Test procedures

333
(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample (2) to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 100-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, shake to mix and add water up to the marked line.
c) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (2) The sampling amount of the analytical sample is 10 g when the content in the
sample is less than 0.01 % (mass fraction) as water-soluble molybdenum.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) in 4.2.4.a

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0116 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the ICP
Optical Emission Spectrometry used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 202.030 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the molybdenum standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and
the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into inductively
coupled plasma, and read the indicated value at a wavelength of 202.030 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the molybdenum concentration and the
indicated value of the molybdenum standard solution for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution (the equivalents of 0.01 mg – 2
mg as Mo) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5), and add water up to the marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the molybdenum content from the calibration curve, and calculate the
water-soluble molybdenum (W- Mo).

Comment 4 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.

In that case, see 4.2.4.d Comment 4.
Comment 5 The comparison of the measurement value (yi：0.00342 % - 0.20374 % (mass
fraction )) of ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value
(xi) of the Sodium thiocyanate absorptiometric analysis was conducted to
evaluate trueness using fluid fertilizers (12 samples). As a result, a regression
equation was y = 0.0004+0.982x and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.999.
Additionally, additive recovery testing was conducted using a fluid mixed
fertilizer (1 brand) and a home-garden use mixed fertilizer (1 brand). As a
result, the mean recovery at additive level of 0.01 % and 0. 1 % (mass
fraction) was 95.4 % and 97.6% respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a fluid mixed
fertilizer and a home garden-use mixed fertilizer to evaluate precision were
analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance. Table shows the calculation
results of intermediate precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.0005 % (mass fraction).

334
 Table Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Liquid mixed fertilizer 7 0.124 0.001 0.5 0.001 1.2
Home garder-use
7 0.00359 0.00001 0.3 0.00014 4.0
mixed fertilizer（liquid)
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

(5) Flow sheet: The flow sheet for water-soluble molybdenum in fluid fertilizers is shown
below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1mg into a 100-mL volumetric flask
← Water, about 50 mL
Shaking to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration

Aliquot 100-mL volmetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
← Water (up to the marked line)

Measurement ICP-OES (202.030 nm)

Figure The flow sheet for water-soluble molybdenum in fertilizers

335
4.15 Cobalt
4.15.1 Water-soluble cobalt
4.15.1.a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fluid mixed fertilizers, liquid microelement mixed fertilizers
and the fluid fertilizers of home garden-use mixed fertilizers.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, spray in an acetylene-air flame and measure
the atomic absorption with cobalt at a wavelength of 240.7 nm to obtain water-soluble cobalt
(W-Co) in an analytical sample.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Cobalt standard solution (Co 0.1 mg/mL): A cobalt standard solution (Co 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
d) Cobalt standard solutions (Co 0.5 µg/ mL - 5 µg/ mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of cobalt standard solution (Co 0.1 mg/mL) to
500-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the
marked line.
e) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedure in d).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the cobalt standard solution in (2), a cobalt standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a cobalt standard
solution (Co 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as follows:

a) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: This is an atomic absorption spectrometer,
which is specified in JIS K 012, with the background correction (2) function.
1) Light source: An iron hollow cathode lamp (In case of background correction
system using continuous spectrum source, the light source is a deuterium lamp.)
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.

Note (2) There are the continuous spectrum method, the Zeeman method, the
non-resonance spectrum method, and the self-reversal method, etc.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 240.7 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation

336
 1) Spray the cobalt standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 240.7 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the cobalt concentration and the
indicated value of the cobalt standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation
and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.01 mg
- 2 mg as Co) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1 + 5), and add water up to the marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the cobalt content from the calibration curve, and calculate the water-soluble
cobalt (W-Co) in the analytical sample.

(5) Flow sheet: The flow sheet for water-soluble cobalt in fluid fertilizers is shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1mg into a 100-mL volumetric flask
← Water, about 50 mL
Shaking to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration

Aliquot 100-mL volmetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
← Water (up to the marked line)

Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (240.7 nm)

Figure The flow sheet for water-soluble cobalt in fertilizers

337
4.15.1.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fluid mixed fertilizers, liquid microelement mixed fertilizers
and the fluid fertilizers of home garden-use mixed fertilizers.
Extract by adding water to an analytical sample, introduce it to an ICP Optical Emission
Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and measure the cobalt at a wavelength of 228.616 nm to obtain
water-soluble cobalt (W-Co) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this
testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Cobalt standard solution (Co 1 mg/mL): A cobalt standard solution (Co 1 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology.
d) Cobalt standard solution (Co 0.1 mg/mL) (1): Transfer 10 mL of cobalt standard
solution (Co 1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add hydrochloric acid (1+23)
up to the marked line.
e) Cobalt standard solutions (Co 1 µg - 20 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 1 mL - 20 mL of cobalt standard solution (Co 0.1 mg/mL) to
100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked
line.
f) Cobalt standard solutions (Co 0.1 µg - 1 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1): Transfer 1 mL - 10 mL of cobalt standard solution (Co 10 µg/mL) to
100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked
line.
g) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedure in d), e) and f).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

Comment 1 Instead of the cobalt standard solution in (2), a cobalt standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a cobalt standard
solution (Co 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
Comment 2 There are two modes to observe emission from an ICP-OES, a horizontal
observation mode and an axial observation mode. The range of the
concentration of the standard solution for the calibration preparation curve in
e) and f) applies to a horizontal observation mode. While an axial observation
mode can observe a measurement component of low level concentrations, it
cannot gain the linearity of a calibration curve in the range of high level
concentrations. Therefore, in case of using the ICP-OES of an axial
observation mode, it is recommended to prepare a cobalt standard solution for
the calibration curve in the concentration range which is suitable to a device
used.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP OES: An Optical Emission Spectrometer specified in JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity

(4) Test procedures

338
(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample (2) to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 100-mL
volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, shake to mix and add water up to the marked line.
c) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (2) The sampling amount of the analytical sample is 10 g when the content in the
sample is less than 0.01 % (mass fraction) as water-soluble cobalt.

Comment 3 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1.2) in 4.2.4.a

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0116 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the ICP
Optical Emission Spectrometry used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 228.616 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the cobalt standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and blank
test solution for the calibration curve preparation into inductively coupled plasma,
and read the indicated value at a wavelength of 228.616 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the cobalt concentration and the
indicated value of the cobalt standard solution for the calibration curve preparation
and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution (the equivalents of 0.01 mg – 2
mg as Co) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5), and add water up to the marked line.
3) Conduct similarly as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Obtain the cobalt content from the calibration curve, and calculate the water-soluble
cobalt (W- Co).

Comment 4 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.

In that case, see 4.2.4.d Comment 4.
Comment 5 The comparison of the measurement value (yi：0.00105 % - 0.0213 % (mass
fraction )) of ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value
(xi) of Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was conducted to evaluate
trueness using fluid fertilizers (12 samples). As a result, a regression equation
was y = 0.0001+0.927x and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.996.
Additionally, additive recovery testing was conducted using a fluid mixed
fertilizer (1 brand) and a home-garden use mixed fertilizer (1 brand). As a
result, the mean recovery at additive level of 0.01 % and 0. 1 % (mass
fraction) was 94.6 % and 98.4 % respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using a fluid mixed
fertilizer and a home garden-use mixed fertilizer to evaluate precision were
analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance. Table shows the calculation
results of intermediate precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.0005 % (mass fraction).

339
 Table Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Liquid mixed fertilizer 7 0.0554 0.0010 1.7 0.0024 4.4
Home garder-use
7 0.0105 0.0003 3.3 0.0005 4.8
mixed fertilizer（liquid)
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

(5) Flow sheet: The flow sheet for water-soluble cobalt in fluid fertilizers is shown below:

1 g analytical sample Weigh to the order of 1mg into a 100-mL volumetric flask
← Water, about 50 mL
Shaking to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration

Aliquot 100-mL volmetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← 25 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
← Water (up to the marked line)

Measurement ICP-OES (228.616 nm)

Figure The flow sheet for water-soluble cobalt in fertilizers

340
5. Harmful components

5.1 Mercury
5.1.a Cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fertilizers excluding fluid sludge fertilizers.
Pretreat an analytical sample with nitric acid- perchloric acid, and then reduce mercury (II) in
the solution with tin (II) chloride. Aerate this solution, and measure the atomic absorption for
generated mercury vapor at a wavelength of 253.7 nm to obtain mercury (Hg) in an analytical
sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 3.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Perchloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Sulfuric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
e) Tin (II) chloride solution: To 10 g of tin (II) chloride dihydrate (1) specified in JIS K
8136, add 60 mL of sulfuric acid (1+20), and stir while heating to dissolve. After
standing to cool, add water to make 100 mL.
f) L-cystein solution: To 10 mg of L-cystein (HSCH2CH(NH2)COOH) of no less than
98.0 % in purity, add 100 mL of water and 2 mL of nitric acid to dissolve, and further
add water to make 1000 mL. Store in a refrigerator, and do not use after 6 months after
preparation.
g) Tri-n-butyl phosphate (2): A reagent of no less than 98 % in purity.
h) Mercury standard solution (Hg 0.1 mg/mL): A mercury standard solution (Hg 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
i) Mercury standard solution (Hg 10 µg/mL) (3) (4): Transfer 10 mL of mercury standard
solution (Hg 0.1 mg/mL) to a 100 mL of volumetric flask and add an L-cystein solution
up to the marked line.
j) Mercury standard solution (Hg 0.1 µg/mL) (3) (5): Dilute a predetermined amount of
mercury standard solution (Hg 10 µg/mL) with an L-cystein solution to prepare a
mercury standard solution (Hg 0.1 µg/mL).

Note (1) Use a reagent with low mercury content, such as for mercury analysis or for
harmful metal analysis.
(2) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.
(3) Store in a refrigerator, and do not use after 4 months after preparation.
(4) Store in a refrigerator, and do not use after 1 month after preparation.

Comment 1 Instead of the mercury standard solution in (2), a mercury standard solution
for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a mercury
standard solution (Hg 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology.

(3) Apparatus and instruments Apparatus and instruments are as follows:

a) Atomic absorption spectrometer or mercury atomic absorption spectrometer
b) Light source: A mercury hollow cathode lamp or a mercury lamp.

341
 c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 180 ºC - 200 ºC.
d) Sample digestion flask (6): A 100-mL borosilicate glass volumetric flask (180 mm total
height, 13 mm mouth diameter)

Note (6) Distinguish the volumetric flask used in digestion as a sample digestion flask
and do not use it for any other purposes.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1)
Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a)Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and transfer to a sample digestion flask.
b)Add about 10 mL of nitric acid, and heat on a hot plate or sand bath for a short time. (7)
c)After standing to cool, add about 10 mL of perchloric acid, and digest by heating on a
hot plate or sand bath at 180 ºC - 200 ºC for about 30 minutes - 1 hour(8).
d) After standing to cool, fill up with water to 100 mL to make the sample solution.
e) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - d) using another sample digestion flask
to prepare the blank test solution.

Note (7) If it foams vigorously, leave at rest overnight.

(8) The sample solution and the blank test solution should be stored when they are
cooled after the procedure in (4.1) c). After filling up the sample solution and the
blank test solution with water, immediately conduct the procedure in (4.2).

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry

specified in JIS K 0121. Specific measurement procedures are according to the
operation method of the atomic absorption spectrometer used. An example of
measurement using a mercury atomic absorption spectrometer is shown below:
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 253.7 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Transfer 1 mL - 20 mL of mercury standard solution (Hg 0.1 µg/mL) to 100-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add water up to the marked line. Transfer 5 mL
of these solutions to respective reduction vessels, add 1 drop of tri-n-butyl
phosphate (9), to make mercury standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation.
2) Add 5 mL of water to another reduction vessel, and add 1 drop of tri-n-butyl
phosphate (9), to make the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
3) Connect the reduction vessel to the mercury atomic absorption spectrometer, and
introduce sulfuric acid (1+1) and a tin (II) chloride solution, and circulate air.
4) Read the indicated value at a wavelength of 253.7 nm.
5) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the mercury content (µg) and the
indicated value of the mercury standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer 5 mL of a sample solution to respective reduction vessels, add 1 drop of
tri-n-butyl phosphate (9), and conduct similarly as in b) 3) - 4) to read the indicated
value.

342
 2) Transfer 5 mL of the blank test solution to a reduction vessel, add 1 drop of
tri-n-butyl phosphate (9), and conduct similarly as in b) 2) - 4) to read the indicated
value, and correct the indicated value obtained for the sample solution.
3) Obtain the mercury content (µg) from the calibration curve, and calculate mercury
(Hg) in the analytical sample.

Note (9) It is not required to add tri-n-butyl phosphate if not needed.

Comment 2 Instead of the correction method in C) (2), mercury (Hg) can be corrected by
obtaining the mercury content in the blank test.

Comment 3 Recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using an industrial

sludge fertilizer (1 sample), composted sludge (3 samples) and a human waste
sludge fertilizer (1 sample). As a result, the average rate of recovery at the
content level of 2 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg are 98.7 % - 101.6 % and 100.7 % -
105.4 % as mercury (Hg) respectively. In addition, recovery testing was
conducted using soybean meal, rape seed meal, compound fertilizers (2
samples) and blended fertilizers. As a result, the average rate of recovery at
the content level of 40 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg are 98.5 % - 101.5 % and
100.4 % - 103.3 % respectively.
Table 1 shows results and analysis results from a collaborative study for test
method validation.
The results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference
material fertilizer were analyzed using the three level nesting analysis of
variance. Table 2 shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate
precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.01 mg/kg.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study

for mercury test method validation
2) 3) 4)
Number of Mean RSD r RSD R
Sample name 1)
laboratories (mg/kg) (%) (%)
Human waste sludge fertilizer A 11 0.651 5.3 11.6
Human waste sludge fertilizer B 11 1.10 6.3 10.2

Composted sludge fertilizer A 11 0.489 6.8 10.2

Composted sludge fertilizer B 11 0.822 8.1 13.1

Composted sludge fertilizer C 9 0.182 10.6 10.6

1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n = number of laboratories x number of samples (2))
3) Repeatability relative standard deviation
4) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

343
 Table2 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
certified reference laboratory Average2) sr
3)
RSD r
4)
s I(T)
5)
RSD I(T)
6)
sR
7)
RSD R
8)

1)
material fertilizer p (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (%) (mg/kg) (%) (mg/kg) (%)
FAMIC-B-10 10 0.86 0.02 2.4 0.03 4.0 0.05 5.5
FAMIC-C-12 11 0.48 0.02 3.5 0.02 4.6 0.02 5.0
1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 5）　Intermediate standard deviation
conducting Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 6）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Repeatability standard deviation 7）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability relative standard deviation 8）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Fumihiro ABE, Takeshi HASHIMOTO and Yasushi SUGIMURA: Determination of
mercury in sludge fertilizer - Improved decomposition method -, Research Report of
Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 60 - 66 (2008)
2) Fumihiro ABE, Takeshi HASHIMOTO and Norio HIKICHI: Determination of
mercury in sludge fertilizer - Collaborative Test Results -, Research Report of
Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 67 - 73 (2008)
3) Akira SHIMIZU, Kaori OKADA, Takeshi HASHIMOTO, Yasuto IDE and Toshiaki
HIROI: Determination of Mercury in Fertilizer- Expanding the scope of application of
improved method -, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.2, p. 12 - 17 (2009)

(5) Flow sheet for mercury: The flow sheet for mercury in fertilizers is shown below:

1.00 g
Sample digestion flask
analytical sample
←　About 10 mL nitric acid
Heating For a short time

Standing to cool Room temperature

← About 10 mL of perchloric acid
Heating on a hot plate or sand bath at 180 ºC - 200 ºC
Decomposition
for 30 minutes -1 hour

Standing to cool
← Water (fill up to 100 mL)
Sample solution

Measurement Mercury atomic absorption spectrometer (253.7 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for mercury in fertilizers

344
5.1.b Cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (applicable to fluid sludge fertilizers)
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fluid sludge fertilizers.
Pretreat an analytical sample with nitric acid- perchloric acid, and then reduce mercury (II) in
the solution with tin (II) chloride. Aerate this solution, and measure the atomic absorption for
generated mercury vapor at a wavelength of 253.7 nm to obtain mercury (Hg) in an analytical
sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 4.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Hydrogen peroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8230 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
d) Sulfuric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
e) Tin (II) chloride solution: To 10 g of tin (II) chloride dihydrate (1) specified in JIS K
8136, add 60 mL of sulfuric acid (1+20), and stir while heating to dissolve. After
standing to cool, add water to make 100 mL.
f) L-cystein solution: To 10 mg of L-cystein (HSCH2CH(NH2)COOH) of no less than
98.0 % in purity, add 100 mL of water and 2 mL of nitric acid to dissolve, and further
add water to make 1000 mL. Store in a refrigerator, and do not use after 6 months after
preparation.
g) Mercury standard solution (Hg 0.1 mg/mL)(2)(3): A mercury standard solution (Hg 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
h) Mercury standard solution (Hg 10 µg/mL)(2)(4): Transfer 10 mL of mercury standard
solution (Hg 0.1 mg/mL) to a 100 mL of volumetric flask and add an L-cystein solution
up to the marked line.
i) Mercury standard solution (Hg 0.1 µg/mL): Dilute a predetermined amount of
mercury standard solution (Hg 10 µg/mL) with an L-cystein solution to prepare a
mercury standard solution (Hg 0.1 µg/mL).
Note (1) Use a reagent with low mercury content, such as for mercury analysis or for
harmful metal analysis.
(2) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.
(3) Store in a refrigerator, and do not use after 4 months after preparation.
(4) Store in a refrigerator, and do not use after 1 month after preparation.

Comment 1 Instead of the mercury standard solution in (2), a mercury standard solution
for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a mercury
standard solution (Hg 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology.

(3) Apparatus and instruments Apparatus and instruments are as follows:

a) Atomic absorption spectrometer or mercury atomic absorption spectrometer
b) Light source: A mercury hollow cathode lamp or a mercury lamp.
c) Pressure vessel decomposing device: A device which pressurizes the inside of a vessel
by putting acid, etc.to heat in the airtight vessel, and decomposes a sample by the
interaction of heating, pressurizing and acid. The following requirements should be met.
1) The main part of a decomposing device: In the case of the microwave heating method,
a device should be able to produce a high-frequency wave using a frequency which is
permitted at an industrial frequency facility. It is desirable to be able to monitor pressure
345
 and temperature, etc. in the airtight vessel with a sensor inside the device. The interior
of a device should be acid-resistant trated and should have a high temperature durability
and a high level of safety.
2) Exhaust system: A system which has an exhaust fan of acid-resistant specification, and
has an air-cool function inside the device to allow constant airflow, keeping operating
temperature below a certain temperature level.
3) Airtight vessel: A vessel which is heat-resistance and pressure-tight and has the
durability required to decompose particles, and has resistance to internal contamination.
It should have safety functions such as causing overheat prevention valve to work and
internal pressure to drop by emitting gas, and preventing gas bumping in the case of
exceeding a pressure limitation.
d) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at about 1700 × g.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 20.0 g (5) of an analytical sample, and put it into an airtight vessel.
b) Dradually add 2.5 mL of nitric acid and 2 mL of hydrogen peroxide.
c) Put the airtight vessel into the main part of a decomposing device and heat using a
microwave (6).
d) Ignite at 240 ºC ±5 ºC for no less than 10 minutes (6) to decompose (7).
e) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 50-mL volumetric flask (8) using water.
f) Add water up to the marked line and transfer it to a 50-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal
precipitate tube (8).
g) Centrifuge it at 1700 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (9) and use the
supernatant as the sample solution.
h) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - g) using another airtight vessel to prepare
the blank test solution.

Note (5) The maximum limit of solid content, which is converted from moisture content,
in the sampling volume 20.0 g of an analytical sample is about 0.5 g. If solid
content is likely to exceed the limit, reduce sampling volume as necessary.
(6) Condition examples for a microwave decomposing device: 0 min (room
temperature) → 10min (240 ºC) → 20 min (240 ºC) → 40 min (room
temperature)，initial output 1400 W
(7) When organic matters still remain, for example the digestion solution is colored,
repeat the procedures in (4.1) b) – c).
(8) The vessel should be made of polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(9) 16.5-cm of radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g centrifugal
force.

Comment 2 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) in 5.2.c, 5.3.c,
5.4.c, 5.5.e and 5.6.c.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry

specified in JIS K 0121. Specific measurement procedures are according to the
operation method of the atomic absorption spectrometer used. An example of
measurement using a mercury atomic absorption spectrometer is shown below:
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 253.7 nm
346
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Transfer 0.4 mL - 10 mL of mercury standard solution (Hg 0.1 µg/mL) to 100-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add water up to the marked line. Transfer 5 mL
of these solutions to respective reduction vessels to make mercury standard
solutions for the calibration curve preparation.
2) Add 5 mL of water to another reduction vessel to make the blank test solution for
the calibration curve preparation.
3) Connect the reduction vessel to the mercury atomic absorption spectrometer, and
introduce sulfuric acid (1+1) and a tin (II) chloride solution, and circulate air.
4) Read the indicated value at a wavelength of 253.7 nm.
5) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the mercury content (µg) and the
indicated value of the mercury standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer 5 mL of a sample solution to respective reduction vessels, and conduct
similarly as in b) 3) - 4) to read the indicated value.
2) Transfer 5 mL of the blank test solution to a reduction vessel and conduct similarly
as in b) 2) - 4) to read the indicated value, and correct the indicated value obtained
for the sample solution.
3) Obtain the mercury content (µg) from the calibration curve, and calculate the
mercury concentration in the analytical sample.

Comment 3 Instead of the correction method in c) (2), mercury (Hg) can be corrected by
obtaining mercury content in the blank test.

Comment 4 Triplicates additive recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using
industrial sludge fertilizer (1 sample), composted sludge fertilizers (3
samples) and human waste sludge fertilizer (1 sample). As a result, the mean
recovery at the concentration level of 0.2 mg/kg – 0.4 mg/kg, 0.01 mg/kg –
0.09 mg/kg and 0.7µg /kg – 7µg /kg are 100.0 % - 109.1 %, 99.0 % - 114.6 %
and 100.4 % - 113.4 % as mercury (Hg) in an actual article respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using two kinds of fluid
sludge fertilizers to evaluate precision were analyzed by the one-way analysis
of variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision
and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.02µg /kg per actual article.

347
 Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1)
T (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (%) (mg/kg) (%)
Composted sludge fertilizer 1 5 0.0577 0.0009 1.5 0.0014 2.5

Composted sludge fertilizer 2 5 0.0142 0.0002 1.7 0.0003 2.2

1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 5）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 6）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Repeatability standard deviation
4）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

References
1) Toshiharu YAGI: Determination of Heavy Metals in Fluid Sludge Fertilizers by ICP-MS
and CV-AAS, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 8, p. 26 – 37 (2015)

(5) Flow sheet for mercury: The flow sheet for mercury in fluid sludge fertilizers is shown
below:

20.0 g analytical sample Airtight vessel

← Nitric acid, 2.5 mL
← Hydrogen peroxide, 2 mL
Microwave
decomposition

Transfer 50-mL volumetric flask, water

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
Anout 1700 × g , 5 minutes

Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (253.7nm) for mercury

Figure Flow sheet for mercury in fluid sludge fertilizers

348
5.2 Arsenic
5.2.a Hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fertilizers.
Pretreat an analytical sample with nitric acid-sulfuric acid-perchloric acid, and then generate
arsenic hydride by the addition of sodium tetrahydroborate in the acidic condition with
hydrochloric acid, introduce it with argon gas to a heated absorption cell, and measure the
atomic absorption with arsenic at a wavelength of 193.7 nm to obtain arsenic (As) in an
analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment
6.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Sulfuric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Perchloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
e) Hydrochloric acid: Hydrochloric acid for arsenic analysis specified in JIS K 8180, or
of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or equivalents.
f) Potassium iodide solution (1): Dissolve 20 g of potassium iodide specified in JIS K
8913 in water to make 100 mL.
g) Sodium hydroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8576 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
h) Sodium tetrahydroborate solution (1): Dissolve 10 g of sodium tetrahydroborate
(NaBH4) for atomic absorption spectrometry in a sodium hydroxide solution (4 g/L) to
make 1000 mL.
i) Arsenic standard solution (As 0.1 mg/mL): An arsenic standard solution (As 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
j) Arsenic standard solution (As 1 µg/mL): Dilute a predetermined amount of arsenic
standard stock solution (As 0.1 mg/mL) accurately with hydrochloric acid (1+100) to
prepare an arsenic standard solution (As 1 µg/mL).
k) Arsenic standard solution (As 0.1 µg/mL): Dilute a predetermined amount of arsenic
standard solution (As 1 µg/mL) with hydrochloric acid (1+100) to prepare an arsenic
standard solution (As 0.1 µg/mL)).

Note (1) The concentrations of a potassium iodide solution and a sodium tetrahydroborate
solution vary depending on the instrument used.
(2) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.
(3) Store in a refrigerator, and do not use after 6 months after preparation.
(4) Store in a refrigerator, and do not use after 1 month after preparation.

Comment 1 Instead of the arsenic standard solution in (2), an arsenic standard solution for
the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using an arsenic standard
solution (As 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Atomic absorption spectrometer: To an atomic absorption spectrometer specified in
JIS K 0121, connect a hydride generator and parts shown below. Also, an atomic
absorption spectrometer with a built-in hydride generator can be used.
349
 1) Light source: An arsenic hollow cathode lamp or an arsenic high-intensity discharge
lamp.
2) Atomizer: Heated absorption cell (5)
3) Gas: Gases for heating the heated absorption cell.
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
b) Hydride generator: A batch-type or continuous-type hydride generator specified in JIS
K 0121. For continuous hydride generators, there is a method to introduce a potassium
iodide solution on-line in addition to a sample solution, hydrochloric acid, and a sodium
tetrahydroborate solution.
1) Argon: Argon of grade 2 specified in JIS K 1105 or equivalents.
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
350 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to no less than 300 ºC.

Note (5) For cell heating, there are a method of electric heating and a method of flame
heating.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 1.00 g - 2.00 g of an analytical sample, and transfer to a 200-mL - 300-mL tall
beaker.
b) Add about 10 mL of nitric acid and about 5 mL of sulfuric acid, cover the tall beaker
with a watch glass, and leave at rest overnight.
c) Heat mildly on a hot plate or sand bath at 170 ºC - 220 ºC for no less than 30 minutes.
After bubbles cease to form, set the temperature of the hot plate or sand bath to no less
than 300 ºC, and heat until nitroxide (yellow-brown smoke) is no longer generated(6)(7).
d) After standing to cool, add about 5 mL of perchloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or sand bath at no less
than 300 ºC for 2 - 3 hours to digest (8).
f) Slightly move the watch glass (9), and keep on heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until the liquid volume becomes no more than 2 mL (10).
g) After standing to cool, add about 5 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+10) and about 20 mL of
water, cover the tall beaker with a watch glass and heat mildly to dissolve.
h) After standing to cool, transfer to a 100-mL volumetric flask with water, add water up
to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.
i) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - h) using another tall beaker to prepare the
blank test solution.

Note (6) Carbonization (degradation) of organic matters by sulfuric acid begins by

heating when nitric acid no longer remains. In this state, As5+ may be reduced
to As3+ and evaporate; therefore stop heating immediately after the end of the
generation of nitroxide (yellow-brown smoke).
(7) Oxidation of organic matters by perchloric acid progresses extremely rapidly
and explosively. For that reason, add perchloric acid after fully degrading
organic matters with nitric acid to avoid danger.
(8) When the white smoke of perchloric acid is generated, if the solution is colored
such as black-brown or brown, stop heating immediately, and after standing to
cool, add nitric acid, and heat again to degrade remaining organic matters.
(9) The watch glass can be removed.

350
 (10) The generation of arsenic hydride is inhibited by the presence of nitric acid;
therefore remove nitric acid by sufficiently generating the white smoke of
sulfuric acid.

Comment 2 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1) in 5.2.b and 5.5.c. However,
the sampling amount of the analytical sample in (4.1) a) in 5.5.c is 1.00 g.
Comment 3 When the analytical sample solidifies in the procedure in (4.1) b), moisten the
analytical sample with a small amount of water as necessary in advance.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used. Two examples of measurement procedures with a
continuous hydride generator are shown below.
(4.2.1) Measurement (A): Leaving at rest after adding a potassium iodide solution.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 193.7 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Transfer 2.5 mL - 10 mL of arsenic standard solution (As 0.1 µg/mL) to 50-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step.
2) Add 5 mL of hydrochloric acid and 5 mL of potassium iodide solution, leave at rest for
about 15 minutes, and then add water up to the marked line, to make 5 ng/mL -20
ng/mL arsenic standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.
3) Conduct the procedure in 2) for another 50-mL volumetric flask to make the blank test
solution for the calibration curve preparation.
4) While letting argon flow, introduce the arsenic standard solution for the calibration
curve preparation for each step and the blank test solution for the calibration curve
preparation respectively, further introduce hydrochloric acid (1+1) and a sodium
tetrahydroborate solution to the hydride generator to generate arsenic hydride.
5) Separate arsenic hydride and liquid waste, and then introduce the gas containing
arsenic hydride to a heated absorption cell, and read the indicated value at a
wavelength of 193.7 nm.
6) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the arsenic concentration and the
indicated value of the arsenic standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation
and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution to a 50-mL volumetric flask,
and conduct procedures similarly as in b) 2) and b) 4) - 5) to read the indicated value.
2) Transfer a predetermined amount of the blank test solution to a 50-mL volumetric
flask, and conduct procedures similarly as in b) 2) and b) 4) - 5) to read the indicated
value, and correct the indicated value obtained for the sample solution.
3) Obtain the arsenic content from the calibration curve, and calculate arsenic (As) in the
analytical sample.

(4.2.2) Measurement (B): On-line introduction of a potassium iodide solution.

a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 193.7 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
351
 1) Transfer 5 mL - 25 mL of arsenic standard solution (As 0.1 µg/mL) to 50-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step, add water up to the marked line, to make the 10 ng/mL
- 50 ng/mL arsenic standard solution for the calibration curve preparation. Use water
as the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
2) While letting argon flow, introduce arsenic standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation,
respectively, and further introduce a potassium iodide solution, hydrochloric acid
(1+1) and a sodium tetrahydroborate solution to the hydride generator to generate
arsenic hydride.
3) Separate arsenic hydride generated and liquid waste, and then introduce the gas
containing arsenic hydride to a heated absorption cell, and read the indicated value at a
wavelength of 193.7 nm.
4) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the arsenic concentration and the
indicated value of the arsenic standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation
and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution to a 50-mL volumetric flask,
add water up to the marked line, and conduct similarly as in b) 2) - 3) to read the
indicated value.
2) Transfer a predetermined amount of the blank test solution to a 50-mL volumetric
flask, add water up to the marked line, and conduct similarly as in b) 2) - 3) to read the
indicated value, and correct the indicated value obtained for the sample solution.
3) Obtain the arsenic content from the calibration curve, and calculate arsenic (As) in the
analytical sample.

Comment 4 The coexistence of iron, nickel, and cobalt at over 5, 10, 80 fold amount of
arsenic, respectively, inhibits the generation of arsenic hydride. However, the
inhibition of arsenic hydride generation even in the coexistence of iron at 1000
fold amount can be removed by adding or introducing a potassium iodide
solution.
Comment 5 Instead of the correction method in c) 2), the arsenic (As) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the arsenic content in the blank test
solution.
Comment 6 A recovery testing was conducted using industrial sludge fertilizer, composted
sludge fertilizer (3 samples) and human waste sludge fertilizer; as a result, the
recovery at the concentration level of 50 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg were 94.6 % -
100.6 % and 99.9 % - 103.3 %, respectively. Also, a recovery testing was
conducted using processed slug phosphate fertilizer, soybean meal, rape seed
meal, compound fertilizer and potassium-magnesium-sulfate fertilizer; as a
result, the recovery at the concentration level of 50 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg were
98.5 % - 109.8 % and 103.5 % - 108.6 %, respectively.
The results and analysis results of a collaborative study for test method
validation are shown in Table 1.
The results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material
fertilizer were analyzed using the three level nesting analysis of variance. Table
2 shows the calculation results of reproducibility, intermediate precision and
repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of the test method is about
0.1 mg/kg.

352
 Table 1 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study
for arsenic test method validation
2) 3) 4)
Number of Mean RSD r RSD R
Sample name 1)
laboratories (mg/kg) (%) (%)
Sewage sludge fertilizer 11 6.42 3.5 10.7
Human waste sludge fertilizer 10 4.62 4.9 7.0
Industrial sludge fertilizer 12 0.632 5.7 19.7
Calcined sludge fertilizer 12 5.08 4.1 9.5
Composted sludge fertilizer 10 1.23 6.1 11.4
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n = number of laboratories x number of samples (2))
3) Repeatability relative standard deviation
4) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

Table2 Analysis results of the collaborative study to determine a certified reference material fertilizer
Name of Number of Repeatability Intermediate precision Reproducibility
certified reference laboratory Average2) sr
3)
RSD r
4)
s I(T)
5)
RSD I(T)
6)
sR
7)
RSD R
8)

1)
material fertilizer p (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (%) (mg/kg) (%) (mg/kg) (%)
FAMIC-B-10 8 2.39 0.09 3.7 0.11 4.4 0.18 7.3
FAMIC-B-10 11 2.88 0.12 4.2 0.17 6.0 0.25 8.7
FAMIC-C-12 8 21.6 0.3 1.5 0.7 3.1 1.4 6.6
1）　The number of laboaratories used for analysis 5）　Intermediate standard deviation
conducting Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
2）　Average （the number of laboratory（p ）×test days（2） 6）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of replicate testing（3））
3）　Repeatability standard deviation 7）　Reproducibility standard deviation
4）　Repeatability relative standard deviation 8）　Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Naoki ASAO, Yukie ISHIDA, Shinjiro IZUKA and Masakazu SAIKI: Determination of
Arsenic in Sludge Fertilizer - Improved Decomposition Method - Research Report of
Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 74 - 81 (2008)
2) Naoki ASAO, Shinjiro IZUKA and Norio HIKICHI: Determination of Arsenic in
Sludge Fertilizer - Collaborative Test Results - Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.1, p.
82 - 89 (2008)
3) Yasushi SUGIMURA, Naoki ASAO and Shinjiro IZUKA: Determination of Arsenic in
Fertilizer- Expanding the scope of application of improved method -, Research Report
of Fertilizer Vol.2, p. 18 - 24 (2009)

353
(5) Flow sheet for arsenic: The flow sheet for arsenic in fertilizers is shown below:

1.00 g - 2.00 g
200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker
analytical sample
←　A small amount of water to moisten analytical sample
(if needed).
←　About 10 mL nitric acid
←　About 5 mL sulfuric acid
Leaving at rest Cover with a watch glass
overnight

Heat mildly on a hot plate or sand bath

Heating
at 170 ºC - 220 ºC for no less than 30 minutes.

Heat on a hot plate or sand bath at no less than 300 ºC

Heating
until yellow-brown smoke is no longer generated

Standing to cool Room temperature

← About 5 mL of perchloric acid
Cover with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or
Heating
sand bath at no less than 300 ºC for 2 - 3 hours

Heating Slightly move the watch glass, and concentrate

until it becomes no more than 2 mL

Standing to cool Room temperature

← About 5 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+10)
← About 20 mL of water
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL volumetric flask

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Sample solution

Atomic absorption spectrometer

Measurement
with a hydride generator (193.7 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for arsenic in fertilizers

354
5.2.b Silver diethyl dithiocarbamate absorptiometric analysis
(1) Summary
This test method is applicable to fertilizers other than sulfur and its compound.
Pretreat an analytical sample with nitric acid - sulfuric acid - perchloric acid, and then put the
predetermined volume into an arsenic hydride generation bottle, and generate arsenic hydride
by adding a potassium iodide solution, a tin chloride solution and zinc successively in the
acidic condition with hydrochloric acid to react with silver diethyl dithiocarbamate in pyridine.
Measure the absorbance with the silver diethyl dithiocarbamate solution, the coloring liquid,
at a wavelength of 510 nm or 519 nm to obtain arsenic (As) in an analytical sample.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Sulfuric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Perchloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
e) Hydrochloric acid: Hydrochloric acid for arsenic analysis specified in JIS K 8180, or
of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or equivalents.
f) Potassium iodide solution: Dissolve 20 g of potassium iodide specified in JIS K 8913
in water to make 100 mL.
g) Tin (II) chloride solution: Dissolve 15 g of tin (II) chloride dihydrate specified in JIS
K 8136 in 100 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+1), add a small amount of granular tin
specified in JIS K 8580 then store in a colored bottle.
h) Ascorbic acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 9502 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
i) Zinc: A reagent of arsenic analysis grade specified in JIS K 8012 or equivalents. (1 mm
- 1.5 mm particle diameter)
j) Lead acetate glass wool: Glass wool air-dried after moisturizing with 100 mL of the
solution, where 10 g of lead acetate (II) trihydrate specified in JIS K 8374 is dissolved
in water.
k) Silver diethyldithiocarbamate solution: Dissolve 0.5 g of silver N, N-diethyl
dithiocarbamate specified in JIS K 9512 in 100 ml of pyridine specified in JIS K 8777,
then store in cool and dark place
l) Arsenic standard solution (As 0.1 mg/mL): An arsenic standard solution (As 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
m) Arsenic standard solution (As 1 µg/mL): Dilute a predetermined amount of arsenic
standard solution (As 0.1 mg/mL) accurately with hydrochloric acid (1+100) to prepare
an arsenic standard solution (1 µg/mL).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store in a refrigerator, and do not use after 6 months after preparation.

Comment 1 Instead of the arsenic standard solution in (2), an arsenic standard solution for
the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using an arsenic standard
solution (As 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Arsenic hydride generator: An arsenic hydride generator specified in 61.1 in JIS K
0102 or equivalents.
355
 b) Spectrophotometer: A spectrophotometer specified in JIS K 0115.
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
350 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to no less than 300 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 1.00 g - 2.00 g of an analytical sample, and transfer to a 200-mL - 300-mL tall
beaker.
b) Add about 10 mL of nitric acid and about 5 mL of sulfuric acid, cover the tall beaker
with a watch glass, and leave at rest overnight.
c) Heat mildly on a hot plate or sand bath at 170 ºC - 220 ºC for no less than 30 minutes.
After bubbles cease to form, set the temperature of the hot plate or sand bath to no less
than 300 ºC, and heat until nitroxide (yellow-brown smoke) is no longer generated(3) (4).
d) After standing to cool, add about 5 mL of perchloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or sand bath at no less
than 300 ºC for 2 - 3 hours to digest(5).
f) Slightly move the watch glass(6), and keep on heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until the liquid volume becomes no more than 2 mL(7).
g) After standing to cool, add about 5 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+10) and about 20 mL of
water, cover the tall beaker with a watch glass and heat mildly to dissolve.
h) After standing to cool, transfer to a 100-mL volumetric flask with water, add water up to
the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.
i) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - h) using another tall beaker to prepare the
blank test solution.

Note (3) Carbonization (degradation) of organic matters by sulfuric acid begins by

heating when nitric acid no longer remains. In this state, As5+ may be reduced
to As3+ and evaporate; therefore stop heating immediately after the end of the
generation of nitroxide (yellow-brown smoke).
(4) Oxidation of organic matters by perchloric acid progresses extremely rapidly
and explosively. For that reason, add perchloric acid after fully degrading
organic matters with nitric acid to avoid danger.
(5) When the white smoke of perchloric acid evolves, if the solution is colored
such as black-brown or brown, stop heating immediately, and after standing to
cool, add nitric acid, and heat again to degrade remaining organic matters.
(6) The watch glass can be removed.
(7) The generation of arsenic hydride is inhibited by the presence of nitric acid;
therefore remove nitric acid by sufficiently generating the white smoke of
sulfuric acid.

Comment 2 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1) in 5.2.a.

Comment 3 When the analytical sample solidifies in the procedure in (4.1) b), moisten the
analytical sample with a small amount of water as necessary in advance.

(4.2) Reaction: Conduct reaction as shown below.

a) Put a predetermined amount (the equivalents of 1 μg - 20 μg of As and liquid volume is
no more than 40 mL) of the sample solution into an arsenic hydride generation bottle.
b) Add water to make about 40 mL of liquid volume.
c) Add hydrochloric acid to make it equivalent to 10 mL of hydrochloric acid.
d) Add about 2 mL of potassium iodide solution, shake and leave at rest for a few minutes.
356
 e) Add about 1 mL of tin (II) chloride solution, shake and leave at rest for about 10
minutes (8).
f) Connect arsenic hydride generation bottle, glass tube lightly stuffed with lead acetate
glass wool in advance and 5 mL of silver diethyl dithiocarbamate solution (9), and
quickly put 2.5g of zinc into an arsenic hydride generation bottle.
g) Leave at rest at room temperature (15ºC - 25ºC) for about 45 minutes, and allow
generated arsenic hydride to absorb into the silver diethyl dithiocarbamate solution and
color.
h) Transfer a predetermined amount of blank test solution into the arsenic hydride
generation bottle, conduct procedures similarly as in b) - g) to allow generated arsenic
hydride to absorb into the silver diethyl dithiocarbamate solution and color.

Note (8) When a large amount of iron is contained, add 1 g of ascorbic acid and 2mL of
tin (II) chloride solution and shake to mix to leave at rest for about 10 minutes
instead of the procedure in e).
(9) Apply a small amount of silicone grease, etc. to the connecting parts of an
arsenic hydride generation bottle, glass tube and arsenic hydride absorption
tube to maintain their airtightness.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0115 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the
spectrophotometer used.
a) Measurement conditions for the spectrophotometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the spectrophotometer considering the following:
Detection wavelength: 510 nm or 519 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Transfer 2.5 mL - 20 mL of arsenic standard solution (1 µg/mL) to arsenic hydride
generation bottles step-by-step.
2) Conduct procedures similarly as in (4.2) b) - g) and allow them to react.
3) For another arsenic hydride generation bottle, the silver diethyl dithiocarbamate
solution prepared similarly as in the procedure in 2) is used as the blank test
solution for the calibration curve preparation.
4) Measure the absorbance at wavelength 510 nm of the silver diethyl dithiocarbamate
solution of the arsenic standard solution for the calibration curve preparation using
the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation as the control.
5) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the arsenic concentration and the
indicated value of the arsenic standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) For the silver diethyl dithiocarbamate solution of (4.2) g), conduct procedures
similarly as in b) 4) to measure absorbance.
2) For the silver diethyl dithiocarbamate solution of (4.2) h), conduct procedures
similarly as in b) 4) to measure absorbance, and correct the absorbance obtained for
the sample solution.
3) Obtain the arsenic content from the calibration curve, and calculate arsenic (As) in
the analytical sample.

Comment 4 Instead of the correction method in c) 2), the arsenic (As) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the arsenic content in the blank test
solution.

357
Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 270 - 273, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

358
(5) Flow sheet for arsenic: The flow sheet for arsenic in fertilizers is shown below:

1.00 g -2.00 g
200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker
analytical sample
←　A small amount of water to moisten analytical sample (if needed).
←　About 10 mL nitric acid, about 5 mL sulfuric acid
Leaving at rest Cover with a watch glass
overnight

Heating Heat mildly on a hot plate or sand bath

at 170 ºC - 220 ºC for no less than 30 minutes.

Heating Heat on a hot plate or sand bath at no less than 300 ºC

until yellow-brown smoke is no longer generated
Standing to cool Room temperature
← About 5 mL of perchloric acid
Cover with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or
Heating
sand bath at no less than 300 ºC for 2 - 3 hours

Heating Slightly move the watch glass, and concentrate

until it becomes no more than 2 mL

Standing to cool Room temperature

← About 5 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+10), about 20 mL of water
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and dissolve
Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL volumetric flask

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper
Sample solution

Figure Flow sheet (1) for arsenic in fertilizers

(Prepaparion of sample splution)

359
 Sample solution
Aliquot Transfer into an arsenic hydride generation bottle
(predetermined volume)
← Water (until liquid volume becomes about 40 mL)
← Hydrochloric acid (until hydrochloric acid becomes equivalent to 10 mL)
← About 2 mL of potassium iodide solution
Shaking to mix
Leaving at rest For a few minutes
←About 1 mL of tin (II) chloride solution
Shaking to mix

Leaving at rest For about 10 minutes

←2.5 g of zinc
Generation of Room temperature (15 ºC - 25 ºC),
arsenic hydride about 45 minutes

Absorption 5 mL of silver diethyldithiocarbamate solution

Measurement Spectrophotometer (wavelength 510 nm or 519 nm)

Figure Flow sheet (2) for arsenic in fertilizers

(measurement procedure)

360
5.2.c ICP Mass Spectrometry (fluid sludge fertilizers)
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fluid sludge fertilizers, etc.
Add nitric acid – hydrogen peroxide to an analytical sample to heat and extract by microwave
irradiation. After adding an internal standard element, introduce it to an ICP Mass
Spectrometer (ICP-MS) and measure the respective indicated values of arsenic and an internal
standard element with mass/ charge number (m/z) and obtain arsenic (As) in the analytical
sample from the ratio of the indicated value for arsenic and the indicated value for an internal
standard element. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment
4.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Nitric acid: Nitric acid used to dilute a standard solution and a sample solution is a
highly pure regent specified in JIS K 9901.
d) Hydrogen peroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8230 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
e) Rhodium standard solution (Rh 1 mg/mL): A rhodium standard solution (Rh 1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
f) Rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3): Dilute a predetermined amount of
rhodium standard solution (Rh 1 mg/mL) with nitric acid (1+19) to prepare a rhodium
standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL).
g) Rhenium standard solution (Re 1 mg/mL) (4): A rhenium standard solution (Re 1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
h) Rhenium standard solution (Re 0.1 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3)(4): Dilute a predetermined amount
of rhenium standard solution (Re 1 mg/mL) with nitric acid (1+19) to prepare a rhenium
standard solution (Re 0.1 µg/mL).
i) Arsenic standard solution (As 0.1 mg/mL): An arsenic standard solution (As 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
j) Arsenic standard solution (As 5 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3): Transfer 5 mL of arsenic standard
solution (As 0.1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add nitric acid (1+19) to the
marked line.
k) Arsenic standard solutions (As 1 ng/ mL – 100 ng/ mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1)(2)(3): Transfer 0.02 mL - 2 mL of arsenic standard solution (As 5 µg/mL)
to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add 10 mL of rhodium standard solutions
(Rh 0.1 µg/mL) as internal standard respectively (5) and add nitric acid (1+19) up to the
marked line.
l) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1)(2)(3): transfer 10 mL of
rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks as internal
standard (5) and add nitric acid (1+19) up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store in cool and dark place, and do not use after 1 month after preparation.
(3) For storage, use a sealable container made of materials such as polypropylene
containing no arsenic.
(4) Use when measuring lead simultaneously.
(5) Add an internal solution that is 1/10 of the volume to be prepared.

361
 Comment 1 Instead of the arsenic standard solution in (2), an arsenic standard solution for
the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using an arsenic standard
solution (As 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Mass Spectrometer: High-frequency plasma mass spectrometer specified in JIS K
0133.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.995 % in purity
b) Pressure vessel decomposing device: A device which pressurizes the inside of a vessel
by putting acid, etc.to heat in the airtight vessel, and decomposes a sample by the
interaction of heating, pressurizing and acid. The following requirements should be met.
1) The main part of a decomposing device: In the case of the microwave heating method,
a device should be able to produce a high-frequency wave using a frequency which is
permitted at an industrial frequency facility. It is desirable to be able to monitor pressure
and temperature, etc. in the airtight vessel with a sensor inside the device. The interior
of a device should be acid-resistant trated and should have a high temperature durability
and a high level of safety.
2) Exhaust system: A system which has an exhaust fan of acid-resistant specification, and
has an air-cool function inside the device to allow constant airflow, keeping operating
temperature below a certain temperature level.
3) Airtight vessel: A vessel which is heat-resistance and pressure-tight and has the
durability required to decompose particles, and has resistance to internal contamination.
It should have safety functions such as causing overheat prevention valve to work and
internal pressure to drop by emitting gas, and preventing gas bumping in the case of
exceeding a pressure limitation.
c) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at about 1700 × g.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 20.0 g (6) of an analytical sample, and put it into an airtight vessel.
b) Gradually add 2.5 mL of nitric acid and 2 mL of hydrogen peroxide.
c) Put the airtight vessel into the main part of a decomposing device and heat using a
microwave (7).
d) Ignite at 240 ºC ±5 ºC for no less than 10 minutes (7) to decompose (8).
e) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 50-mL volumetric flask (9) using water.
f) Add water up to the marked line and transfer it to a 50-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal
precipitate tube (9).
g) Centrifuge it at 1700 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (10) and use the
supernatant as the sample solution.
h) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - g) using another airtight vesselr to
prepare the blank test solution.

Note (6) The maximum limit of solid content, which is converted from moisture content,
in the sampling volume 20.0 g of an analytical sample is about 0.5 g. If solid
content is likely to exceed the limit, reduce sampling volume as necessary.
(7) Condition examples for a microwave decomposing device: 0 min (room
temperature) → 10min (240 ºC) → 20 min (240 ºC) → 40 min (room
temperature)，initial output 1400 W
(8) When organic matters still remain, for example the digestion solution is colored,
repeat the procedures in (4.1) b) – d).
(9) The vessel should be made of polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
362
 (10) 16.5-cm of radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g
centrifugal force.

Comment 2 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) in 5.1.b.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement (Internal Standard Method) according to JIS K

0113 and as shown below. Specific measurement procedures are according to the
operation method of the ICP Mass Spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Mass Spectrometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the ICP Mass Spectrometer considering the following:
Arsenic: monitor ion (m/z): 75
Rhodium: monitor ion (m/z): 103
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray arsenic standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and blank test
solution for the calibration curve preparation into the inductively coupling plasma,
and read the ratio of respective ion count values for the monitor ion of an element
subjected to measurement and an internal standard element.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration of an element
subjected to measurement and the ratio of ion count values.
c) Sample measurement
1) Put a predetermined sample solution (0.05 µg - 5µg equivalents as arsenic) into a
50-mL volumetric flask (9).
2) Add 5mL of internal standard solution (5) and add nitric acid (1+19) to the marked
line.
3) Conduct procedures similarly as in b) 1) to read the ratio of ion count values.
4) For blank test solution, conduct procedures similarly as in 1) - 3) to correct the ratio
of ion count values obtained for the sample solution.
5) Obtain the arsenic content from the calibration curve and calculate arsenic (As) in
the analytical sample.

Comment 3 Instead of the correction method in c) 4), the arsenic (As) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the arsenic content in the blank
test solution.
Comment 4 Triplicates additive recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using
fluid industrial sludge fertilizers (2 samples) and composted sludge fertilizers
(6 samples). As a result, the mean recovery at the concentration level of 1
mg/kg – 9 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg – 0.9 mg/kg and 0.02 mg /kg – 0.04 mg /kg are
85.0 % - 105.9 %, 90.6 % - 108.5 % and 95 % as arsenic (As) in an actual
article respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using two kinds of fluid
sludge fertilizers to evaluate precision were analyzed by the one-way analysis
of variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision
and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
3 µg /kg.

363
 Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1)
T (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (%) (mg/kg) (%)
Composted sludge fertilizer 1 5 1.43 0.07 4.6 0.07 4.8

Composted sludge fertilizer 2 5 0.341 0.017 5.0 0.017 5.0

1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 5）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 6）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Repeatability standard deviation
4）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Comment 5 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-MS is available.

In this case, transfer a pre-determined amount of cadmium standard solution
(Cd 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL), lead standard solution (Pb 0.1
mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL), nickel standard solution (Ni 0.1 mg/mL, 1
mg/mL or 10 mg/mL), chromium standard solution (Cr 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL
or 10 mg/mL) and arsenic standard solution (As 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology to a volumetric flask to mix, dilute
with nitric acid (1+19) to prepare a mixed standard solution (Cd 0.5 µg/mL,
Pb 5 µg/mL, Ni 5 µg/mL, Cr 5 µg/mL, As 5 µg/mL)(1)(2)(3). Transfer 0.02 mL –
2 mL of mixed standard solutions to 100-mL volumetric flasks (9) step-by-step,
add 10 mL of rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL) and rhenium
standard solution (Re 0.1 µg/mL) (5) respectively as internal standard and add
nitric acid (1+19) up to the marked line to prepare mixed standard solutions
for calibration curve preparation (1)(2)(3) within the concentration range in
Table 2. Conduct procedures similarly as (4.2) b) – c) under the measurement
conditions in Table 2 and calculate the respective element concentrations in
the analytical samples.

Table 2　　Preparation concentration and monitor ion of mixed standard solution

for calibration curve preparation
Materials (element) Internal standard
(1)
subjected to measurement materials (element)
　Concentration of 　Concentration
Monitor ion Monitor ion
Name of test item element of element
(m /z ) (m /z )
(ng/mL) (ng/mL)
Arsenic As 1 - 100 75 Rh 10 103
Cadmium Cd 0.1 - 10 111, 114 Rh 10 103
Nickel Ni 1 - 100 60, 58 Rh 10 103
Chromium Cr 1 - 100 53, 52, 50 Rh 10 103
Lead Pb 1 - 100 208, 206, 207 Re 10 187
1）　Rh: Rhodium, Re: Rhenium

Comment 6 The presence and the extent of interference to the measurement mass number
of an element subjected to measurement and an internal standard element can
be estimated by qualitative analysis using an ICP Mass Spectrometer in
364
 advance to quantitation. Select a measurement mass number considering the
extent of interference. However, a mass number cannot be changed in the
measurement of arsenic. A magnetic sector double-focussing mass
spectrometer or a collision reaction cell specified in JIS K0133 can be used as
a method to reduce spectrum interference.

References
1) Toshiharu YAGI: Determination of Heavy Metals in Fluid Sludge Fertilizers by
ICP-MS and CV-AAS, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 8, p. 26 – 37 (2015)

(5) Flow sheet for arsenic: The flow sheet for arsenic in fluid sludge fertilizers is shown
below:

20.0 g analytical sample Airtight vessel

← Nitric acid, 2.5 mL
← Hydrogen peroxide, 2 mL
Microwave
decomposition

Transfer 50-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,
Centrifugal separation
Anout 1700 × g , 5 minutes

Aliquot 50-mL volumetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← Rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1µg/mL) 5 mL (internal standard)
← Nitric acid (1+19) (up to the marked line)
Measurement ICP-MS (As: m /z 75, Rh: m /z 103)

Figure Flow sheet for arsenic in fluid sludge fertilizers

365
5.3 Cadmium
5.3.a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fertilizers.
Pretreat an analytical sample with incineration and nitric acid-hydrochloric acid (1+3), spray
into an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic absorption with cadmium at a wavelength
of 228.8 nm to obtain cadmium (Cd) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of
this testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Cadmium standard solution (Cd 0.1 mg/mL): A cadmium standard solution (Cd 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
e) Cadmium standard solution (Cd 10 µg/mL): Transfer 10 mL of cadmium standard
solution (Cd 0.1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask, and add hydrochloric acid
(1+23) up to the marked line.
f) Cadmium standard solutions (Cd 0.05 µg/mL - 0.5 µg/mL) for the calibration
curve preparation (1) (2): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of cadmium standard solution (Cd 10
µg/mL) to 500-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up
to the marked line.
g) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1) (2): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedures in e) and f).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store at room temperature, and do not use after 6 months after preparation.

Comment 1 Instead of the cadmium standard solution in (2), a cadmium standard solution
for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a cadmium
standard solution (Cd 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121 with the background correction (3) function.
1) Light source: A cadmium hollow cathode lamp (In case of background correction
system using continuous spectrum source, the light source is a deuterium lamp.)
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
b) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be adjusted to 450 ºC ± 5 ºC.
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.

Note (3) There are the continuous spectrum method, the Zeeman method, the
non-resonance spectrum method, and the self-reversal method, etc.

366
(4) Test procedures
(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
b) Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char (4).
c) Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC to incinerate (5).
d) After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, and add about
10 mL of nitric acid and about 30 mL of hydrochloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to digest.
f) Slightly move the watch glass (6), and continue heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until nearly dried up.
g) After standing to cool, add 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5) (7) to the digest,
cover the tall beaker with the watch glass, and heat quietly to dissolve.
h) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask with
water, add water up to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the
sample solution.
i) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - h) using another tall beaker to prepare the
blank test solution.

Note (4) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.
(5) Example of ignition period: 8 - 16 hours
(6) The watch glass can be removed.
(7) Add hydrochloric acid (1+5) so that the hydrochloric acid concentration of the
sample solution will be hydrochloric acid (1+23). For example, when a 100-mL
volumetric flask is used in the procedure in h), about 25 mL of hydrochloric
acid (1+5) should be added.

Comment 2 Do not conduct the procedures in (4.1) b)-c) in the case of fertilizers not
containing organic matters.
Comment 3 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1) in 4.9.1.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 228.8 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the cadmium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 228.8 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the cadmium concentration and the
indicated value of the cadmium standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Subject the sample solution (8) to the same procedure as in b) 1) to read the indicated
value.
2) Subject the blank test solution to the same procedure as in b) 1) to read the
indicated value, and correct the indicated value obtained for the sample solution.

367
 3) Obtain the cadmium content from the calibration curve, and calculate cadmium
(Cd) in the analytical sample.

Note (8) If there is a possibility that the cadmium concentration in the sample solution
will exceed the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a predetermined
amount with hydrochloric acid (1+23).

Comment 4 Instead of the correction method in c) 2), the cadmium (Cd) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the cadmium content in the blank
test solution.
Comment 5 Recovery testing was conducted using industrial sludge fertilizer and
composted sludge fertilizer (5 samples); as a result, the recovery at the
concentration level of 5 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg were 97.5 % - 99.2 % and
96.7 % - 99.7 %, respectively.
In addition, the results and analysis results of a collaborative study for test
method validation are shown in Table 1.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of the test method is about
0.1 mg/kg.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study

for cadmium test method validation
Number of Mean2) 3) 4)
RSD r RSD R
Sample name 1)
laboratories (mg/kg) (%) (%)
Sewage sludge fertilizer a 10 1.50 5.5 6.4
Sewage sludge fertilizer b 10 3.35 1.2 4.2
Composted sludge fertilizer a 10 1.96 1.0 4.4
Composted sludge fertilizer b 11 3.81 1.9 3.2
Composted sludge fertilizer c 10 1.80 3.5 4.9
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n = number of laboratories x number of samples (2))
3) Repeatability relative standard deviation
4) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Yoshinari SAKAKIBARA, Manabu MATSUZAKI and Tadao AMANO: Determination
of Cadmium, Lead, Nickel and Chromium in Sludge Fertilizer - Improved
Decomposition Method - Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 41 - 49 (2008)
2) Yoshinari SAKAKIBARA and Manabu MATSUZAKI: Determination of Cadmium,
Lead, Nickel and Chromium in Sludge Fertilizer - Collaborative Test Results - Research
Report of Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 50 - 59 (2008)
3) Hisanori ARAYA and Yoshimi TAKEBA: Validation of atomic absorption
spectrometry for determination of cadmium, lead, nickel and chromium in calcined
sludge fertilizer - Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.3, p. 30 - 42 (2010)

368
(5) Flow sheet for cadmium: Flow sheet for cadmium in fertilizers is shown below:

5.00 g
200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample

Charring Heat gently

Incineration Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water
← About 10 mL of nitric acid
← About 30 mL of hydrochloric acid
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and digest

Heating Slightly move a watch glass to remove acid

Standing to cool Room temperature

← About 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (228.8 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for cadmium in fertilizers

369
5.3.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to sludge fertilizers.
Pretreat an analytical sample with incineration and nitric acid-hydrochloric acid (1+3), and
then introduce it to an ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and measure the
emission with cadmium at a wavelength of 228.802 nm to obtain cadmium (Cd) in an
analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment
6.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Cadmium standard solution (Cd 0.1 mg/mL): A cadmium standard solution (Cd 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
e) Cadmium standard solution (Cd 0.25µg/mL) (1) (2): Dilute a predetermined amount of
cadmium standard solution (Cd 0.1 mg/mL) with hydrochloric acid (1+23) to prepare a
cadmium standard solution (Cd 0.25 µg/mL)

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store at room temperature, and do not use after 6 months after preparation.

Comment 1 Instead of the cadmium standard solution in (2), a cadmium standard solution
for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a cadmium
standard solution (Cd 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: An Atomic Emission Spectrometer specified in
JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity
b) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be adjusted to 450 ºC 5 ºC.
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
b) Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char(3).
c) Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC to incinerate (4).
d) After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, and add about
10 mL of nitric acid and about 30 mL of hydrochloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to digest.
f) Slightly move the watch glass (5), and continue heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until nearly dried up.
g) After standing to cool, add 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5) (5) to the digest,
cover the tall beaker with the watch glass, and heat quietly to dissolve.
370
 h) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask with
water, add water up to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the
sample solution.
i) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - h) using another tall beaker to prepare the
blank test solution.

Note (3) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.
(4) Example of ignition period: 8 - 16 hours
(5) The watch glass can be removed.
(6) Add hydrochloric acid (1+5) so that the hydrochloric acid concentration of the
sample solution will be hydrochloric acid (1+23). For example, when a 100-mL
volumetric flask is used in the procedure in h), about 25 mL of hydrochloric
acid (1+5) should be added.

Comment 2 Do not conduct the procedures in (4.1) b) - c) in the case of fertilizers not
containing organic matters.
Comment 3 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1) in 4.9.1.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement (Standard Addition Method) according to JIS K

0116 and as shown below. Specific measurement procedures are according to the
operation method of the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometry used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 228.802 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation and Sample measurement.
1) Put 5mL of sample solution into three 10-mL volumetric flasks respectively.
2) Add 2mL and 4 mL of cadmium standard solution (0.25 μg/mL) to volumetric
flasks of 1) above, and further add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line to
make the sample solutions of Standard Addition Method.
3) Add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the marked line of the remaining volumetric
flask of 1) above to make the sample solution without the standard solution.
4) Spray the sample solution of Standard Addition Method and the sample solution
without the standard solution into the induction plasma, and read the indicated
value at a wavelength of 228.802 nm.
5) Put 5 mL of blank test solution into a 10-mL volumetric flask, conduct the same
procedures as in 3) - 4) to read the indicated value, and correct the indicated value
obtained from the respective sample solutions.
6) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the added cadmium concentration and
the corrected indicated value of the sample solution for Standard Addition Method
and sample solution without a standard solution.
7) Obtain the cadmium content from the intercept of the calibration curve to calculate
cadmium (Cd) in the analytical sample

Comment 4 Instead of the correction method in c) 5), the cadmium (Cd) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the cadmium content in the blank
test solution.
Comment 5 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.
In that case, see 4.9.1.b Comment 5.

371
 Comment 6 The comparison of the measurement value（xi：0.003 mg/kg – 3.32 mg/kg）
of ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value (yi) of
Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was conducted to evaluate trueness
using sludge fertilizers (49 samples). As a result, a regression equation was y
= -0.03+1.009x and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.996.
Triplicates measurement for each one sample of sewage sludge fertilizer,
human waste sludge fertilizer, industrial sludge fertilizer, mixed sludge
fertilizer, calcined sludge fertilizers and composted sludge fertilizer was
conducted. As a result, a repeatability obtained was 0.8 % - 4.1 % as a relative
standard deviation.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.2 mg/kg.

Reference
1) Masahiro ECHI, Tomoe INOUE, Megumi TABUCHI, Tetsuya NOMURA :
Simultaneous Determination of Cadmium, Lead, Nickel, Chromium, Copper and Zinc
in Sludge Fertilizer using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry
(ICP-AES), Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.4, p. 30 – 35 (2011)

372
(5) Flow sheet for cadmium test method: The flow sheet for cadmium test method in
fertilizers is shown below:

5.00 g
200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample

Charring Heat gently

Incineration Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water
← About 10 mL of nitric acid
← About 30 mL of hydrochloric acid
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and digest

Heating Slightly move a watch glass to remove acid

Standing to cool Room temperature

← 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 5 mL 10-mL volumetric flask, 3 flasks

← 0, 2 and 4 mL of cadmium standard solution (0.25 μg / mL)
←　Hydrochloric acid (1+23) ( up to the marked line)
Measurement ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer (228.802 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for cadmium in fertilizers

373
5.3.c ICP Mass Spectrometry (Fluid sludge fertilizers)
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fluid sludge fertilizers.
Add nitric acid – hydrogen peroxide to an analytical sample to heat and extract by microwave
irradiation. After adding an internal standard element, introduce it to an ICP Mass
Spectrometer (ICP-MS) and measure the respective indicated values of cadmium and an
internal standard element with mass/ charge number (m/z) and obtain cadmium (Cd) in the
analytical sample from the ratio of the indicated value for cadmium and the indicated value
for an internal standard element. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown
in Comment 4.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Nitric acid: Nitric acid used to dilute a standard solution and a sample solution is a
highly pure regent specified in JIS K 9901.
d) Hydrogen peroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8230 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
e) Rhodium standard solution (Rh 1 mg/mL): A rhodium standard solution (Rh 1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
f) Rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3): Dilute a predetermined amount of
rhodium standard solution (Rh 1 mg/mL) with nitric acid (1+19) to prepare a rhodium
standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL).
g) Rhenium standard solution (Re 1 mg/mL) (4): A rhenium standard solution (Re 1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
h) Rhenium standard solution (Re 0.1 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3)(4): Dilute a predetermined amount
of rhenium standard solution (Re 1 mg/mL) with nitric acid (1+19) to prepare a rhenium
standard solution (Re 0.1 µg/mL).
i) Cadmium standard solution (Cd 0.1 mg/mL): A cadmium standard solution (Cd 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
j) Cadmium standard solution (Cd 0.5 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3): Dilute a predetermined amount of
cadmium standard solution (Cd 1 mg/mL) with nitric acid (1+19) to prepare a cadmium
standard solution (Cd 0.5 µg/mL).
k) Cadmium standard solutions (Cd 0.1 ng/ mL – 100 ng/ mL) for the calibration
curve preparation (1)(2)(3): Transfer 0.02 mL - 2 mL of cadmium standard solution (Cd
0.5 µg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add 10 mL of rhodium
standard solutions (Rh 0.1 µg/mL) as internal standard respectively (5) and add nitric acid
(1+19) up to the marked line.
l) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1)(2)(3): transfer 10 mL of
rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL) to 10-mL volumetric flasks as internal
standard respectively (5) and add nitric acid (1+19) up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store in cool and dark place, and do not use after 1 month after preparation.
(3) For storage, use a sealable container made of materials such as polypropylene
containing no cadmium.
(4) Use when measuring lead simultaneously.
(5) Add an internal solution that is 1/10 of the volume to be prepared.

374
 Comment 1 Instead of the cadmium standard solution in (2), a cadmium standard solution
for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a cadmium
standard solution (Cd 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Mass Spectrometer: High-frequency plasma mass spectrometer specified in JIS K
0133.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.995 % in purity
b) Pressure vessel decomposing device: A device which pressurizes the inside of a vessel
by putting acid, etc.to heat in the airtight vessel, and decomposes a sample by the
interaction of heating, pressurizing and acid. The following requirements should be met.
1) The main part of a decomposing device: In the case of the microwave heating method,
a device should be able to produce a high-frequency wave using a frequency which is
permitted at an industrial frequency facility. It is desirable to be able to monitor pressure
and temperature, etc. in the airtight vessel with a sensor inside the device. The interior
of a device should be acid-resistant trated and should have a high temperature durability
and a high level of safety.
2) Exhaust system: A system which has an exhaust fan of acid-resistant specification, and
has an air-cool function inside the device to allow constant airflow, keeping operating
temperature below a certain temperature level.
3) Airtight vessel: A vessel which is heat-resistance and pressure-tight and has the
durability required to decompose particles, and has resistance to internal contamination.
It should have safety functions such as causing overheat prevention valve to work and
internal pressure to drop by emitting gas, and preventing gas bumping in the case of
exceeding a pressure limitation.
c) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at about 1700 × g.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 20.0 g (6) of an analytical sample, and put it into an airtight vessel.
b) Gradually add 2.5 mL of nitric acid and 2 mL of hydrogen peroxide.
c) Put the airtight vessel into the main part of a decomposing device and heat using a
microwave (7).
d) Ignite at 240 ºC ±5 ºC for no less than 10 minutes (7) to decompose (8).
e) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 50-mL volumetric flask (9) using water.
f) Add water up to the marked line and transfer it to a 50-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal
precipitate tube (9).
g) Centrifuge it at 1700 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (10) and use the
supernatant as the sample solution.
h) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - g) using another airtight vesselr to
prepare the blank test solution.

Note (6) The maximum limit of solid content, which is converted from moisture content,
in the sampling volume 20.0 g of an analytical sample is about 0.5 g. If solid
content is likely to exceed the limit, reduce sampling volume as necessary.
(7) Condition examples for a microwave decomposing device: 0 min (room
temperature) → 10min (240 ºC) → 20 min (240 ºC) → 40 min (room
temperature)，initial output 1400 W
(8) When organic matters still remain, for example the digestion solution is colored,
repeat the procedures in (4.1) b) – d).
375
 (9) The vessel should be made of polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(10) 16.5-cm of radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g
centrifugal force.

Comment 2 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) in 5.1.b.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement (Internal Standard Method) according to JIS K

0113 and as shown below. Specific measurement procedures are according to the
operation method of the ICP Mass Spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Mass Spectrometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the ICP Mass Spectrometer considering the following:
Cadmium: monitor ion (m/z): 111, 114
Rhodium: monitor ion (m/z): 103
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray cadmium standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and blank
test solution for the calibration curve preparation into the inductively coupling
plasma, and read the ratio of respective ion count values for the monitor ion of an
element subjected to measurement and an internal standard element.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration of an element
subjected to measurement and the ratio of ion count values.
c) Sample measurement
1) Put a predetermined sample solution (0.005 µg – 0.5µg equivalents as cadmium)
into a 50-mL volumetric flask (9).
2) Add 5mL of internal standard solution (5) and add nitric acid (1+19) to the marked
line.
3) Conduct procedures similarly as in b) 1) to read the ratio of ion count values.
4) For blank test solution, conduct procedures similarly as in 1) - 3) to correct the ratio
of ion count values obtained for the sample solution.
5) Obtain the cadmium content from the calibration curve and calculate cadmium (Cd)
in the analytical sample.

Comment 3 Instead of the correction method in c) 4), the cadmium (Cd) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the cadmium content in the blank
test solution.
Comment 4 Triplicates additive recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using
fluid industrial sludge fertilizer (2 samples) and composted sludge fertilizers
(6 samples). As a result, the mean recovery at the concentration level of 0.1
mg/kg – 0.9 mg/kg, 0.01 mg/kg – 0.09 mg/kg and 2 µg /kg –4 µg /kg are
89.4 % - 108.5 %, 91.0 % - 112.0 % and 96.3 % - 108.5 % as cadmium (Cd)
in an actual article respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using two kinds of fluid
sludge fertilizers to evaluate precision were analyzed by the one-way analysis
of variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision
and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.2 µg /kg.

376
 Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1)
T (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (%) (mg/kg) (%)
Composted sludge fertilizer 1 5 0.139 0.007 5.1 0.010 7.0
Composted sludge fertilizer 2 5 0.0360 0.0011 3.2 0.0020 5.6
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 5）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 6）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Repeatability standard deviation
4）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Comment 5 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.

In that case, see 5.2.c Comment 5.

Comment 6 The presence and the extent of interference to the measurement mass number
of an element subjected to measurement and an internal standard element can
be estimated by qualitative analysis using an ICP Mass Spectrometer in
advance to quantitation. Select a measurement mass number considering the
extent of interference. However, a mass number cannot be changed in the
measurement of arsenic. A magnetic sector double-focussing mass
spectrometer or a collision reaction cell specified in JIS K0133 can be used as
a method to reduce spectrum interference.

References
1) Toshiharu YAGI: Determination of Heavy Metals in Fluid Sludge Fertilizers by
ICP-MS and CV-AAS, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 8, p. 26 – 37 (2015)

377
(5) Flow sheet for cadmium: The flow sheet for cadmium in fluid sludge fertilizers is
shown below:

20.0 g analytical sample Airtight vessel

← Nitric acid, 2.5 mL
← Hydrogen peroxide, 2 mL
Microwave
decomposition

Transfer 50-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,
Centrifugal separation
Anout 1700 × g , 5 minutes

Aliquot 50-mL volumetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← Rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1µg/mL) 5 mL (internal standard)
← Nitric acid (1+19) (up to the marked line)
Measurement ICP-MS (Cd: m /z 111,114 Rh: m /z 103)

Figure The flow sheet for cadmium in fluid sludge fertilizers

378
5.3.d ICP Mass Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to sludge fertilizers excluding fluid sludge fertilizers.
Add nitric acid – hydrogen peroxide to an analytical sample to heat and extract by microwave
irradiation. After adding an internal standard element, introduce it to an ICP Mass
Spectrometer (ICP-MS) and measure the respective indicated values of cadmium and an
internal standard element with mass/ charge number (m/z) and obtain cadmium (Cd) in the
analytical sample from the ratio of the indicated value for cadmium and the indicated value
for an internal standard element. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown
in Comment 3.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Nitric acid: Nitric acid used to dilute a standard solution and a sample solution is a
highly pure regent specified in JIS K 9901.
d) Hydrogen peroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8230 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
e) Rhodium standard solution (Rh 1 mg/mL): A rhodium standard solution (Rh 1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
f) Rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3): Dilute a predetermined amount of
rhodium standard solution (Rh 1 mg/mL) with nitric acid (1+19) to prepare a rhodium
standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL).
g) Cadmium standard solution (Cd 0.1 mg/mL): A cadmium standard solution (Cd 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
h) Cadmium standard solution (Cd 0.5 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3): Dilute a predetermined amount of
cadmium standard solution (Cd 1 mg/mL) with nitric acid (1+19) to prepare a cadmium
standard solution (Cd 0.5 µg/mL).
i) Cadmium standard solutions (Cd 0.1 ng/ mL – 100 ng/ mL) for the calibration
curve preparation (1)(2)(3): Transfer 0.02 mL - 2 mL of cadmium standard solution (Cd
0.5 µg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add 10 mL of rhodium
standard solutions (Rh 0.1 µg/mL) as internal standard respectively (4) and add nitric acid
(1+19) up to the marked line.
j) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1)(2)(3): transfer 10 mL of
rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL) to 10-mL volumetric flasks as internal
standard respectively (4) and add nitric acid (1+19) up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store in cool and dark place, and do not use after 1 month after preparation.
(3) For storage, use a sealable container made of materials such as polypropylene
containing no cadmium.
(4) Add an internal solution that is 1/10 of the volume to be prepared.

Comment 1 Instead of the cadmium standard solution in (2), a cadmium standard solution
for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a cadmium
standard solution (Cd 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

379
 a) ICP Mass Spectrometer: High-frequency plasma mass spectrometer specified in JIS K
0133.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.995 % in purity
b) Pressure vessel decomposing device: A device which pressurizes the inside of a vessel
by putting acid, etc.to heat in the airtight vessel, and decomposes a sample by the
interaction of heating, pressurizing and acid. The following requirements should be met.
1) The main part of a decomposing device: In the case of the microwave heating method,
a device should be able to produce a high-frequency wave using a frequency which is
permitted at an industrial frequency facility. It is desirable to be able to monitor pressure
and temperature, etc. in the airtight vessel with a sensor inside the device. The interior
of a device should be acid-resistant trated and should have a high temperature durability
and a high level of safety.
2) Exhaust system: A system which has an exhaust fan of acid-resistant specification, and
has an air-cool function inside the device to allow constant airflow, keeping operating
temperature below a certain temperature level.
3) Airtight vessel: A vessel which is heat-resistance and pressure-tight and has the
durability required to decompose particles, and has resistance to internal contamination.
It should have safety functions such as causing overheat prevention valve to work and
internal pressure to drop by emitting gas, and preventing gas bumping in the case of
exceeding a pressure limitation.
c) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at about 1700 × g.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 0.20 g of an analytical sample, and put it into an airtight vessel.
b) Gradually add 2.5 mL of nitric acid and 2 mL of hydrogen peroxide (5).
c) Put the airtight vessel into the main part of a decomposing device and heat using a
microwave (6).
d) Ignite at 240 ºC ±5 ºC for no less than 10 minutes (6) to decompose (7).
e) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 50-mL volumetric flask (8) using water.
f) Add water up to the marked line and transfer it to a 50-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal
precipitate tube (8).
g) Centrifuge it at 1700 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (9) and use the
supernatant as the sample solution.
h) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - g) using another airtight vesselr to
prepare the blank test solution.

Note (5) Leaving at rest overnight is preferable.

(6) Condition examples for a microwave decomposing device: 0 min (room
temperature) → 10min (240 ºC) → 20 min (240 ºC) → 40 min (room
temperature)，initial output 1400 W
(7) When organic matters still remain, for example the digestion solution is colored,
repeat the procedures in (4.1) b) – d).
(8) The vessel should be made of polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(9) 16.5-cm of radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g centrifugal
force.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement (Internal Standard Method) according to JIS K

0113 and as shown below. Specific measurement procedures are according to the
operation method of the ICP Mass Spectrometer used in measurement.

380
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Mass Spectrometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the ICP Mass Spectrometer considering the following:
Cadmium: monitor ion (m/z): 111
Rhodium: monitor ion (m/z): 103
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray cadmium standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and blank
test solution for the calibration curve preparation into the inductively coupling
plasma, and read the ratio of respective ion count values for the monitor ion of an
element subjected to measurement and an internal standard element.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration of an element
subjected to measurement and the ratio of ion count values.
c) Sample measurement
1) Put a predetermined sample solution (0.005 µg – 0.5µg equivalents as cadmium)
into a 50-mL volumetric flask (8).
2) Add 5mL of internal standard solution (4) and add nitric acid (1+19) to the marked
line.
3) Conduct procedures similarly as in b) 1) to read the ratio of ion count values.
4) For blank test solution, conduct procedures similarly as in 1) - 3) to correct the ratio
of ion count values obtained for the sample solution.
5) Obtain the cadmium content from the calibration curve and calculate cadmium (Cd)
in the analytical sample.

Comment 2 Instead of the correction method in c) 4), the cadmium (Cd) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the cadmium content in the blank
test solution.
Comment 3 The comparison of the measurement value（xi：0.18 mg/kg – 3.02 mg/kg）of
ICP Mass Spectrometry and the measurement value (yi) of Flame Atomic
Absorption Spectrometry was conducted to evaluate trueness using sludge
fertilizers (26 samples). As a result, a regression equation was y =
0.042+1.01x and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.997.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using two kinds of fluid
sludge fertilizers to evaluate precision were analyzed by the one-way analysis
of variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision
and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.2 mg /kg.

Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days

Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1)
T (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (%) (mg/kg) (%)
Composted sludge fertilizer 1 5 0.263 0.022 8.5 0.031 11.7
Composted sludge fertilizer 2 5 2.39 0.04 1.6 0.10 4.1
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 5）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 6）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Repeatability standard deviation
4）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

381
 Comment 4 The presence and the extent of interference to the measurement mass number
of an element subjected to measurement and an internal standard element can
be estimated by qualitative analysis using an ICP Mass Spectrometer in
advance to quantitation. Select a measurement mass number considering the
extent of interference. A magnetic sector double-focussing mass spectrometer
or a collision reaction cell specified in JIS K0133 can be used as a method to
reduce spectrum interference.

(5) Flow sheet for cadmium: The flow sheet for cadmium in solid sludge fertilizers is
shown below:

0.20 g analytical sample Airtight vessel

← Nitric acid, 2.5 mL
← Hydrogen peroxide, 2 mL
Microwave
decomposition

Transfer 50-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,
Centrifugal separation
Anout 1700 × g , 5 minutes

Aliquot 50-mL volumetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← Rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1µg/mL) 5 mL (internal standard)
← Nitric acid (1+19) (up to the marked line)
Measurement ICP-MS (Cd: m /z 111 Rh: m /z 103)

Figure Flow sheet for cadmium in solid sludge fertilizers

382
5.4 Nickel
5.4.a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fertilizers.
Pretreat an analytical sample with incineration and nitric acid-hydrochloric acid (1+3), spray
into an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic absorption with nickel at a wavelength of
232.0 nm to obtain nickel (Ni) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this
testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Nickel standard solution (Ni 0.1 mg/mL): A nickel standard solution (Ni 0.1 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology.
e) Nickel standard solutions (Ni 0.5 µg/mL - 5 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1) (2): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of nickel standard solution (Ni 0.1 mg/mL)
to 500-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the
marked line.
f) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1) (2): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedure in e).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store at room temperature, and do not use after 6 months after preparation.

Comment 1 Instead of the nickel standard solution in (2), a nickel standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a nickel standard
solution (Ni 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121 with the background correction (3) function.
1) Light source: A nickel hollow cathode lamp (In case of background correction
system using continuous spectrum source, the light source is a deuterium lamp.)
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
b) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be adjusted to 450 ºC ± 5 ºC.
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.

Note (3) There are the continuous spectrum method, the Zeeman method, the
non-resonance spectrum method, and the self-reversal method, etc.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
b) Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char(4).
383
 c) Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC to incinerate (5).
d) After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, and add about
10 mL of nitric acid and about 30 mL of hydrochloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to digest.
f) Slightly move the watch glass (6), and continue heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until nearly dried up.
g) After standing to cool, add 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5) (7) to the digest,
cover the tall beaker with the watch glass, and heat quietly to dissolve.
h) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask with
water, add water up to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the
sample solution.
i) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - h) using another tall beaker to prepare the
blank test solution.

Note (4) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.
(5) Example of ignition period: 8 - 16 hours
(6) The watch glass can be removed.
(7) Add hydrochloric acid (1+5) so that the hydrochloric acid concentration of the
sample solution will be hydrochloric acid (1+23). For example, when a 100-mL
volumetric flask is used in the procedure in h), about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid
(1+5) should be added.

Comment 2 Do not conduct the procedures in (4.1) b) - c) in the case of fertilizers not
containing organic matters.
Comment 3 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1) in 4.9.1.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 232.0 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the nickel standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 232.0 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the nickel concentration and the
indicated value of the nickel standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation
and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Subject the sample solution (8) to the same procedure as in b) 1) to read the indicated
value.
2) Subject the blank test solution to the same procedure as in b) 1) to read the
indicated value, and correct the indicated value obtained for the sample solution.
3) Obtain the nickel content from the calibration curve, and calculate nickel (Ni) in the
analytical sample.

384
 Note (8) If there is a possibility that the nickel concentration in the sample solution will
exceed the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a predetermined
amount with hydrochloric acid (1+23).

Comment 4 Instead of the correction method in c) 2), the nickel (Ni) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the nickel content in the blank test
solution.
Comment 5 A recovery testing was conducted using industrial sludge fertilizer and
composted sludge fertilizer (5 samples); as a result, the recovery at the
concentration level of 300 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg were 98.5 % - 100.3 % and
97.1 % - 99.9 %, respectively.
In addition, the results and analysis results of a collaborative study for test
method validation are shown in Table 1.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of the test method is about
1 mg/kg.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study

for nickel test method validation
Number of 2) 3) 4)
Mean RSD r RSD R
Sample name 1)
laboratories (mg/kg) (%) (%)
Sewage sludge fertilizer a 11 56.9 1.1 4.6
Sewage sludge fertilizer b 11 21.8 2.2 3.9
Composted sludge fertilizer a 11 28.9 1.3 6.4
Composted sludge fertilizer b 11 28.5 1.8 4.4
Composted sludge fertilizer c 12 58.3 1.6 4.4
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n = number of laboratories x number of samples (2))
3) Repeatability relative standard deviation
4) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Yoshinari SAKAKIBARA, Manabu MATSUZAKI and Tadao AMANO: Determination
of Cadmium, Lead, Nickel and Chromium in Sludge Fertilizer - Improved
Decomposition Method - Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 41 - 49 (2008)
2) Yoshinari SAKAKIBARA and Manabu MATSUZAKI: Determination of Cadmium,
Lead, Nickel and Chromium in Sludge Fertilizer - Collaborative Test Results - Research
Report of Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 50 - 59 (2008)
3) Hisanori ARAYA and Yoshimi TAKEBA: Validation of Atomic Absorption
Spectrometry for Determination of Cadmium, Lead, Nickel and Chromium in Calcined
Sludge Fertilizer – Using Decomposition Method for Inorganic Fertilizer. Research
Report of Fertilizer, Vol.3, p. 30 - 42 (2010)

385
(5) Flow sheet for nickel: The flow sheet for nickel in fertilizers is shown below:

5.00 g
200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample

Charring Heat gently

Incineration Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water
← About 10 mL of nitric acid
← About 30 mL of hydrochloric acid
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and digest

Heating Slightly move a watch glass to remove acid

Standing to cool Room temperature

← About 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (232.0 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for nickel in fertilizers

386
5.4.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry

(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to sludge fertilizers.
Pretreat an analytical sample with incineration and nitric acid-hydrochloric acid (1+3), and
then introduce it to an ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and measure the
emission with nickel at a wavelength of 231.604 nm to obtain nickel (Ni) in an analytical
sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Nickel standard solution (Ni 0.1 mg/mL): A nickel standard solution (Ni 0.1 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology.
e) Nickel standard solutions (Ni 2.5 µg/mL) (1) (2): Dilute a predetermined amount of
nickel standard solution (Ni 0.1 mg/mL) with hydrochloric acid (1+23) to prepare a
nickel standard solution (Ni 2.5 µg/mL)

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store at room temperature, and do not use after 6 months after preparation.

Comment 1 Instead of the nickel standard solution in (2), a nickel standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a nickel standard
solution (Ni 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: An Atomic Emission Spectrometer specified in
JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity
b) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be kept at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1)
Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a)Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
b)Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char(3).
c)Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC to incinerate (4).
d)After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, and add about
10 mL of nitric acid and about 30 mL of hydrochloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to digest.
f) Slightly move the watch glass (5), and continue heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until nearly dried up.
g) After standing to cool, add 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5) (6) to the digest,
cover the tall beaker with the watch glass, and heat quietly to dissolve.

387
 h) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask with
water, add water up to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the
sample solution.
i) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - h) using another tall beaker to prepare the
blank test solution.

Note (3) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.
(4) Example of ignition period: 8 - 16 hours
(5) The watch glass can be removed.
(6) Add hydrochloric acid (1+5) so that the hydrochloric acid concentration of the
sample solution will be hydrochloric acid (1+23). For example, when a 100-mL
volumetric flask is used in the procedure in h), about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid
(1+5) should be added.

Comment 2 Do not conduct the procedures in (4.1) b) - c) in the case of fertilizers not
containing organic matters.
Comment 3 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1) in 4.9.1.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement (Standard Addition Method) according to JIS K

0116 and as shown below. Specific measurement procedures are according to the
operation method of the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 231.604 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation and Sample measurement.
1) Put 5 mL of sample solution to three 10-mL volumetric flasks respectively.
2) Add 2 mL and 4 mL (0.25 μg/mL) of nickel standard solution to volumetric flasks of
1) above, then add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line to make the sample
solution of Standard Addition Method.
3) Add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line of the remaining volumetric flask of
1) above to make the sample solution without the standard solution.
4) Spray the sample solution of Standard Addition Method and sample solution without
a standard solution into the induction plasma, and read the indicated value at a
wavelength of 231.604 nm.
5) Add 5 mL of blank test solution to a 10-mL volumetric flask, conduct the same
procedures as in 3) - 4) to read the indicated value, and correct the indicated value
obtained from the respective sample solutions.
6) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the added nickel concentration and the
corrected indicated value of the sample solution for Standard Addition Method and
the sample solution without a standard solution.
7) Obtain the nickel content from the intercept of the calibration curve to calculate
nickel (Ni) in the analytical sample.

Comment 4 Instead of the correction method in c) 5), the nickel (Ni) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the nickel content in the blank test
solution.
Comment 5 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.
In that case, see 4.9.1.b Comment 5.

388
 Comment 6 The comparison of the measurement value (xi: 8.4 mg/kg – 129 mg/kg) of ICP
Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value (yi) of Flame
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was conducted to evaluate trueness using
sludge fertilizers (49 samples). As a result, a regression equation was y =
-0.96+1.010x and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.995.
Triplicates measurement for each one sample of a sewage sludge fertilizer, a
human waste sludge fertilizer, an industrial sludge fertilizer, a mixed sludge
fertilizer, a calcined sludge fertilizers and a composted sludge fertilizer was
conducted. As a result, a repeatability obtained was 1.0 % - 2.6 % as a relative
standard deviation.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
8 mg/kg.

Reference
1) Masahiro ECHI, Tomoe INOUE, Megumi TABUCHI, Tetsuya NOMURA:
Simultaneous Determination of Cadmium, Lead, Nickel, Chromium, Copper and Zinc
in Sludge Fertilizer using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry
(ICP-AES), Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.4, p. 36 - 48 (2011)

389
(5) Flow sheet for nickel: The flow sheet for nickel in fertilizers is shown below:

5.00 g
200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample

Charring Heat gently

Incineration Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water
← About 10 mL of nitric acid
← About 30 mL of hydrochloric acid
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and digest

Heating Slightly move a watch glass to remove acid

Standing to cool Room temperature

← 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 5 mL 10-mL volumetric flask, 3 flasks

← 0, 2 and 4 mL of nickel standard solution (0.25 μg / mL)
←　Hydrochloric acid (1+23) ( up to the marked line)
Measurement ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer (231.604 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for nickel in fertilizers

390
5.4.c ICP Mass Spectrometry (Fluid sludge fertilizers)
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fluid sludge fertilizers.
Add nitric acid – hydrogen peroxide to an analytical sample to heat and extract by microwave
irradiation. After adding an internal standard element, introduce it to an ICP Mass
Spectrometer (ICP-MS) and measure the respective indicated values of nickel and an internal
standard element with mass/ charge number (m/z) and obtain nickel (Ni) in the analytical
sample from the ratio of the indicated value for nickel and the indicated value for an internal
standard element. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment
4.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Nitric acid: Nitric acid used to dilute a standard solution and a sample solution is a
highly pure regent specified in JIS K 9901.
d) Hydrogen peroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8230 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
e) Rhodium standard solution (Rh 1 mg/mL): A rhodium standard solution (Rh 1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
f) Rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3): Dilute a predetermined amount of
rhodium standard solution (Rh 1 mg/mL) with nitric acid (1+19) to prepare a rhodium
standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL).
g) Rhenium standard solution (Re 1 mg/mL) (4): A rhenium standard solution (Re 1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
h) Rhenium standard solution (Re 0.1 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3)(4): Dilute a predetermined amount
of rhenium standard solution (Re 1 mg/mL) with nitric acid (1+19) to prepare a rhenium
standard solution (Re 0.1 µg/mL).
i) Nickel standard solution (Ni 0.1 mg/mL): Nickel standard solution (Ni 0.1 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology.
j) Nickel standard solution (Ni 5 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3): Transfer 5 mL of nickel standard
solution (Ni 0.1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add nitric acid (1+19) to the
marked line.
k) Nickel standard solutions (Ni 1 ng/ mL – 100 ng/ mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1)(2)(3): Transfer 0.02 mL - 2 mL of nickel standard solution (Ni 5 µg/mL)
to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add 10 mL of rhodium standard solutions
(Rh 0.1 µg/mL) as internal standard respectively (5) and add nitric acid (1+19) up to the
marked line.
l) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1)(2)(3): transfer 10 mL of
rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL) to 10-mL volumetric flasks as internal
standard respectively (5) and add nitric acid (1+19) up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store in cool and dark place, and do not use after 1 month after preparation.
(3) For storage, use a sealable container made of materials such as polypropylene
containing no nickel.
(4) Use when measuring lead simultaneously.
(5) Add an internal solution that is 1/10 of the volume to be prepared.

391
 Comment 1 Instead of the nickel standard solution in (2), a nickel standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a nickel standard
solution (Ni 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Mass Spectrometer: High-frequency plasma mass spectrometer specified in JIS K
0133.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.995 % in purity
b) Pressure vessel decomposing device: A device which pressurizes the inside of a vessel
by putting acid, etc.to heat in the airtight vessel, and decomposes a sample by the
interaction of heating, pressurizing and acid. The following requirements should be met.
1) The main part of a decomposing device: In the case of the microwave heating method,
a device should be able to produce a high-frequency wave using a frequency which is
permitted at an industrial frequency facility. It is desirable to be able to monitor pressure
and temperature, etc. in the airtight vessel with a sensor inside the device. The interior
of a device should be acid-resistant trated and should have a high temperature durability
and a high level of safety.
2) Exhaust system: A system which has an exhaust fan of acid-resistant specification, and
has an air-cool function inside the device to allow constant airflow, keeping operating
temperature below a certain temperature level.
3) Airtight vessel: A vessel which is heat-resistance and pressure-tight and has the
durability required to decompose particles, and has resistance to internal contamination.
It should have safety functions such as causing overheat prevention valve to work and
internal pressure to drop by emitting gas, and preventing gas bumping in the case of
exceeding a pressure limitation.
c) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at about 1700 × g.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 20.0 g (6) of an analytical sample, and put it into an airtight vessel.
b) Gradually add 2.5 mL of nitric acid and 2 mL of hydrogen peroxide.
c) Put the airtight vessel into the main part of a decomposing device and heat using a
microwave (7).
d) Ignite at 240 ºC ±5 ºC for no less than 10 minutes (7) to decompose (8).
e) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 50-mL volumetric flask (9) using water.
f) Add water up to the marked line and transfer it to a 50-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal
precipitate tube (9).
g) Centrifuge it at 1700 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (10) and use the
supernatant as the sample solution.
h) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - g) using another airtight vesselr to
prepare the blank test solution.

Note (6) The maximum limit of solid content, which is converted from moisture content,
in the sampling volume 20.0 g of an analytical sample is about 0.5 g. If solid
content is likely to exceed the limit, reduce sampling volume as necessary.
(7) Condition examples for a microwave decomposing device: 0 min (room
temperature) → 10min (240 ºC) → 20 min (240 ºC) → 40 min (room
temperature)，initial output 1400 W
(8) When organic matters still remain, for example the digestion solution is colored,
repeat the procedures in (4.1) b) – d).
(9) The vessel should be made of polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
392
 (10) 16.5-cm of radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g
centrifugal force.

Comment 2 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) in 5.1.b.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement (Internal Standard Method) according to JIS K

0113 and as shown below. Specific measurement procedures are according to the
operation method of the ICP Mass Spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Mass Spectrometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the ICP Mass Spectrometer considering the following:
Nickel: monitor ion (m/z): 60, 58
Rhodium: monitor ion (m/z): 103
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray nickel standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and blank test
solution for the calibration curve preparation into the inductively coupling plasma,
and read the ratio of respective ion count values for the monitor ion of an element
subjected to measurement and an internal standard element.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration of an element
subjected to measurement and the ratio of ion count values.
c) Sample measurement
1) Put a predetermined sample solution (0.05 µg – 5µg equivalents as nickel) into a
50-mL volumetric flask (9).
2) Add 5mL of internal standard solution (5) and add nitric acid (1+19) to the marked
line.
3) Conduct procedures similarly as in b) 1) to read the ratio of ion count values.
4) For blank test solution, conduct procedures similarly as in 1) - 3) to correct the ratio
of ion count values obtained for the sample solution.
5) Obtain the nickel content from the calibration curve and calculate nickel (Ni) in the
analytical sample.

Comment 3 Instead of the correction method in c) 4), the nickel (Ni) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the nickel content in the blank test
solution.
Comment 4 Triplicates additive recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using
fluid industrial sludge fertilizer (2 samples) and composted sludge fertilizers
(6 samples). As a result, the mean recovery at the concentration level of 10
mg/kg –60 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg –9 mg/kg and 0.1 mg /kg – 0.9 mg /kg are 89.6 %
- 99.2 %, 91.5 % - 114.7 % and 96.1 % - 103.7 % as nickel (Ni) in an actual
article respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using two kinds of fluid
sludge fertilizers to evaluate precision were analyzed by the one-way analysis
of variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision
and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
6 µg /kg.

393
 Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1)
T (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (%) (mg/kg) (%)
Composted sludge fertilizer 1 5 8.60 0.44 5.1 0.61 7.0
Composted sludge fertilizer 2 5 2.04 0.13 6.1 0.13 6.4
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 5）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 6）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Repeatability standard deviation
4）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Comment 5 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.

In that case, see 5.2.c Comment 5.
Comment 6 The presence and the extent of interference to the measurement mass number
of an element subjected to measurement and an internal standard element can
be estimated by qualitative analysis using an ICP Mass Spectrometer in
advance to quantitation. Select a measurement mass number considering the
extent of interference. However, a mass number cannot be changed in the
measurement of arsenic. A magnetic sector double-focussing mass
spectrometer or a collision reaction cell specified in JIS K0133 can be used as
a method to reduce spectrum interference.

References
1) Toshiharu YAGI: Determination of Heavy Metals in Fluid Sludge Fertilizers by ICP-MS
and CV-AAS, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 8, p. 26 – 37 (2015)

(5) Flow sheet for nickel: The flow sheet for nickel in fluid sludge fertilizers is shown
below:

20.0 g analytical sample Airtight vessel

← Nitric acid, 2.5 mL
← Hydrogen peroxide, 2 mL
Microwave
decomposition

Transfer 50-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,
Centrifugal separation
Anout 1700 × g , 5 minutes

Aliquot 50-mL volumetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← Rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1µg/mL) 5 mL (internal standard)
← Nitric acid (1+19) (up to the marked line)
Measurement ICP-MS (Ni: m /z 60, 58 Rh: m /z 103)
Figure Flow sheet for nickel in fluid sludge fertilizers

394
5.5 Chromium
5.5.a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (Fertilizers containing organic matters)
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fertilizers containing organic matters.
Pretreat an analytical sample with incineration and nitric acid-hydrochloric acid (1+3), spray
into an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic absorption with chromium at a
wavelength of 357.9 nm or 359.3 nm to obtain chromium (Cr) in an analytical sample. In
addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Interference suppressor solution (1): Dissolve 100 g of potassium disulfate specified in
JIS K 8783 in water to make 1000 mL.
e) Chromium standard solution (Cr 0.1 mg/mL): A chromium standard solution (Cr 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology
f) Chromium standard solutions (Cr 0.5 µg/mL - 5 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation(1) (2): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of chromium standard solution (Cr 0.1
mg/mL) to 500-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add about 50 mL of interference
suppressor solution(3), and further add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line.
g) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1) (2): Transfer about 50 mL
of interference suppressor solution (3) to a 500-mL volumetric flask, and add
hydrochloric acid (1+23) used in the procedure in f) to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store at room temperature, and do not use after 6 months after preparation.
(3) Add an interference suppressor solution that is 1/10 of the volume to be
prepared.
Comment 1 Instead of the chromium standard solution in (2), a chromium standard
solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
chromium standard solution (Cr 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121 with the background correction (4) function.
1) Light source: A chromium hollow cathode lamp (In case of background correction
system using continuous spectrum source, the light source is a deuterium lamp.)
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
b) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be adjusted to 450 ºC ± 5 ºC.
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.

Note (4) There are the continuous spectrum method, the Zeeman method, the
non-resonance spectrum method, and the self-reversal method, etc.
395
(4) Test procedures
(4.1)
Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a)Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
b)Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char(5).
c)Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC to incinerate (6).
d)After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, and add about
10 mL of nitric acid and about 30 mL of hydrochloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to digest.
f) Slightly move the watch glass (7), and continue heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until nearly dried up.
g) After standing to cool, add 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)(8) to the digest,
cover the tall beaker with the watch glass, and heat quietly to dissolve.
h) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask with
water, and add water up to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make
the sample solution.
i) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - h) using another tall beaker to prepare the
blank test solution.

Note (5) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.
(6) Example of ignition period: 8 - 16 hours
(7) The watch glass can be removed.
(8) Add hydrochloric acid (1+5) so that the hydrochloric acid concentration of the
sample solution will be hydrochloric acid (1+23). For example, when a 100-mL
volumetric flask is used in the procedure in h), about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid
(1+5) should be added.

Comment 2 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1) in 4.9.1.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 357.9 nm or 359.3 nm (9)
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the chromium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame(10), and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 357.9 nm or 359.3 nm(9).
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the chromium concentration and the
indicated value of the chromium standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer 25 mL (11) of the sample solution to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 10 mL of interference suppressor solution (3), and add hydrochloric acid
(1+23) to the marked line.
3) Subject to the same procedure as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.

396
 4) Subject the blank test solution to the same procedure as in 1) - 2) and b) 1) to read
the indicated value, and correct the indicated value obtained for the sample
solution.
5) Obtain the chromium content from the calibration curve, and calculate chromium
(Cr) in the analytical sample.

Note (9) When background correction is conducted by the Zeeman method, 359.3 nm is
recommended as the analytical line wavelength.
(10) Use low-fuel acetylene-air flame. Acetylene-nitrous oxide flame can also be
used.
(11) If there is a possibility that the chromium concentration in the sample solution
will exceed the maximum limit of the calibration curve, decrease the amount to
be transferred.

Comment 3 In an acetylene-air flame, sensitivity is enhanced in high-fuel flame, but

interference by coexisting substances such as iron and nickel will also be
enhanced.
In an acetylene-nitrous oxide flame, such interference hardly affects the
result.
Comment 4 Instead of the correction method in c) 4), the chromium (Cr) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the chromium content in the blank
test solution.
Comment 5 A recovery testing was conducted using industrial sludge fertilizer and
composted sludge fertilizer (5 samples); as a result, the recovery at the
concentration level of 500 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg were 97.5 % - 100.0 % and
95.9 % - 101.9 %, respectively.
In addition, the results and analysis results of a collaborative study for test
method validation are shown in Table 1.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of the test method is about
1 mg/kg.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study

for chromium test method validation
Number of 2) 3) 4)
Mean RSD r RSD R
Sample name 1)
laboratories (mg/kg) (%) (%)
Sewage sludge fertilizer a 12 33.6 5.3 15.6
Sewage sludge fertilizer b 12 26.3 4.9 18.7
Composted sludge fertilizer a 11 41.3 2.1 11.0
Composted sludge fertilizer b 12 30.2 5.5 13.8
Composted sludge fertilizer c 12 85.0 6.4 12.5
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n = number of laboratories x number of samples (2))
3) Repeatability relative standard deviation
4) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Yoshinari SAKAKIBARA, Manabu MATSUZAKI and Tadao AMANO: Determination
of Cadmium, Lead, Nickel and Chromium in Sludge Fertilizer - Improved
Decomposition Method - Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 41 - 49 (2008)
397
 2) Yoshinari SAKAKIBARA and Manabu MATSUZAKI: Determination of Cadmium,
Lead, Nickel and Chromium in Sludge Fertilizer - Collaborative Test Results - Research
Report of Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 50 - 59 (2008)
3) Yoshinari SAKAKIBARA, Chie INOUE: Validation of determination methods for
chromium in sludge fertilizer - Evaluation of measurement procedure, Research Report
of Fertilizer Vol.2, p. 130 - 136 (2009)

(5) Flow sheet for chromium: The flow sheet for chromium in fertilizers containing
organic matters is shown below:

5.00 g
200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample

Charring Heat gently

Incineration Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water, moisten the residue
← About 10 mL of nitric acid
← About 30 mL of hydrochloric acid
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and digest

Heating Slightly move a watch glass to remove acid

Standing to cool Room temperature

← 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 25 mL 100-mL volumetric flasks

← About 10 mL of interference suppressor solution
←　Hydrochloric acid (1+23) ( up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (357.9 nm or 359.3 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for chromium in fertilizers containing organic matters

398
5.5.b Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (Fertilizers not containing organic matters)

This method is according to 5.8 Chromium, 5.8.2 Flame atomic absorption spectrometry in
“The Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers 1992”.

Reference
1) National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries: The Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers 1992, p. 91 - 93,
Japan Fertilizers Analysis Association, Tokyo (1992)
2) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 213 - 216, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

399
5.5.c Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (Calcined sludge fertilizer, etc.)
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to calcined sludge fertilizers, etc.
Pretreat an analytical sample with nitric acid - sulfuric acid - perchloric acid, and then spray
into an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic absorption with chromium at a
wavelength of 357.9 nm or 359.3 nm to obtain chromium (Cr) in an analytical sample. In
addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 7.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Sulfuric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Perchloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
e) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
f) Interference suppressor solution (1): Dissolve 100 g of potassium disulfate specified in
JIS K 8783 in water to make 1000 mL.
g) Chromium standard solution (Cr 0.1 mg/mL): A chromium standard solution (Cr 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
h) Chromium standard solution (Cr 0.01 mg/mL) (1): Put 10 mL of chromium standard
solution (Cr 0.1 mg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks and add hydrochloric acid (1+23)
up to the marked line.
i) Chromium standard solutions (Cr 0.05 µg/mL - 5 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1) (2): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of chromium standard solution (Cr 0.1
mg/mL) or chromium standard solution (Cr 0.01 mg/mL) to 500-mL volumetric flasks
step-by-step, add about 50 mL of interference suppressor solution (3), and further add
hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the marked line.
j) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1) (2): Transfer about 50 mL
of interference suppressor solution (3) to a 500-mL volumetric flask, and add
hydrochloric acid (1+23) used in the procedure in h) up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store at room temperature, and do not use after 6 months after preparation.
(3) Add an interference suppressor solution that is 1/10 of the volume to be
prepared.

Comment 1 Instead of the chromium standard solution in (2), a chromium standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
chromium standard solution (Cr 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121 with the background correction (4) function.
1) Light source: A chromium hollow cathode lamp (In case of background correction
system using continuous spectrum source, the light source is a deuterium lamp.)
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene

400
 (ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
b) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
350 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to no less than 300 ºC.

Note (4) There are the continuous spectrum method, the Zeeman method, the
non-resonance spectrum method, and the self-reversal method, etc.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
b) Add about 10 mL of nitric acid and about 5 mL of sulfuric acid, cover the tall beaker
with a watch glass, and leave at rest overnight.
c) Heat mildly on a hot plate or sand bath at 170 ºC - 220 ºC for no less than 30 minutes.
After bubbles cease to form, set the temperature of the hot plate or sand bath to no less
than 300 ºC (5), and heat until nitrogen oxides (yellow-brown smoke) no longer evolve(6).
d) After standing to cool, add about 5 mL of perchloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on the hot plate or sand bath at no less
than 300 ºC for 2 - 3 hours to digest(7).
f) Slightly move the watch glass(8), and keep on heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until the liquid volume becomes no more than 2 mL(7).
g) After standing to cool, add about 5 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+10) and about 20 mL of
water, cover the tall beaker with a watch glass and heat mildly to dissolve.
h) After standing to cool, transfer to a 100-mL volumetric flask with water, add water up to
the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.
i) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - h) using another tall beaker to prepare the
blank test solution.

Note (5) If there is vigorous bumping, increase the temperature gradually.

(6) Oxidation of organic matters with perchloric acid progresses extremely rapidly
and explosively. For that reason, add perchloric acid after fully degrading
organic matters with nitric acid to avoid danger.
(7) When the white smoke of perchloric acid is generated, if the solution is colored
such as black-brown or brown, stop heating immediately, and after standing to
cool, add nitric acid, and heat again to degrade remaining organic matters.
(8) If there is no possibility of bumping, the watch glass can be removed.

Comment 2 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1) in 5.2.a.

Comment 3 When the analytical sample solidifies in the procedure in (4.1) b), moisten the
analytical sample with a small amount of water as necessary in advance.
Comment 4 In some cases, about 10 minutes heating in procedure in (4.1) g) is required.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 357.9 nm or 359.3 nm (9)
b) Calibration curve preparation

401
 1) Spray the chromium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame(10), and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 357.9 nm or 359.3 nm(9).
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the chromium concentration and the
indicated value of the chromium standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer 25 mL of the sample solution to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add about 10 mL of interference suppressor solution (3), and add hydrochloric acid
(1+17) up to the marked line.
3) Subject to the same procedure as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Subject the blank test solution to the same procedure as in 1) - 2) and b) 1) to read
the indicated value, and correct the indicated value obtained for the sample
solution.
5) Obtain the chromium content from the calibration curve, and calculate chromium
(Cr) in the analytical sample.

Note (9) When background correction is conducted by the Zeeman method, 359.3 nm is
recommended as the analytical line wavelength.
(10) Acetylene-nitrous oxide flame can also be used.

Comment 5 In an acetylene-air flame, sensitivity is enhanced in high-fuel flame, but

interference by coexisting substances such as iron and nickel will also be
enhanced.
In an acetylene-nitrous oxide flame, such interference hardly affects the
result.
Comment 6 Instead of the correction method in c) 4), the chromium (Cr) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the chromium content in the blank
test solution.
Comment 7 The results and analysis results of a collaborative study for test method
validation are shown in Table 1.
The minimum limit of quantification of the test method is about 6 mg/kg.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study

for chromium test method validation
2) 3) 4)
Number of Mean RSD r RSD R
Sample name 1)
laboratories (mg/kg) (%) (%)
Calcined sludge fertilizer 1 10 107 5.0 9.7
Calcined sludge fertilizer 2 9 136 3.4 3.6
Calcined sludge fertilizer 3 9 182 1.1 2.6
Calcined sludge fertilizer 4 9 213 1.1 3.9
Calcined sludge fertilizer 5 9 117 1.8 4.0
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n = number of laboratories x number of samples (2))
3) Repeatability relative standard deviation
4) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

Reference

402
 1) Hisanori ARAYA, Yoshimi TAKEBA and Toshiaki HIROI: Evaluation of Digest
Method for Determination of Chromium in Calcined Sludge Fertilizer by Atomic
Absorption Spectrometry - Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.4, p. 23 - 29 (2011)
2) Hisanori ARAYA, Yasuharu KIMURA and Yoshimi TAKEBA: Evaluation of Digest
Method for Determination of Chromium in Calcined Sludge Fertilizer by Atomic
Absorption Spectrometry: A Collaborative Study Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.5, p.
41 - 47 (2012)

(5) Flow sheet for chromium test method: The flow sheet for test method of chromium in
calcined sludge fertilizer

1.00 g
200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample
← A small amount of water, moisten the analytical sample (as necessary)
← About10 mL of nitric acid
← About 5 mL of sulfuric acid
Leaving at rest
Cover with a watch glass
overnight

Heat gently on a hot plate or a sand bath at 170 ºC - 220 ºC

Heating
for no less than 30 minutes

Heat on a hot plate or sand bath at no less than 300 ºC,

Heating
until yellow-brown smoke no longer evolves.

Standing to cool Room temperature

← About 5 mL of perchloric acid
Cover with a watch glass,
Heating
digest on a hot plate or a sand bath at 300 ºC for 2-3 hours

Slightly move the watch glass,

Heating
concentrate until it becomes no more than 2mL

Standing to cool Room temperature

← About 5 mL of nitric acid
← About 20 mL of water
Heating Cover with watch glass, dissolve
Standing to cool Room temperature
Transfer 100-mL volumetric flask, water
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Sample solution

Aliquot 25 mL 100-mL volumetric flask

← About 10 mL of interference suppressor solution
← Hydrochloric acid (1+17) ( up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (357.9 nm or 359.3 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for chromium in calcined sludge fertilizers, etc.

403
5.5.d ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to sludge fertilizers, etc. (except for calcined sludge fertilizer)
Pretreat an analytical sample with incineration, nitric acid - hydrochloric acid (1+3), and then
introduce it to an ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and measure the emission
with chromium at a wavelength of 205.552 nm to obtain chromium (Cr) in an analytical
sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Chromium standard solution (Cr 0.1 mg/mL): A chromium standard solution (Cr 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
e) Chromium standard solutions (Cr 2.5 µg/mL) (1) (2): Dilute a predetermined
amount of chromium standard solution (Cr 0.1 mg/mL) with hydrochloric acid (1+23)
to prepare a chromium standard solution (Cr 2.5 µg/mL)

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store at room temperature, and do not use after 6 months after preparation.

Comment 1 Instead of the chromium standard solution in (2), a chromium standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
chromium standard solution (Cr 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: An Atomic emission spectrometer specified in
JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity
b) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be kept at 450 ºC 5 ºC
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1)
Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a)Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 200- mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
b)Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char.(3)
c)Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC to incinerate (4).
d)After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, and add about
10 mL of nitric acid and about 30 mL of hydrochloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to digest.
f) Slightly move the watch glass (5), and continue heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until nearly dried up.
g) After standing to cool, add 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)(6) to the digest,
cover the tall beaker with the watch glass, and heat quietly to dissolve.

404
 h) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask with
water, add water up to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the
sample solution.
i) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - h) using another tall beaker to prepare the
blank test solution.

Note (3) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.
(4) Example of ignition period: 8 - 16 hours
(5) The watch glass can be removed.
(6) Add hydrochloric acid (1+5) so that the hydrochloric acid concentration of the
sample solution will be hydrochloric acid (1+23). For example, when a 100-mL
volumetric flask is used in the procedure in h), about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid
(1+5) should be added.

Comment 2 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1) in 4.9.1.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement (Standard Addition Method) according to JIS K

0116 and as shown below. Specific measurement procedures are according to the
operation method of the ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 205.552 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation and Sample measurement.
1) Put 5 mL of sample solution into three 10-mL volumetric flasks respectively.
2) Add 2 mL and 4 mL of chromium standard solution (0.25 μg/mL) to volumetric
flasks of 1) above, then add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line to make
the sample solutions of Standard Addition Method.
3) Add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line of the remaining volumetric flask
of 1) above to make the sample solution without a standard solution.
4) Spray the sample solution of Standard Addition Method and sample solution
without a standard solution into the induction plasma, and read the indicated value
at a wavelength of 205.552 nm.
5) Add 5 mL of blank test solution to a 10-mL volumetric flask, conduct the same
procedures as in 3) - 4) to read the indicated value, and correct the indicated value
obtained from the respective sample solutions.
6) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the added chromium concentration and
the corrected indicated value of the sample solution for Standard Addition Method
and the sample solution without a standard solution.
7) Obtain the chromium content from the intercept of the calibration curve to calculate
chromium (Cr) in the analytical sample.

Comment 3 Instead of the correction method in c) 5), the chromium (Cr) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the chromium content in the blank
test solution.
Comment 4 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.
In that case, see 4.9.1.b Comment 5.
Comment 5 The comparison of the measurement value (xi：12.9 mg/kg – 193 mg/kg) of
ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value (yi) of Flame
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was conducted to evaluate trueness using
405
 sludge fertilizers (49 samples). As a result, a regression equation was y =
1.74+0.971x and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.991.
Triplicates measurement for each one sample of sewage sludge fertilizer,
human waste sludge fertilizer, industrial sludge fertilizer, mixed sludge
fertilizer, and composted sludge fertilizer was conducted. As a result, a
repeatability obtained was 0.9 % - 2.5 % as a relative standard deviation.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
4 mg/kg.

Reference
1) Masahiro ECHI, Tomoe INOUE, Megumi TABUCHI, Tetsuya NOMURA :
Simultaneous Determination of Cadmium, Lead, Nickel, Chromium, Copper and Zinc
in Sludge Fertilizer using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry
(ICP-AES), Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.4, p. 30 - 35 (2011)

(5) Flow sheet for chromium: The flow sheet for chromium in fertilizers is shown below:

5.00 g
200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample

Charring Heat gently

Incineration Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC
Standing to cool Room temperature
← A small amount of water, moisten the residue
← About 10 mL of nitric acid
← About 30 mL of hydrochloric acid
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and digest for 30 minutes
Heating Slightly move a watch glass to remove acid
Standing to cool Room temperature
← 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 5 mL 10-mL volumetric flask, 3 flasks

← 0, 2 and 4 mL of chromium standard solution (2.5 μg / mL) respectively
←　Hydrochloric acid (1+23) ( up to the marked line)
Measurement ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer (205.552 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for chromium in sludge fertilizers

406
5.5.e ICP Mass Spectrometry (Fluid sludge fertilizers)
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fluid sludge fertilizers, etc.
Add nitric acid – hydrogen peroxide to an analytical sample to heat and extract by microwave
irradiation. After adding an internal standard element, introduce it to an ICP Mass
Spectrometer (ICP-MS) and measure the respective indicated values of chromium and an
internal standard element with mass/ charge number (m/z) and obtain chromium (Cr) in the
analytical sample from the ratio of the indicated value for chromium and the indicated value
for an internal standard element. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown
in Comment 4.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Nitric acid: Nitric acid used to dilute a standard solution and a sample solution is a
highly pure regent specified in JIS K 9901.
d) Hydrogen peroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8230 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
e) Rhodium standard solution (Rh 1 mg/mL): A rhodium standard solution (Rh 1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
f) Rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3): Dilute a predetermined amount of
rhodium standard solution (Rh 1 mg/mL) with nitric acid (1+19) to prepare a rhodium
standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL).
g) Rhenium standard solution (Re 1 mg/mL) (4): A rhenium standard solution (Re 1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
h) Rhenium standard solution (Re 0.1 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3)(4): Dilute a predetermined amount
of rhenium standard solution (Re 1 mg/mL) with nitric acid (1+19) to prepare a rhenium
standard solution (Re 0.1 µg/mL).
i) Chromium standard solution (Cr 0.1 mg/mL): A chromium standard solution (Cr 0.1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
j) Chromium standard solution (Cr 5 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3): Transfer 5 mL of Chromium
standard solution (Cr 0.1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add nitric acid
(1+19) to the marked line.
k) Chromium standard solutions (Cr 1 ng/ mL – 100 ng/ mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1)(2)(3): Transfer 0.02 mL - 2 mL of chromium standard solution (Cr 5
µg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add 10 mL of rhodium standard
solutions (Rh 0.1 µg/mL) as an internal standard respectively (5) and add nitric acid
(1+19) up to the marked line.
l) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1)(2)(3): transfer 10 mL of
rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL) to 10-mL volumetric flasks as internal
standard respectively (5) and add nitric acid (1+19) up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store in cool and dark place, and do not use after 1 month after preparation.
(3) For storage, use a sealable container made of materials such as polypropylene
containing no chromium.
(4) Use when measuring lead simultaneously.
(5) Add an internal solution that is 1/10 of the volume to be prepared.

407
 Comment 1 Instead of the chromium standard solution in (2), a chromium standard
solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
chromium standard solution (Cr 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Mass Spectrometer: High-frequency plasma mass spectrometer specified in JIS K
0133.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.995 % in purity
b) Pressure vessel decomposing device: A device which pressurizes the inside of a vessel
by putting acid, etc.to heat in the airtight vessel, and decomposes a sample by the
interaction of heating, pressurizing and acid. The following requirements should be met.
1) The main part of a decomposing device: In the case of the microwave heating method,
a device should be able to produce a high-frequency wave using a frequency which is
permitted at an industrial frequency facility. It is desirable to be able to monitor pressure
and temperature, etc. in the airtight vessel with a sensor inside the device. The interior
of a device should be acid-resistant trated and should have a high temperature durability
and a high level of safety.
2) Exhaust system: A system which has an exhaust fan of acid-resistant specification, and
has an air-cool function inside the device to allow constant airflow, keeping operating
temperature below a certain temperature level.
3) Airtight vessel: A vessel which is heat-resistance and pressure-tight and has the
durability required to decompose particles, and has resistance to internal contamination.
It should have safety functions such as causing overheat prevention valve to work and
internal pressure to drop by emitting gas, and preventing gas bumping in the case of
exceeding a pressure limitation.
c) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at about 1700 × g.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 20.0 g (6) of an analytical sample, and put it into an airtight vessel.
b) Gradually add 2.5 mL of nitric acid and 2 mL of hydrogen peroxide.
c) Put the airtight vessel into the main part of a decomposing device and heat using a
microwave (7).
d) Ignite at 240 ºC ±5 ºC for no less than 10 minutes (7) to decompose (8).
e) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 50-mL volumetric flask (9) using water.
f) Add water up to the marked line and transfer it to a 50-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal
precipitate tube (9).
g) Centrifuge it at 1700 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (10) and use the
supernatant as the sample solution.
h) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - g) using another airtight vesselr to
prepare the blank test solution.

Note (6) The maximum limit of solid content, which is converted from moisture content,
in the sampling volume 20.0 g of an analytical sample is about 0.5 g. If solid
content is likely to exceed the limit, reduce sampling volume as necessary.
(7) Condition examples for a microwave decomposing device: 0 min (room
temperature) → 10min (240 ºC) → 20 min (240 ºC) → 40 min (room
temperature)，initial output 1400 W
(8) When organic matters still remain, for example the digestion solution is colored,
repeat the procedures in (4.1) b) – d).
408
 (9) The vessel should be made of polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(10) 16.5-cm of radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g
centrifugal force.

Comment 2 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) in 5.1.b.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement (Internal Standard Method) according to JIS K

0113 and as shown below. Specific measurement procedures are according to the
operation method of the ICP Mass Spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Mass Spectrometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the ICP Mass Spectrometer considering the following:
Nickel: monitor ion (m/z): 52, 53, 50
Rhodium: monitor ion (m/z): 103
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray chromium standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and blank
test solution for the calibration curve preparation into the inductively coupling
plasma, and read the ratio of respective ion count values for the monitor ion of an
element subjected to measurement and an internal standard element.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration of an element
subjected to measurement and the ratio of ion count values.
c) Sample measurement
1) Put a predetermined sample solution (0.05 µg – 5µg equivalents as chromium) into
a 50-mL volumetric flask (9).
2) Add 5mL of internal standard solution (5) and add nitric acid (1+19) to the marked
line.
3) Conduct procedures similarly as in b) 1) to read the ratio of ion count values.
4) For blank test solution, conduct procedures similarly as in 1) - 3) to correct the ratio
of ion count values obtained for the sample solution.
5) Obtain the chromium content from the calibration curve and calculate chromium
(Cr) in the analytical sample.

Comment 3 Instead of the correction method in c) 4), the chromium (Cr) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the chromium content in the blank
test solution.
Comment 4 Triplicates additive recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using
fluid industrial sludge fertilizer (2 samples) and composted sludge fertilizers
(6 samples). As a result, the mean recovery at the chromium concentration
level of 10 mg/kg – 90 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg –9 mg/kg and 0.2 mg /kg – 0.4 mg /kg
are 92.4 % - 108.8 %, 94.3 % - 115.4 % and 105.8 % - 106.8 % as chromium
(Cr) in an actual article respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using two kinds of fluid
sludge fertilizers to evaluate precision were analyzed by the one-way analysis
of variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision
and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
1 µg /kg.

409
 Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1)
T (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (%) (mg/kg) (%)
Composted sludge fertilizer 1 5 14.3 0.6 4.0 0.7 4.7
Composted sludge fertilizer 2 5 3.47 0.20 5.8 0.02 0.5
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 5）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 6）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Repeatability standard deviation
4）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Comment 5 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.

In that case, see 5.2.c Comment 5.
Comment 6 The presence and the extent of interference to the measurement mass number
of an element subjected to measurement and an internal standard element can
be estimated by qualitative analysis using an ICP Mass Spectrometer in
advance to quantitation. Select a measurement mass number considering the
extent of interference. However, a mass number cannot be changed in the
measurement of arsenic. A magnetic sector double-focussing mass
spectrometer or a collision reaction cell specified in JIS K0133 can be used as
a method to reduce spectrum interference.

References
1) Toshiharu YAGI: Determination of Heavy Metals in Fluid Sludge Fertilizers by ICP-MS
and CV-AAS, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 8, p. 26 – 37 (2015)

(5) Flow sheet for chromium: The flow sheet for chromium in fluid sludge fertilizers is
shown below:

20.0 g analytical sample Airtight vessel

← Nitric acid, 2.5 mL
← Hydrogen peroxide, 2 mL
Microwave
decomposition

Transfer 50-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,
Centrifugal separation
Anout 1700 × g , 5 minutes

Aliquot 50-mL volumetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← Rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1µg/mL) 5 mL (internal standard)
← Nitric acid (1+19) (up to the marked line)
Measurement ICP-MS (Cr: m /z 53, 52, 50 Rh: m /z 103)
Figure Flow sheet for chromium in fluid sludge fertilizers

410
5.6 Lead
5.6.a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fertilizers.
Pretreat an analytical sample with incineration and nitric acid-hydrochloric acid (1+3), spray
into an acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic absorption with lead at a wavelength of
217.0 nm or 283.3 nm to obtain lead (Pb) in an analytical sample. In addition, the
performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Lead standard solution (Pb 0.1 mg/mL): A lead standard solution (Pb 0.1 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology
e) Lead standard solutions (Pb 0.5 µg/mL - 5 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1) (2): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of lead standard solution (Pb 0.1 mg/mL) to
500-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked
line.
f) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1) (2): Hydrochloric acid
(1+23) used in the procedure in e).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store at room temperature, and do not use after 6 months after preparation.

Comment 1 Instead of the lead standard solution in (2), a lead standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a lead standard
solution (Pb 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121 with the background correction (3) function.
1) Light source: A lead hollow cathode lamp (In case of background correction
system using continuous spectrum source, the light source is a deuterium lamp.)
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
b) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be adjusted to 450 ºC ± 5 ºC.
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.

Note (3) There are the continuous spectrum method, the Zeeman method, the
non-resonance spectrum method, and the self-reversal method, etc.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a) Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 200-mL- 300-mL tall beaker.
b) Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char (4).
411
 c) Ignite at 450 ºC±5 ºC to incinerate (5).
d) After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, and add about
10 mL of nitric acid and about 30 mL of hydrochloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to digest.
f) Slightly move the watch glass (6), and continue heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until nearly dried up.
g) After standing to cool, add 25 mL -50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5) (7) to the digest,
cover the tall beaker with the watch glass, and heat quietly to dissolve.
h) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask with
water, add water up to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the
sample solution.
i) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - h) using another tall beaker to prepare the
blank test solution.

Note (4) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.
(5) Example of ignition period: 8 - 16 hours
(6) The watch glass can be removed.
(7) Add hydrochloric acid (1+5) so that the hydrochloric acid concentration of the
sample solution will be hydrochloric acid (1+23). For example, when a 100-mL
volumetric flask is used in the procedure in h), about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid
(1+5) should be added.

Comment 2 Do not conduct the procedures in (4.1) b) - c) in the case of fertilizers not
containing organic matters.
Comment 3 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1) in 4.9.1.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 217.0 nm or 283.3 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the lead standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the blank
test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 217.0 nm or 283.3 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the lead concentration and the
indicated value of the lead standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation
and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Subject the sample solution (8) to the same procedure as in b) 1) to read the indicated
value.
2) Subject the blank test solution to the same procedure as in b) 1) to read the
indicated value, and correct the indicated value obtained for the sample solution.
3) Obtain the lead content from the calibration curve, and calculate lead (Pb) in the
analytical sample.

412
 Note (8) If there is a possibility that the lead concentration in the sample solution will
exceed the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a predetermined
amount with hydrochloric acid (1+23).

Comment 4 Instead of the correction method in c) 4), the lead (Pb) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the lead content in the blank test
solution.
Comment 5 A recovery testing was conducted using industrial sludge fertilizer and
composted sludge fertilizer (5 samples); as a result, the recovery at the
concentration level of 100 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg was 99.1 % - 100.6 % and
97.5 % - 99.6 %, respectively.
In addition, the results and analysis results of a collaborative study for test
method validation are shown in Table 1.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of the test method is about
1 mg/kg.

Table 1 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study

for lead test method validation
2) 3) 4)
Number of Mean RSD r RSD R
Sample name 1)
laboratories (mg/kg) (%) (%)
Sewage sludge fertilizer a 10 25.2 4.6 3.9
Sewage sludge fertilizer b 11 29.4 3.7 4.3
Composted sludge fertilizer a 10 18.6 3.2 5.0
Composted sludge fertilizer b 10 22.2 1.8 7.0
Composted sludge fertilizer c 11 86.8 1.3 4.0
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n = number of laboratories x number of samples (2))
3) Repeatability relative standard deviation
4) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Yoshinari SAKAKIBARA, Manabu MATSUZAKI and Tadao AMANO: Determination
of Cadmium, Lead, Nickel and Chromium in Sludge Fertilizer - Improved
Decomposition Method - Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 41 - 49 (2008)
2) Yoshinari SAKAKIBARA and Manabu MATSUZAKI: Determination of Cadmium,
Lead, Nickel and Chromium in Sludge Fertilizer - Collaborative Test Results - Research
Report of Fertilizer Vol.1, p. 50 - 59 (2008)
3) Hisanori ARAYA and Yoshimi TAKEBA: Determination of Cadmium, Lead, Nickel
and Chromium in Calcined Sludge Fertilizer - Using Decomposition Method for
Inorganic Fertilizer- Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.3, p. 30 - 42 (2010)

413
(5) Flow sheet for lead: The flow sheet for lead in fertilizers is shown below:

5.00 g
200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
analytical sample

Charring Heat gently

Incineration Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water, moisten the residue
← About 10 mL of nitric acid
← About 30 mL of hydrochloric acid
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and digest

Heating Slightly move a watch glass to remove acid

Standing to cool Room temperature

← About 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer (217.0 nm or 283.3 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for lead in fertilizers

414
5.6.b ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry

(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to sludge fertilizers.
Pretreat an analytical sample with incineration and nitric acid-hydrochloric acid (1+3),
introduce it to an ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer (“ICP-OES”) and measure the emission
with lead at a wavelength of 220.351 nm to obtain lead (Pb) in an analytical sample. In
addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 6.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Lead standard solution (Pb 0.1 mg/mL): A lead standard solution (Pb 0.1 mg/mL)
traceable to National Metrology.
e) Lead standard solutions (Pb 2.5 µg/mL) (1) (2): Dilute a predetermined amount of lead
standard solution (Pb 0.1 mg/mL) with hydrochloric acid (1+23) to prepare a lead
standard solution (Pb 2.5 µg/mL).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store at room temperature, and do not use after 6 months after preparation.

Comment 1 Instead of the lead standard solution in (2), a lead standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a lead standard
solution (Pb 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: An optical emission spectrometer specified in
JIS K 0116.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.5 % (volume fraction) in
purity
b) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be kept at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1)
Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a)Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
b)Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char.(3)
c)Ignite at 450 ºC ± 5 ºC to incinerate (4).
d)After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, and add about
10 mL of nitric acid and about 30 mL of hydrochloric acid.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to digest.
f) Slightly move the watch glass (5), and continue heating on the hot plate or sand bath to
concentrate until nearly dried up.
g) After standing to cool, add 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5) (6) to the digest,
cover the tall beaker with the watch glass, and heat quietly to dissolve.

415
 h) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask with
water, add water up to the marked line, and filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the
sample solution.
i) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - h) using another tall beaker to prepare the
blank test solution.

Note (3) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.
(4) Example of ignition period: 8 - 16 hours
(5) The watch glass can be removed.
(6) Add hydrochloric acid (1+5) so that the hydrochloric acid concentration of the
sample solution will be hydrochloric acid (1+23). For example, when a 100-mL
volumetric flask is used in the procedure in h), about 25 mL of hydrochloric acid
(1+5) should be added.

Comment 2 Do not conduct procedure (4.1) b) - c) in the case of fertilizers not contain
organic matter
Comment 3 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1) in 4.9.1.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement (Standard Addition Method) according to JIS K

0116 and as shown below. Specific measurement procedures are according to the
operation method of the ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 220.351 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation and Sample measurement.
1) Put 5 mL of sample solution into three 10-mL volumetric flasks respectively.
2) Add 2 mL and 4 mL of lead standard (0.25 μg/mL) solution to volumetric flasks of
1) above, then add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line to make the sample
solution of Standard Addition Method.
3) Add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line of the remaining volumetric flask
of 1) above, and use this solution as the sample solution without a standard
solution.
4) Spray the sample solution of Standard Addition Method and sample solution
without a standard solution into the induction plasma, and read the indicated value
at a wavelength of 220.351 nm.
5) Add 5 mL of blank test solution to a 10-mL volumetric flask, conduct the same
procedures as in 3) - 4) to read the indicated value, and correct the indicated value
obtained from the respective sample solutions.
6) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the added lead concentration and the
corrected indicated value of the sample solutions of Standard Addition Method and
the sample solution without a standard solution.
7) Obtain the lead content from the intercept of the calibration curve, and calculate
lead (Pb) in the analytical sample.

Comment 4 Instead of the correction method in c) 5), the lead (Pb) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the lead content in the blank test
solution.
Comment 5 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.
In that case, see 4.9.1.b Comment 5.
416
 Comment 6 The comparison of the measurement value (xi：1.1 mg/kg – 69.0 mg/kg) of
ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and the measurement value (yi) of Flame
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was conducted to evaluate trueness using
sludge fertilizers (49 samples). As a result, a regression equation was y =
˗0.31+1.045x and its correlation coefficient (r) was 0.993.
Triplicates measurement for each one sample of a sewage sludge fertilizer, a
human waste sludge fertilizer, an industrial sludge fertilizer, a mixed sludge
fertilizer, a calcined sludge fertilizers and a composted sludge fertilizer was
conducted. As a result, a repeatability obtained was 0.9 % - 3.3 % as a relative
standard deviation.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
5 mg/kg.

Reference
1) Masahiro ECHI, Tomoe INOUE, Megumi TABUCHI, Tetsuya NOMURA :
Simultaneous Determination of Cadmium, Lead, Nickel, Chromium, Copper and Zinc
in Sludge Fertilizer using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry
(ICP-AES), Research Report of Fertilizer Vol.4, p. 30 - 35 (2011)

(5) Flow sheet for lead: The flow sheet for lead in fertilizers is shown below:

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water
← About 10 mL of nitric acid
← About 30 mL of hydrochloric acid
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and digest

Heating Slightly move a watch glass to remove acid

Standing to cool Room temperature

← 25 mL - 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+5)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and dissolve

Standing to cool Room temperature

Transfer 100-mL - 200-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot 5 mL 10-mL volumetric flask, 3 flasks

← 0 mL, 2 mL and 4 mL of lead standard solution (2.5 μg / mL) respectively
←　Hydrochloric acid (1+23) ( up to the marked line)
Measurement ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer (220.351 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for lead in sludge fertilizers

417
5.6.c ICP Mass Spectrometry (Fluid sludge fertilizers)
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fluid sludge fertilizers.
Add nitric acid – hydrogen peroxide to an analytical sample to heat and extract by microwave
irradiation. After adding an internal standard element, introduce it to an ICP Mass
Spectrometer (ICP-MS) and measure the respective indicated values of lead and an internal
standard element with mass/ charge number (m/z) and obtain lead (Pb) in the analytical
sample from the ratio of the indicated value for lead and the indicated value for an internal
standard element. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment
4.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Nitric acid: A reagent of harmful metal analysis grade, microanalysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Nitric acid: Nitric acid used to dilute a standard solution and a sample solution is a
highly pure regent specified in JIS K 9901.
d) Hydrogen peroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8230 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
e) Rhenium standard solution (Re 1 mg/mL): A rhenium standard solution (Re 1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
f) Rhenium standard solution (Re 0.1 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3): Dilute a predetermined amount of
rhenium standard solution (Re 1 mg/mL) with nitric acid (1+19) to prepare a rhenium
standard solution (Re 0.1 µg/mL).
g) Rhodium standard solution (Rh 1 mg/mL) (4): A rhodium standard solution (Rh 1
mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
h) Rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3)(4): Dilute a predetermined amount
of rhodium standard solution (Rh 1 mg/mL) with nitric acid (1+19) to prepare a
rhodium standard solution (Rh 0.1 µg/mL).
i) Lead standard solution (Pb 0.1 mg/mL): A lead standard solution (Pb 0.1 mg/mL) for
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry traceable to National Metrology.
j) Lead standard solution (Pb 5 µg/mL) (1)(2)(3): Transfer 5 mL of chromium standard
solution (Pb 0.1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add nitric acid (1+19) to the
marked line.
k) Lead standard solutions (Pb 1 ng/ mL – 100 ng/ mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (1)(2)(3): Transfer 0.02 mL - 2 mL of lead standard solution (Pb 5 µg/mL) to
100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add 10 mL of rhenium standard solutions
(Re 0.1 µg/mL) as internal standard respectively (5) and add nitric acid (1+19) up to the
marked line.
l) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation (1)(2)(3): transfer 10 mL of
rhenium standard solution (Re 0.1 µg/mL) to 10-mL volumetric flasks as internal
standard respectively (5) and add nitric acid (1+19) up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) Store in cool and dark place, and do not use after 1 month after preparation.
(3) For storage, use a sealable container made of materials such as polypropylene
containing no chromium.
(4) Use when measuring arsenic, cadmium, nickel or chromium simultaneously.
(5) Add an internal solution that is 1/10 of the volume to be prepared.

418
 Comment 1 Instead of the lead standard solution in (2), a lead standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a lead standard
solution (Pb 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) ICP Mass Spectrometer: High-frequency plasma mass spectrometer specified in JIS K
0133.
1) Gas: Argon gas specified in JIS K 1105 of no less than 99.995 % in purity
b) Pressure vessel decomposing device: A device which pressurizes the inside of a vessel
by putting acid, etc.to heat in the airtight vessel, and decomposes a sample by the
interaction of heating, pressurizing and acid. The following requirements should be met.
1) The main part of a decomposing device: In the case of the microwave heating method,
a device should be able to produce a high-frequency wave using a frequency which is
permitted at an industrial frequency facility. It is desirable to be able to monitor pressure
and temperature, etc. in the airtight vessel with a sensor inside the device. The interior
of a device should be acid-resistant trated and should have a high temperature durability
and a high level of safety.
2) Exhaust system: A system which has an exhaust fan of acid-resistant specification, and
has an air-cool function inside the device to allow constant airflow, keeping operating
temperature below a certain temperature level.
3) Airtight vessel: A vessel which is heat-resistance and pressure-tight and has the
durability required to decompose particles, and has resistance to internal contamination.
It should have safety functions such as causing overheat prevention valve to work and
internal pressure to drop by emitting gas, and preventing gas bumping in the case of
exceeding a pressure limitation.
c) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at about 1700 × g.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 20.0 g (6) of an analytical sample, and put it into an airtight vessel.
b) Gradually add 2.5 mL of nitric acid and 2 mL of hydrogen peroxide.
c) Put the airtight vessel into the main part of a decomposing device and heat using a
microwave (7).
d) Ignite at 240 ºC ±5 ºC for no less than 10 minutes (7) to decompose (8).
e) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 50-mL volumetric flask (9) using water.
f) Add water up to the marked line and transfer it to a 50-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal
precipitate tube (9).
g) Centrifuge it at 1700 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (10) and use the
supernatant as the sample solution.
h) As a blank test, conduct the procedures in b) - g) using another airtight vesselr to
prepare the blank test solution.

Note (6) The maximum limit of solid content, which is converted from moisture content,
in the sampling volume 20.0 g of an analytical sample is about 0.5 g. If solid
content is likely to exceed the limit, reduce sampling volume as necessary.
(7) Condition examples for a microwave decomposing device: 0 min (room
temperature) → 10min (240 ºC) → 20 min (240 ºC) → 40 min (room
temperature)，initial output 1400 W
(8) When organic matters still remain, for example the digestion solution is colored,
repeat the procedures in (4.1) b) – d).
(9) The vessel should be made of polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
419
 (10) 16.5-cm of radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g
centrifugal force.

Comment 2 The procedure in (4.1) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) in 5.1.b.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement (Internal Standard Method) according to JIS K

0113 and as shown below. Specific measurement procedures are according to the
operation method of the ICP Mass Spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the ICP Mass Spectrometer: Set up the measurement
conditions for the ICP Mass Spectrometer considering the following:
Lead: monitor ion (m/z): 208, 206, 207
Rhenium: monitor ion (m/z): 187
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray lead standard solution for the calibration curve preparation and blank test
solution for the calibration curve preparation into the inductively coupling plasma,
and read the ratio of respective ion count values for the monitor ion of an element
subjected to measurement and an internal standard element.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration of an element
subjected to measurement and the ratio of ion count values.
c) Sample measurement
1) Put a predetermined sample solution (0.05 µg – 5µg equivalents as lead) into a
50-mL volumetric flask (9).
2) Add 5mL of internal standard solution (5) and add nitric acid (1+19) to the marked
line.
3) Conduct procedures similarly as in b) 1) to read the ratio of ion count values.
4) For blank test solution, conduct procedures similarly as in 1) - 3) to correct the ratio
of ion count values obtained for the sample solution.
5) Obtain the lead content from the calibration curve and calculate lead (Pb) in the
analytical sample.

Comment 3 Instead of the correction method in c) 4), the lead (Pb) in the analytical
sample can also be corrected by obtaining the lead content in the blank test
solution.
Comment 4 Triplicates additive recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness
using fluid industrial sludge fertilizer (2 samples) and composted sludge
fertilizers (6 samples). As a result, the mean recovery at the lead
concentration level of 10 mg/kg – 20 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg – 5 mg/kg, 0.2 mg /kg
– 0.7 mg /kg and 0.04 mg /kg – 0.07 mg /kg are 92.1 % - 103.1 %, 85.0 % -
113.9 %, 93.2 % - 108.1 % and 106.1 % - 109.8 % as lead (Pb) in an actual
article respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using two kinds of
fluid sludge fertilizers to evaluate precision were analyzed by the one-way
analysis of variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of intermediate
precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is
about 4 µg /kg.

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 Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1)
T (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (%) (mg/kg) (%)
Composted sludge fertilizer 1 5 2.80 0.09 3.1 0.27 9.7
Composted sludge fertilizer 2 5 0.740 0.014 1.9 0.020 2.7
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 5）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 6）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Repeatability standard deviation
4）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

Comment 5 Simultaneous measurement of multiple elements by an ICP-OES is available.

In that case, see 5.2.c Comment 5.
Comment 6 The presence and the extent of interference to the measurement mass number
of an element subjected to measurement and an internal standard element can
be estimated by qualitative analysis using an ICP Mass Spectrometer in
advance to quantitation. Select a measurement mass number considering the
extent of interference. However, a mass number cannot be changed in the
measurement of arsenic. A magnetic sector double-focussing mass
spectrometer or a collision reaction cell specified in JIS K0133 can be used as
a method to reduce spectrum interference.

References
1) Toshiharu YAGI: Determination of Heavy Metals in Fluid Sludge Fertilizers by ICP-MS
and CV-AAS, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 8, p. 26 – 37 (2015)

(5) Flow sheet for lead: The flow sheet for lead in fluid sludge fertilizers is shown below:

20.0 g analytical sample Airtight vessel

← Nitric acid, 2.5 mL
← Hydrogen peroxide, 2 mL
Microwave
decomposition

Transfer 50-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)
Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,
Centrifugal separation
Anout 1700 × g , 5 minutes

Aliquot 50-mL volumetric flask

(predetermined volume)
← Rhenium standard solution (Re 0.1µg/mL) 5 mL (internal standard)
← Nitric acid (1+19) (up to the marked line)
Measurement ICP-MS (Pb: m /z 208, 206, 207 Re: m /z 187)
Figure Flow sheet for lead in fluid sludge fertilizers

421
5.7 Sulfamic acid (amidosulfuric acid)
5.7.a Ion Chromatography
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to ammonium sulfate.
Add water to an analytical sample to extract sulfamic acid, introduce it to an Ion
Chromatograph (IC) or a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) to isolate it with
an ion exchange column, then measure the sulfamic acid with an electric conductivity detector
to obtain sulfamic acid (amidosulfuric acid) in an analytical sample. In addition, the
performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 5.
Sulfamic acid and ammonium thiocyanate can be simultaneously quantified by using this
method. (Refer to Comment 4).

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a)Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b)Phthalic acid: A reagent of no less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity.
c)p-hydroxybenzoic acid: A reagent of no less than 95 % (mass fraction) in purity.
d)1-sodium octane sulfonate: A reagent of no less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity.
e)1-sodium hexane sulfonate: A reagent of no less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity.
f)Boric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8863 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
g) Elute (1) (2): Weigh 0.083 g of phthalic acid, 0.552 g of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, 0.195 g
of 1-sodium octane sulfonate, 0.376 g of 1-sodium hexane sulfonate and 6.183 g of
boric acid to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, add about 500 mL of water to dissolve and
add water up to the marked line. Filter with membrane type filter (pore size: no more
than 0.5 μm) made of hydrophilic PTFE
h) Sulfamic acid standard solution (1000 mg/L) (1): Put 0.1 g of sulfamic acid, reference
material for volumetric analysis (HOSO2NH2: dried for 48 hours in a silica gel
desiccator), in a weighing dish and measure the mass to the order of 0.1 mg. Add a
small amount of water to dissolve, then transfer to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add
water up to the marked line.
i) Sulfamic acid standard solution (10 mg/L) (1): At the time of usage, put 2.5 mL of
sulfamic acid standard solution (1000 mg/L) to a 250-mL volumetric flask and add
water up to the marked line.
j) Sulfamic acid standard solution for the calibration curve preparation (0.3 mg/L - 3
mg/L): At the time of usage, put 3 mL - 30 mL of sulfamic acid standard solution (10
mg/L) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) The concentration of prepared solutions is phthalic acid 0.5 mmol/L,
p-hydroxybenzoic acid 4.0 mmol/L, 1-sodium octane sulfonate 0.9 mmol/L,
1-sodium hexane sulfonate 2.0 mmol/L and boric acid 100 mmol/L.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) Ion Chromatograph (IC) or High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
IC specified in JIS K 0127 or HPLC specified in JIS K 0124 that satisfies following
requirements.
1) Column: A 4-mm inner diameter 100-mm long stainless steel column tube filled
with hydrophilic methacrylate-gel, to which 5-μm particle diameter class 4
ammonium group chemically bonds (3).
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 55 ºC - 60 ºC.
3) Detection unit: An electric conductivity detector

422
 b) Membrane filters: Pore size is no more than 0.5 μm, made of hydrophilic PTFE

Note (3) A column is commercially sold under the name Shodex IC NI-424, etc.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1)
Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a)Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b)Add about 50 mL of water and shake to dissolve, and then add water up to the marked
line.
c) Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution, and dilute exactly by a factot of 12.5
with water.
d) Filter with a membrane filter (pore size: no more than 0.5 μm) to make the sample
solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0127 or JIS K 0124 and as
shown below. Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method
of the Ion Chromatograph (IC) or the High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC)
used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the Ion Chromatograph (IC) or High Performance
Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC): Set up the measurement conditions considering the
following example of measurement conditions.
1) Column: A hydrophilic methacrylate-gel column (4-mm inner diameter, 100-mm
long, 5-μm particle diameter) to which quaternary ammonium group chemically
bonds.
2) Column bath temperature: 58 ºC
3) Elute: Prepared by the procedures in (2) g)
4) Flow: 1 mL/min
5) Injection volume: 20 μL
6) Detection unit: An electric conductivity detector

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 20 μL of respective standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation to
an IC or an HPLC, and record the chromatogram of electric conductivity to obtain
peak area.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration and the peak area of
electric conductivity of respective standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation.
Prepare a calibration curve when the sample is measured.

Comment 1 In the measurement of a sample solution, there is a possibility that the

recovery rate becomes lower than actual due to the influence of matrix if the
concentration is calculated with peak height. Therefore prepare a calibration
curve using peak area.

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 20 μL of sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1)
2) Obtain the sulfamic acid content from calibration curve by peak area to calculate
the sulfamic acid (amidosulfuric acid) in the analytical sample.

Comment 2 Calculate the concentration by the peak area similarly as the calibration curve
preparation to prevent the influence of matrix.
423
 Comment 3 Note that it takes time to stabilize the baseline due to the usage of the
ion-pairing reagent in the elute. It is recommended to take about 120 minutes
for stabilization time before starting measurement.
Comment 4 It is possible for the simultaneous measurement of sulfamic acid and
ammonium thiocyanate in this testing method. In that case, mix a
predetermined amount of sulfamic acid standard solution (1000 mg/L) and
ammonium thiocyanate standard solution (1000 mg/L), dilute with water to
prepare a mixture standard solution (10 mg/L) (1) and use it instead of
respective standard solutions (10 mg/L) in (2) i). After that, conduct the same
procedure in (4.2) b) to calculate the respective concentrations of materials
subjected to measurement in the analytical sample.
Comment 5 A recovery testing of ammonium sulfate (3 brands) was conducted. As a
result, the mean recovery at additive level of 0.25 % (mass fraction) and
0.075 % (mass fraction) was 94.4 % - 103.5 % and 94.4 % - 100.8 %.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of the test method is about
0.04 % (mass fraction).

Reference
1) Toshiaki HIROI and Yuji SHIRAI: Simultaneous Determination of Sulfamic Acid and
Ammonium Thiocyanate in Ammonium Sulfate by Nonsuppressed Ion Chromatography,
Research Report of Fertilizer,Vol.5, p. 1 – 23 (2012)

(5) Flow sheet for testing method: The flow sheet for sulfamic acid in ammonium sulfate
is shown below:

1.00 g Weigh into a 100-mL volumetric flask

← About 50 mL of water

Shaking to mix Stopple the volumetric flask and dissolve

← Water (up to the marked line)

Dilution Dilute 12.5 times, water

Filtration Membrane filter (no more than 0.5-µm)

Measurement Ion Chromatograph

Figure Flow sheet for sulfamic acid in ammonium sulfate

424
Reference: The IC chromatogram of sulfamic acid and thiocyanic acid of the standard
solution for the calibration curve preparation and sample solution (ammonium
sulfate) are shown below.

(A) Mixture standard solution (the equivalents of 60 ng as sulfamic acid and ammonium
thiocyanate (3 mg/L, 20 μL), respectively)

Enlarged diagram of peak for sufamic acid

(B) Sample solution (the equivalents of 0.25 % (mass fraction) as sulfamic acid and
ammonium thiocyanate added in ammonium sulfate (2500 μg/g), respectively)

Reference diagram: IC chromatogram of sulfamic acid and ammonium

thiocyanate.
(Peak: 1. Sulfamic acid, 2. Ammonium thiocyanate)

IC measurement conditions
Column: Shodex IC NI-424 (4.6-mm inner diameter, 100-mm long,
5μm-particle diameter)
Other conditions are according to the example of measurement conditions in
(4.2) a)

425
5.7.b High Performance Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometry
(1) Summary
This testing method is applicable to fertilizers.
Add water to an analytical sample to extract sulfamic acid, introduce it to a High Performance
Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer to isolate it with a silica gel column, to which
crosslink-type diol chemically bonds, and measure with a Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM)
method to obtain sulfamic acid (amidosulfuric acid) in an analytical sample.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557. Note that water of A4 or equivalent
quality should be used as the eluent which is introduced to LC-MS.
b) Acetonitrile: A regent of LC-MS analysis grade or equivalents.
c) Formic acid: A regent of LC-MS analysis grade or equivalents.
d) Ammonium formate buffer solution (pH 3.2): Dilute 3.153 g of ammonium formate
(no less than 95 % (mass fraction) in purity) with water to make 500 mL and adjust to
pH 3.2 with formic acid.
e) Sulfamic acid standard solution (1 mg/L): Put 0.1 g of sulfamic acid, reference
material for volumetric analysis specified in JIS K 8005, in a weighing dish and
measure the mass to the order of 0.1 mg. Add a small amount of water to dissolve, then
transfer to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the marked line.
f) Sulfamic acid standard solution (10 µg/L) (1): At the time of usage, put 2.5 mL of
standard solution (1 mg/L) to a 250-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the
marked line.
g) Sulfamic acid standard solution (200 ng/L) (1): At the time of usage, put 2.5 mL of
standard solution (10 µg/L) to a 250-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the
marked line.
h) Sulfamic acid standard solution for the calibration curve preparation (10 ng/L -
600 ng/L): At the time of usage, put 2.5 mL - 6 mL of sulfamic acid standard solution
(10 µg/L) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add water up to the marked line.
Similarly put 2.5 mL - 50 mL of sulfamic acid standard solution (200 ng/L) to 100-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS): LC-MS
specified in JIS K 0136 that satisfies following requirements.
1) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph:
(i) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 30 ºC - 45
ºC.
(ii) Column: A 2-mm – 3-mm inner diameter 100-mm – 150 mm long stainless steel
column tube filled with silica gel to which 5-μm crosslink-type diol chemically
bonds or polyhydroxymethacrylate. This should comply with the specification of
a Mass Spectrometer.
2) Mass Spectrometer
(i) Ionization method: Electro-Spray Ionization (ESI) method
(ii) Ion detection method: Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM) method
b) Magnetic stirrer
c) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can centrifuge at 1700 × g.
d) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g –
10000 × g.
426
 Comment 1 A column is sold under the name LUNA HILIC or Shodex HP-2D.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Powdery test sample
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of water and stir it by using a magnetic stirrer for about 10 minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution to a 50-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube.
d) Centrifuge it at 1700 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (2) and use the
supernatant as the extract.

Note (2) 16.5-cm of radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g centrifugal
force.

Comment 2 Instead of the procedures in (4.1.1) c) and d), it is allowed to filter with
Type 3 filter paper and the filtrate can be the extract.

(4.1.2) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water and shake to mix
c) Add water to the marked line to make the abstract

(4.2) Dilution: Conduct dilution as shown below.

a) Put 5 mL of extract into a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add water to the marked line and transfer to a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal
precipitate tube (3).
c) Centrifuge it at 8000 × g - 10000 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (4) and use
the supernatant as the extract.

Note (3) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(4) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g - 10000 × g centrifugal force.

Comment 3 Instead of the procedures in (4.2) b) and c), it is allowed to filter with a
membrane filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of
hydrophilic PTFE and the filtrate can be the sample solution.
Comment 4 If the total volume of main components for home garden-use mixed fertilizers
is less than 1 %, the procedures in (4.2) b) and c) can be conducted after the
procedure in (4.1.2) b) without diluting the extract.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0136 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for High Performance Liquid Chromatograph Mass
Spectrometer: Set up the measurement conditions considering the following example:
1) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph

427
 (i) Column: A silica gel column to which crosslink-type diol chemically bonds or
polyhydroxymethacrylate (2-mm - 3-mm inner diameter, 100-mm - 150-mm
long, 5-µm particle diameter).
(ii) Flow rate: 0.2 mL/min
(iii) Eluent: Ammonium formate buffer solution - Acetonitrile (1+9）
(iv) Temperature of column bath: 40 ºC
(v) Injection rate: 1 µL
(vi) Measurement time: 20 minutes
2) Mass Spectrometer
(i) Ionization method: Electro-Spray Ionization (ESI) method
(ii) Mode: Negative
(iii) Capillary voltage: -3.5 kV
(iv) Ion source temperature: 300 ºC
(v) Nebulizer gas rate: 1.5 L/min
(vi) Desolvation temperature: 250 ºC
(vii) Monitor ion: m/z 95.9

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 1 μL of respective standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation to
an LC-MS, and record the chromatogram of monitor ion (m/z) to obtain peak area.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the sulfamic acid concentration and the
peak area of monitor ion of respective standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation.

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 1 μL of sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1)
2) Obtain the sulfamic acid content from calibration curve by peak area to calculate
the sulfamic acid (amidosulfuric acid) in the analytical sample.

Comment 5 Recovery testing was conducted using samples that sulfamic acid equivalent
to 1/5 – 4 times of permissible content are added to ammonium sulfate
fertilizer (1 brand), by-product nitrogen fertilizer (1 brand), by-product mixed
fertilizer (1 brand), compound fertilizer (1 brand) and fluid mixed fertilizer (1
brand). As a result, the mean recovery at the additive level of 0.1 % (mass
fraction), 0.025 % (mass fraction ) and 0.005 % (mass fraction) are 97.6 % -
104.2 %, 95.2 % - 107.0 % and 96.4 % - 111.2 % respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using ammonium
sulfate fertilizer, by-product nitrogen fertilizer and by-product mixed fertilizer
to evaluate precision were analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance.
Table 1 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision and
repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.002 %. And the minimum limit of quantification of the method in
Comment 4, which omits the dilution procedure of extract, is about
0.0002 %.

428
 Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Ammonium sulfate 5 0.0974 0.0011 1.1 0.0027 2.7
By-product nitrogen
5 0.0656 0.0014 2.1 0.0017 2.6
fertilizer
Compound fertilizer 5 0.005 0.000 2.4 0.00029 5.8
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

References
1) Kohei ITO, Mariko FUJITA, Yoshimi HASHIMOTO and Yuji SHIRAI: Determination
of Sulfamic Acid in Fertilizer by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS),
Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 8, p. 38 – 49 (2015)

(5) Flow sheet for testing method: The flow sheet for sulfamic acid in fertilizers is shown
below:

1.00 g
200-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask
analytical sample (powdery)
← 100 mL of water
Extraction Stir to mix, 10 minites

Centrifugal separation Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

or filtration 1700 ×g , 5 minutes

1.00 g
100-mL volumetric flask
analytical sample (fluid)
← About 50 mL of water
Extraction Shake to mix

Aliquot (5 mL) 100-mL volumetric flask

← Water (up to the marked line)
Centrifugal separation Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,
or filtration 8000 ×g - 10000 ×g , 5 minutes

Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer

Measurement

Figure Flow sheet for sulfamic acid in fertilizers

429
Reference The chromatogram of sulfamic acid for the calibration curve preparation is
shown below.

Sulfamic acid

Retention time

(A) Standard solution

(The equivalent of 0.6 ng as sulfamic acid)

Retention time

(B) Sample solution

(The equivalent of 0.6 % of mass fraction as sulfamic acid is
added to a compound fertilizer)

Reference diagram: Chromatogram of sulfamic acid

LC-MS measurement conditions

Column: LINA HILIC (2.0-mm inner diameter, 100-mm long, 5-μm particle
diameter)
Other conditions are according to the example of LC-MS measurement
conditions in (4.3) a)
430
5.8 Ammonium thiocyanate (Sulfurized cyanide)
5.8.a Ion Chromatography
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to ammonium sulfate.
Add water to an analytical sample to extract sulfurized cyanide (hereinafter referred to as
“ammonium thiocyanate”), introduce it to an Ion Chromatograph (IC) or a High Performance
Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) to isolate it with an ion exchange column, and then measure
the thiocyanic acid with an electric conductivity detector to obtain ammonium thiocyanate
(sulfurized cyanide) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing
method is shown in Comment 5.
Sulfamic acid and ammonium thiocyanate can be simultaneously quantified by using this
method. (Refer to Comment 4).

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a)Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557 or equivalent quality
b)Phthalic acid: A reagent of no less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity.
c)p-hydroxybenzoic acid: A reagent of no less than 95 % (mass fraction) in purity.
d)1-sodium octane sulfonate: A reagent of no less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity.
e)1-sodium hexane sulfonate: A reagent of no less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity.
f)Boric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8863 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
g) Elute (1) (2): Weigh 0.083 g of phthalic acid, 0.552 g of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, 0.195 g
of 1-sodium octane sulfonate, 0.376 g of 1-sodium hexane sulfonate, and 6.183 g of
boric acid to a 1000-mL volumetric flask, add about 500 mL of water to dissolve and
add water up to the marked line. Filter with membrane type filter (pore size: no more
than 0.5 μm) made of hydrophilic PTFE
h) Ammonium thiocyanate standard solution (1000 mg/L) (1): Put 0.1 g of ammonium
thiocyanate (3), specified in JIS K 9000 in weighing dish, and measure the mass to the
order of 0.1 mg. Add a small amount of water to dissolve, then transfer to a 100-mL
volumetric flask and add water up to the marked line.
i) Ammonium thiocyanate standard solution (10 mg/L) (1): At the time of usage, put 10
mL of ammonium thiocyanate standard solution (1000 mg/L) to a 100-mL volumetric
flask and add water up to the marked line.
j) Ammonium thiocyanate standard solution for the calibration curve preparation
(0.3 mg/L - 3 mg/L): At the time of usage, put 3 mL - 30 mL of sulfamic acid standard
solutions (10 mg/L) to 100-mLvolumetric flasks step-by-step and add water up to the
marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) The concentrations of prepared solutions are phthalic acid 0.5 mmol/L,
p-hydroxybenzoic acid 4.0 mmol/L, 1-sodium octane sulfonate 0.9 mmol/L,
1-sodium hexane sulfonate 2.0 mmol/L, and boric acid 100 mmol/L,
respectively.
(3) It is recommended to store in a desiccator because of deliquescence.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) Ion Chromatograph (IC) or High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
IC specified in JIS K 0127 or HPLC specified in JIS K 0124 that satisfies following
requirements.

431
 1) Column: A 4-mm inner diameter 100-mm long stainless steel column tube filled
with hydrophilic methacrylate-gel, to which 5-μm particle diameter class 4
ammonium group chemically bonds (4).
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 55 ºC - 60 ºC.
3) Detection unit: An electric conductivity detector
b) Membrane filters: Pore size is no more than 0.5 μm, made of hydrophilic PTFE

Note (4) The column is commercially sold under the name Shodex IC NI-424 etc.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1)
Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
a)Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b)Add about 50 mL of water and shake to dissolve, and then add water up to the marked
line.
c) Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution, and dilute by a factor of 12.5 exactly
with water.
d) Filter with a membrane filter (pore size no more than 0.5 μm) to make the sample
solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0127 or JIS K 0124 and as
shown below. Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method
of the Ion Chromatograph (IC) or the High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC)
method used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the Ion Chromatograph (IC) or High Performance
Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC): Set up the measurement conditions considering the
following example of measurement conditions.
1) Column: A hydrophilic methacrylate-gel column (4-mm inner diameter, 100-mm
long, 5-μm particle diameter) to which class 4 ammonium group chemically bonds.
2) Column bath temperature: 58 ºC
3) Elute: Prepared by the procedures in (2) g)
4) Flow: 1 mL/min
5) Injection volume: 20 μL
6) Detection unit: An electric conductivity detector

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 20 μL of respective standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation
into an IC or an HPLC, and record the chromatogram of electric conductivity to
obtain peak area.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration and the peak area of
electric conductivity of respective standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation.
Prepare a calibration curve when the sample is measured.

Comment 1 In the measurement of a sample solution, there is a possibility that the

recovery rate becomes lower than actual due to the influence of matrix if the
concentration is calculated with peak height. Therefore prepare a calibration
curve using peak area.

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 20 μL of sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1)

432
 2) Obtain the ammonium thiocyanatecontent from the calibration curve by peak area
to calculate ammonium thiocyanate (sulfurized cyanade) in the analytical sample.

Comment 2 Calculate the concentration by the peak area to prevent the influence of
matrix similarly as the calibration curve preparation,
Comment 3 Note that it takes time to stabilize the baseline due to the usage of the
ion-pairing reagent in the elute. It is recommended to take about 120 minutes
for stabilization time before starting measurement.
Comment 4 It is possible for the simultaneous measurement of ammonium thiocyanate
and sulfamic acid in this testing method. In that case, mix a predetermined
amount of sulfamic acid standard solution (1000 mg/L) and ammonium
thiocyanate standard solution (1000 mg/L), dilute with water to prepare a
mixture standard solution (10 mg/L) (1) and use it instead of respective
standard solutions (10 mg/L) in (2) i). After that, conduct similarly as the
procedure in (4.2) b), and calculate the respective concentrations of materials
subjected to measurement in the analytical sample.
Comment 5 A recovery testing of ammonium sulfate (3 brands) was conducted, as a result,
the mean recovery at additive level of 0.25 % (mass fraction) and 0.075 %
(mass fraction) were 101.8 % - 103.7 % and 93.9 % - 97.4 %.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of the test method is about
0.04 % (mass fraction).

Reference
1) Toshiaki HIROI and Yuji SHIRAI: Simultaneous Determination of Sulfamic Acid and
Ammonium Thiocyanate in Ammonium Sulfate by Nonsuppressed Ion Chromatography,
Research Report of Fertilizer,Vol.5, p.1 - 23 (2012)

(5) Flow sheet for testing method: The flow sheet for ammonium thiocyanate in
ammonium sulfate is shown below:

1.00 g Weigh into a 100-mL volumetric flask

← About 50 mL of water

Shaking to mix Stopple the volumetric flask and dissolve

← Water (up to the marked line)

Dilution Dilute 12.5 times, water

Filtration Membrane filter (no more than 0.5-µm)

Measurement Ion Chromatograph

Figure flow sheet for ammonium thiocyanate in ammonium sulfate

433
Reference The IC chromatogram of sulfamic acid and thiocyanic acid of the standard
solution for the calibration curve preparation and the sample solution
(ammonium sulfate) are shown below.

(A) Mixture standard solution (the equivalents of 60 ng as sulfamic acid and ammonium
thiocyanate (3 mg/L, 20 μL), respectively)

Enlarged diagram of peak for sufamic acid

2
1

(B) Sample solution (the equivalents of 0.25% (mass fraction) as sulfamic acid and
ammonium thiocyanate added in ammonium sulfate (2500 μg/g), respectively)

Reference diagram: IC chromatogram of sulfamic acid and thiocyanic acid

(Peak: 1. Sulfamic acid, 2. Thiocyanic acid)

IC measurement conditions
Column: Shodex IC NI-424 (4.6-mm inner diameter, 100-mm long, 5-μm particle
diameter)
Other conditions are according to the example of measurement conditions in (4.2)
a)

434
5.8.b High Performance Liquid Chromatography
(1) Summary
This method is applicable to fertilizers.
Add water to an analytical sample, extract sulfurized cyanide (hereinafter referred to as
“ammonium thiocyanate”) and adjust pH as necessary. Introduce it into a High Performance
Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC), isolate with a silica gel column to which amino group
chemically bonds or a vinyl alcohol polymer column to which amino group chemically bonds,
and measure at wavelength 210 nm to obtain ammonium thiocyanate in an analytical sample.
In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 5.
With this method, nitrous acid and ammonium thiocyanate can be determined simultaneously.
(Refer to Comment 4)

(2) Reagents: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Sodium hydroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8576 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
c) Disodium hydrogenphosphate dodecahydrate: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified
in JIS K 9019 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
d) Sodium dihydrogenphosphate dihydrate: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS
K 9009 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
e) Sodium perchlorate monohydrate: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8227
or a reagent of equivalent quality.
f) Ammonium thiocyanate standard solution (1 mg/mL) (1): Put 0.1 g of ammonium
thiocyanate specified in JIS K 9000 in a weighing dish and measure the mass to the
order of 0.1 mg. Add a small amount of water to dissolve, then transfer to a
100-mLvolumetric flask and add water up to the marked line.
g) Ammonium thiocyanate standard solution (100 μg/mL) (1): At the time of usage, put
10 mL of ammonium thiocyanate standard solution (1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric
flask and add water up to the marked line.
h) Ammonium thiocyanate standard solution for the calibration curve preparation (1
μg/mL - 20 μg/mL): At the time of usage, put 1 mL - 20 mL of ammonium thiocyanate
standard solution (100 μg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add water
up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC): HPLC specified in JIS K 0124
that satisfies following requirements.
1) Column: A 4-mm to 6-mm inner diameter 150-mm to 250-mm long stainless steel
column tube filled with poly vinyl alcohol or silica gel (2) , to which 5-μm particle
diameter amino group chemically bonds .
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 30 ºC - 45 ºC.
3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 210
nm.
b) Magnetic stirrer
c) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 1700 × g.
d) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g –
10000 × g.

435
 e) pH test paper: A pH test paper infiltrated with indicator and dried, which can measure
the value from pH 1 to pH 11 and a color change chart with the pH interval value 1 is
attached.

Note (2) Remaining silanol group of silica gel affects the measurement of ion in some
cases. Therefore use a column which does not affect the measurement of
thiocyanic acid by treating the silanol group. As an example of the treatment,
silica gel is to be entirely covered with the uniform membrane of silicone
polymer.

Comment 1 A column is sold under the names CAPCELL PAK NH2 UG80 and
Asahipak NH2P-50 4E.
Comment 2 pH test paper is sold under the name UNIV Test Paper, etc.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Powdery test sample
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of water and stir it with a magnetic stirrer for about 10 minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution to a 50-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube.
d) Centrifuge at 1700 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (3) to make supernatant as
the extract.

Note (3) 16.5-cm of rotor radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g
centrifugal force.

(4.1.2) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, stopple the volumetric flask and shake to mix and dissolve.
c) Add water up to the marked line to make the extract.

(4.2) pH adjustment: Conduct pH adjustment as shown below.

a) Transfer a small amount of the extract to confirm pH value using a pH-test paper.
b) If the pH value in a) is pH 5 or more, transfer the extract to a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper
centrifugal precipitate tube(4) and conduct the procedure in f) to prepare a sample
solution.
c) If the pH value in a) is pH 4 or less, transfer 40 mL of the extract to a 100-mL beaker.
d) Add a sodium hydroxide solution (5 mg/mL), adjust it to pH 5 to pH 7 with a pH meter
and transfer to a 50-mL volumetric flask with water.
e) Add water to the marked line and transfer to a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal
precipitate tube (4).
f) Centrifuge at 8000 × g - 10000 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (5) to make
supernatant as the sample solution.

Note (4) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(5) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g - 10000 × g centrifugal force.

436
 Comment 3 Instead of procedures in (4.2) b) and e) - f), it is allowed to filter with a
membrane filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of
hydrophilic PTFE and the filtrate can be the sample solution.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
Set up the measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph
(HPLC) considering the following example:
1) Column: A vinyl alcohol polymer column (4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm -
250-mm long, 5-µm particle diameter) to which amino group chemically bonds or a
silica gel column (4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm - 250-mm long, 5-µm
particle diameter) to which amino group chemically bonds.
2) Temperature of Column bath: 30 ºC - 40 ºC
3) Eluent (1): Dissolve 1.79 g of disodium hydrogenphosphate dodecahydrate, 0.78 g of
sodium dihydrogenphosphate dihydrate and 14.04 g of sodium perchlorate
monohydrate in water to make 1000 mL. Filter with a membrane filter (aperture
diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic PTFE.
4) Flow rate: 0.9 mL/min
5) Injection rate: 10 μL
6) Detector: An absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 210 nm

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 10 µL of respective standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation to
an HPLC, record chromatogram at wavelength 210 nm and obtain the peak area.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration and the peak area at
wavelength 210 nm of the respective standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation.

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
2) Obtain the ammonium thiocyanate content from the peak area using the calibration
curve to calculate ammonium thiocyanate (sulfurized cyanide) in the analytical
sample.

Comment 4 This test method enables the simultaneous measurement of nitrous acid and
ammonium thiocyanate (sulfurized cyanide). In this case, mix a
predetermined amount of nitrous acid standard solution (1 mg/mL) and
ammonium thiocyanate standard solution (1 mg/mL), dilute with water to
prepare a mixture standard solution (100 μg/mL) (1) and use it instead of (2)
h) ammonium thiocyanate standard solution (100 μg/mL). After that, conduct
the same procedure in (4.3) b) to calculate the respective concentrations of
materials subjected to measurement in the analytical sample.
Comment 5 A recovery testing was conducted using samples that ammonium thiocyanate
equivalent to 1/5 – 5 times of permissible content are added to an ammonium
sulfate fertilizer (1 brand), a coating nitrogen fertilizer (1 brand), a blended
fertilizer (2brands), a compound fertilizer (1 brand) and a fluid mixed
fertilizer (1 brand). As a result, the mean recovery at the additive level of
0.025 % (mass fraction), 0.01 % (mass fraction ), 0.005 % (mass fraction) and

437
 0.0025 % (mass fraction) are 95.4 % - 100.5 %, 94.7 % - 103.8 % , 83.8 % -
109.0 % and 87.2 % - 103.3 % respectively.
The results and analysis results of a collaborative study for test method
validation are shown in Table 1. Ammonium thiocyanate had sufficient
reproducibility in the range from 0.00476 % to 0.204 %.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.002 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Results and statistical analysis results from a collaborative study

for the ammonium thiocyanate method
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
Number of Mean sr RSD r sR RSD R
Sample name 1) 3) 3) 3)
laboratories (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Home garden-use mixed
10 0.00476 0.00019 4.1 0.00060 12.7
fertilizer 1
Home garden-use mixed
9 0.00976 0.00029 2.9 0.00050 4.7
fertilizer 2
Home garden-use mixed
9 0.0506 0.0019 3.7 0.0022 4.3
fertilizer 3
Compound fertilizer 1 10 0.10 0.002 2.3 0.003 2.6
Compound fertilizer 2 11 0.204 0.006 2.7 0.008 3.7
Compound fertilizer 3 10 0.00989 0.00037 3.8 0.00060 6.5
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n = number of laboratories × number of samples (2))
3) Mass fraction
4) Repeatability standard deviation
5) Repeatability relative standard deviation
6) Reproducibility standard deviation
7) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Kohei ITO, Yasuharu KIMURA, Masanori HASEGAWA and Yuji SHIRAI:
Simultaneous Determination of Nitrous Acid and Thiocyanate in Fertilizer by High
Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Japanese Journal of Soil Science and
Plant Nutrition, Vol. 87 (2), p.120 – 124 (2016)
2) Masanori HASEGAWA and Yasuharu KIMURA: Determination of Nitrous Acid and
Ammonium Thiocyanate in Fertilizer by High Performance Liquid Chromatography
(HPLC): A Collaborative Study, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 8, p. 70 – 78 (2015)

438
(5) Flow sheet for testing method: The flow sheet for ammonium thiocyanate in fertilizers
is shown below:

1.00 g
200-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask
analytical sample (powdery)
← 100 mL of water
Extraction Stir to mix, 10 minites

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
1700 ×g , 5 minutes

1.00 g
100-mL volumetric flask
analytical sample (fluid)
← 50 mL - 70 mL of water
Extraction Shake to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)

pH value confirmation pH test paper

pH 5 or more
pH 4 or less
Aliquot (40 mL) 100-mL beaker

pH adjustment (pH 5 - pH 7) Sodium hydroxide solution (5 mg/mL)

Transfer 50-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
8000 ×g - 10000 ×g , 5 minutes

Measurement High Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Figure Flow sheet for ammonium thiocyanate in fertilizers

439
Reference The HPLC chromatogram of nitrous acid and ammonium thiocyanate are
shown below.

← 1

2
↓

Retention time
(minutes)
(A) Mixture standard solution
(The equivalents of 100 ng (10 µg/mL, 10 μL) as nitrous acid and ammonium thiocyanate,
respectively)

1 →

2
↓

Retention time
(minutes)
(B) Sample solution
(The equivalents of 0.1 % (mass fraction) as nitrous acid and ammonium thiocyanate
added in blended fertilizer respectively)

Reference diagram: HPLC chromatogram of nitrous acid and ammonium

thiocyanate
(Peak: 1. Nitrous acid, 2. Thiocyanate)

HPLC measurement conditions

Column: CAPCELL PAK NH2 UG80 (4.6-mm inner diameter, 250-mm long,
5-μm particle diameter)
Other conditions are according to the example of measurement conditions in (4.3) a)

440
5.9 Nitrous acid
5.9.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography
(1) Summary
This method is applicable to fertilizers.
Add water to an analytical sample, extract nitrous acid and adjust pH as necessary. Introduce
it into a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC), isolate with a silica gel column to
which amino group chemically bonds or a vinyl alcohol polymer column to which amino
group chemically bonds, and measure at wavelength 210 nm to obtain nitrous acid in an
analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment
5.
With this method, nitrous acid and sulfurized cyanide (ammonium thiocyanate) can be
measured simultaneously. (Refer to Comment 4)

(2) Reagents: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Sodium hydroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8576 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
c) Disodium hydrogenphosphate dodecahydrate: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified
in JIS K 9019 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
d) Sodium dihydrogenphosphate dihydrate: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS
K 9009 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
e) Sodium perchlorate monohydrate: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8227
or a reagent of equivalent quality.
f) Nitrous Acid standard solution (1 mg/mL) (1): Put 0.147 g of sodium nitrite specified
in JIS K 8019 in a weighing dish and measure the mass to the order of 0.1 mg. Add a
small amount of water to dissolve, then transfer to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add
water up to the marked line.
g) Nitrous acid standard solution (100 μg/mL) (1): At the time of usage, put 10 mL of
nitrous acid standard solution (1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add water
up to the marked line.
h) Nitrous acid standard solution for the calibration curve preparation (1 μg/mL - 20
μg/mL): At the time of usage, put 1 mL - 20 mL of nitrous acid standard solution (100
μg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC): HPLC specified in JIS K 0124
that satisfies following requirements.
1) Column: A 4-mm to 6-mm inner diameter 150-mm to 250-mm long stainless steel
column tube filled with poly vinyl alcohol or silica gel (2), to which 5-μm particle
diameter amino group chemically bonds .
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 30 ºC - 45 ºC.
3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 210
nm.
b) Magnetic stirrer
c) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 1700 × g.
d) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g –
10000 × g.

441
 e) pH test paper: A pH test paper infiltrated with indicator and dried, which can measure
the value from pH 1 to pH 11 and a color change chart with the pH interval value 1 is
attached.

Note (2) Remaining silanol group of silica gel affects the measurement of ion in some
cases. Therefore use a column which does not affect the measurement of nitrous
acid by treating the silanol group. As an example of the treatment, silica gel is
entirely covered with the uniform membrane of silicone polymer.

Comment 1 A column is sold under the name CAPCELL PAK NH2 UG80 or Asahipak
NH2P-50 4E.
Comment 2 pH test paper is sold under the name UNIV Test Paper.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Powdery test sample
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of water and stir it with a magnetic stirrer for about 10 minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution to a 50-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube.
d) Centrifuge at about 1700 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (3) to make
supernatant as the extract.

Note (3) 16.5-cm of rotor radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g
centrifugal force.

(4.1.2) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water, stopple the volumetric flask and shake to mix and dissolve
c) Add water up to the marked line to make the extract.

(4.2) pH adjustment: Conduct pH adjustment as shown below.

a) Transfer a small amount of extract to confirm pH value using a pH-test paper.
b) If the pH value in a) is pH 5 or more, transfer the extract to a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper
centrifugal precipitate tube (4) and conduct the procedure in f) to prepare a sample
solution.
c) If the pH value in a) is pH 4 or less, transfer 40 mL of the extract to a 100-mL beaker.
d) Add a sodium hydroxide solution (5 mg/mL), adjust it to pH 5 to pH 7 with a pH meter
and transfer to a 50-mL volumetric flask with water.
e) Add water to the marked line and transfer to a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal
precipitate tube (4).
f) Centrifuge at 8000 × g – 10000 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (5) to make
supernatant as the sample solution.

Note (4) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(5) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g – 10000 × g centrifugal force.

442
 Comment 3 Instead of procedures in (4.2) b) and e) - f), it is allowed to filter with a
membrane filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of
hydrophilic PTFE and the filtrate can be the sample solution.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.

a) Measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):

Set up the measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph
(HPLC) considering the following example:
1) Column: A vinyl alcohol polymer column (4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm -
250-mm long, 5-µm particle diameter) to which amino group chemically bonds or a
silica gel column (4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm - 250-mm long, 5-µm
particle diameter) to which amino group chemically bonds or.
2) Temperature of Column bath: 30 ºC - 40 ºC
3) Eluent (1): Dissolve 1.79 g of disodium hydrogenphosphate dodecahydrate, 0.78 g of
sodium dihydrogenphosphate dihydrate and 14.04 g of sodium perchlorate
monohydrate in water to make 1000 mL. Filter with a membrane filter (aperture
diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic PTFE.
4) Flow rate: 0.9 mL/min - 1.0 mL/min
5) Injection rate: 10 μL
6) Detector: An absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 210 nm

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 10 µL of respective standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation to
an HPLC, record a chromatogram at wavelength 210 nm and obtain the peak area.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration and the peak area at
wavelength 210 nm of the standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
2) Obtain the nitrous acid content by the peak area using the calibration curve to
calculate the concentration of nitrous acid in the analytical sample.

Comment 4 This test method enables the simultaneous measurement of nitrous acid and
ammonium thiocyanate (sulfurized cyanide). In this case, mix a
predetermined amount of nitrous acid standard solution (1 mg/mL) and
ammonium thiocyanate standard solution (1 mg/mL), dilute with water to
prepare a mixture standard solution (100 μg/mL) (1) and use it instead of (2)
h) nitrous acid standard solution (100 μg/mL). After that, conduct the same
procedure in (4.3) b) to calculate the respective concentrations of materials
subjected to measurement in the analytical sample.

Comment 5 Recovery testing was conducted using samples that ammonium thiocyanate
equivalent to 1/5 – 5 times of permissible content are added to ammonium
sulfate fertilizer (1 brand), coating nitrogen fertilizer (1 brand), blended
fertilizer (2brands),compound fertilizer (1 brand) and fluid mixed fertilizer (1
brand). As a result, the mean recovery at the additive level of 0.1 % (mass
fraction), 0.04 % (mass fraction ), 0.02 % (mass fraction) and 0.01 % (mass

443
 fraction) are 99.0 % - 100.8 %, 100.4 % - 102.0 % , 103.1 % - 106.6 % and
101.2 % - 105.9 % respectively.
The results and analysis results of a collaborative study for test method
validation are shown in Table 1. Nitrous acid had sufficient reproducibility in
the range of 0.0255 % to 0.291 %.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.0003 % (mass fraction)

Table 1 Results and statistical analysis results from a collaborative study

for the nitrous acid method
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
Number of Mean sr RSD r sR RSD R
Sample name 1) 3) 3) 3)
laboratories (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Home garden-use
10 0.0502 0.0005 1.1 0.0009 1.7
mixed fertilizer 1
Home garden-use
11 0.0255 0.00070 2.6 0.0009 3.5
mixed fertilizer 2
Home garden-use
9 0.150 0.004 2.9 0.005 3.6
mixed fertilizer 3
Compound fertilizer 1 10 0.202 0.004 1.9 0.004 2.2
Compound fertilizer 2 10 0.291 0.004 1.3 0.005 1.7
Compound fertilizer 3 10 0.0498 0.0007 1.4 0.0010 2.0
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n = number of laboratories × number of samples (2))
3) Mass fraction
4) Repeatability standard deviation
5) Repeatability relative standard deviation
6) Reproducibility standard deviation
7) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Kohei ITO, Yasuharu KIMURA, Masanori HASEGAWA and Yuji SHIRAI:
Simultaneous Determination of Nitrous Acid and Thiocyanate in Fertilizer by High
Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Japanese Journal of Soil Science and
Plant Nutrition, Vol. 87 (2), p. 120 – 124 (2016)
2) Masanori HASEGAWA and Yasuharu KIMURA: Determination of Nitrous Acid and
Ammonium Thiocyanate in Fertilizer by High Performance Liquid Chromatography
(HPLC): A Collaborative Study, Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 8, p.70 – 78 (2015)

444
(5) Flow sheet for testing method: The flow sheet for nitrous acid in fertilizers is shown
below:

1.00 g
200-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask
analytical sample (powdery)
← 100 mL of water
Extraction Stir to mix, 10 minites

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
1700 ×g , 5 minutes

1.00 g
100-mL volumetric flask
analytical sample (fluid)
← 50 mL - 70 mL of water
Extraction Shake to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)

pH value confirmation pH test paper

pH 5 or more
pH 4 or less
Aliquot (40 mL) 100-mL beaker

pH adjustment (pH 5 - pH 7) Sodium hydroxide solution (5 mg/mL)

Transfer 50-mL volumetric flask, water

← Water (up to the marked line)

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
8000 ×g - 10000 ×g , 5 minutes

Measurement High Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Figure Flow sheet for nitrous acid in fertilizers

445
Reference The HPLC chromatogram of nitrous acid and ammonium thiocyanate are
shown below.

← 1

2
↓

Retention time
(minutes)
(A) Mixture standard solution
(The equivalents of 100 ng (10 µg/mL, 10 μL) as nitrous acid and ammonium thiocyanate,
respectively)

1 →

2
↓

Retention time
(minutes)
(B) Sample solution
(The equivalents of 0.1 % (mass fraction) as nitrous acid and ammonium thiocyanate
added in blended fertilizer respectively)

Reference diagram: HPLC chromatogram of nitrous acid and ammonium

thiocyanate
(Peak: 1. Nitrous acid, 2. Thiocyanate)

HPLC measurement conditions

Column: CAPCELL PAK NH2 UG80 (4.6-mm inner diameter, 250-mm long,
5-μm particle diameter)
Other conditions are according to the example of measurement conditions in
(4.3) a)

446
5.10 Biuret nitrogen

5.10.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography

(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fertilizers.
Add water to an analytical sample to extract biuret, introduce it to a High Performance
Chromatograph (HPLC) to isolate it with a weak acid ion-exchange column, and then
measure at wavelength 190 nm to obtain biuret nitrogen (B-N) in an analytical sample.
Dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N), urea nitrogen (U-N), guanidine urea (Gu-N) and guanylurea
nitrogen (Gy-N) can be simultaneously quantified by using this method. (Refer to Comment
5).

(2) Reagents: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Potassium dihydrogenphosphate: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 9007
or a reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Phosphoric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 9005 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
d) Biuret nitrogen standard solution (B-N 2 mg/mL) (1): Put 0.491 g of biuret
[C2H5N3O2] (2) in a weighing dish and measure the mass to the order of 0.1 mg. Add a
small amount of water, transfer to a 100-mLvolumetric flask and warm up to 50ºC to
dissolve. After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
e) Biuret nitrogen standard solution (B-N 200 µg/mL): Put 10 mL of biuret nitrogen
standard solution (B-N 2 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the
marked line.
f) Biuret nitrogen standard solution (B-N 50 µg/mL - 100 µg/mL): Put 25 mL – 50 mL
of biuret nitrogen standard solution (B-N 200 µg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks and
add water up to the marked line.
g) Biuret nitrogen standard solution for the calibration curve preparation (B-N 1
μg/mL - 50 μg/mL): At the time of usage, put 1 mL - 50 mL of biuret nitrogen standard
solution (B-N 100 μg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add water up
to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) A reagent of no less than 97 % (mass fraction) in purity is commercially sold as
biuret.

Comment 1 Biuret is sold by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., Kanto Chemical Co.,
Inc. and Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC): HPLC specified in JIS K 0124
that satisfies following requirements.
1) Column: A 7.5-mm inner diameter 100-mm long stainless steel column tube filled
with weak acid ion-exchange resin.
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 30 ºC - 45 ºC.
3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 190
nm.
b) Magnetic stirrer
c) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g –
10000 × g.
447
 Comment 2 A column is sold under the production name Asahipak ES-502C 7C .

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Powdery test sample
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of water and stir it with a magnetic stirrer for about 10 minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution (3) to a 1.5-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube (4).
d) Centrifuge at 8000×g - 10000×g centrifugal forces for about five minutes (5) to make
supernatant as the sample solution.

Note (3) If there is a possibility that the biuret nitrogen (B-N) concentration in the sample
solution will exceed the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a
predetermined amount of supernatant with water.
(4) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(5) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g – 10000 × g centrifugal forces.

(4.1.2) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water and shake to mix.
c) Add water up to the marked line (6) and transfer to a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper
centrifugal precipitate tube (4).
d) Centrifuge at 8000 × g – 10000 × g centrifugal forces for about five minutes (5) to make
supernatant as the extract.

Note (6) If there is a possibility that the biuret nitrogen (B-N) concentration in the sample
solution will exceed the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a
predetermined amount of precisely adjusted solution with water.

Comment 3 Instead of procedures in (4.1.1) c) – d) or (4.1.2) c) - d), it is allowed to

filter with a membrane filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made
of hydrophilic PTFE and the filtrate can be the sample solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
Set up the measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph
(HPLC) considering the following example:
1) Column: A weak acid ion-exchange resin column (7.5-mm inner diameter, 100-mm
long, 5-µm – 10-µm particle diameter)
2) Temperature of Column bath: 40 ºC
3) Eluent (1): Dissolve 3.92 g of potassium dihydrogenphosphate and 0.12 g of
phosphoric acid in water to make 1000 mL. Filter with a membrane filter (aperture
diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic PTFE.
4) Flow rate: 0.6 mL/min
5) Injection rate: 10 μL
448
 6) Detector: An absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 190 nm

Comment 4 Eluent can be prepared as follows. Dissolve 19.6 g of potassium

dihydrogenphosphate and 0.584 g of phosphoric acid with water to make 500
mL and store in a refrigerator. At the time of usage, dilute a predetermined
volume of the solution by a factor of 10 and filter with a membrane filter
(aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic PTFE.

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 10 µL of respective standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation to
an HPLC, record a chromatogram at wavelength 190 nm and obtain the peak area.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the biuret nitrogen (B-N) concentration
and the peak area at wavelength 190 nm of the respective standard solutions for the
calibration curve preparation

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
2) Obtain the biuret nitrogen (B-N) content from the peak area using the calibration
curve to calculate the biuret nitrogen (B-N) in the analytical sample.

Comment 5 This test method enables the simultaneous measurement of biuret nitrogen
(B-N), dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N), urea nitrogen (U-N), guanidine urea
(Gu-N) and guanylurea nitrogen (Gy-N). In this case, mix a predetermined
amount of biuret nitrogen (B-N 2 mg/mL), dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N 2
mg/mL), urea nitrogen (U-N2 mg/mL), guanidine urea (Gu-N 2 mg/mL) and
guanylurea nitrogen (Gy-N 2 mg/mL), dilute with water to prepare a mixture
standard solution (200 μg/mL) (1) and use it instead of (2) e) a biuret nitrogen
standard solution (B-N 200 μg/mL). After that, conduct the same procedure in
(4.2) b) to calculate the respective concentrations of materials subjected to
measurement in the analytical sample.

449
(5) Flow sheet for testing method: The flow sheet for biuret nitrogen in fertilizers is shown
below:

1.00 g
200-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask
analytical sample (powdery)
← 100 mL of water
Extraction Stir to mix, 10 minites

Stand to cool

1.00 g
100-mL volumetric flask
analytical sample (fluid)
←About 50 mL of water
Extraction Shake to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
8000 ×g - 10000 ×g , 5 minutes

Measurement Liquid Chromatograph

Figure Flow sheet for biuret nitrogen in fertilizers

450
5.11 Titan

This method is according to 5.16 Titan analysis in “The Official Methods of Analysis of
Fertilizers 1992”.

Reference
1) National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries: The Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers 1992, p. 111 -
113, Japan Fertilizers Analysis Association, Tokyo (1992)
2) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 246 - 249, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

451
5.12 Sulfurous acid

This method is according to 5.3 Sulfurous acid analysis in “The Official Methods of Analysis
of Fertilizers 1992”.

Reference
1) National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries: The Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers 1992, p. 78 - 79,
Japan Fertilizers Analysis Association, Tokyo (1992)
2) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 196 - 197, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

452
6. Testing relating to the other limitations

6.1 Dicyandiamide nitrogen

6.1.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to nitrolime and fertilizers containing nitrolime.
Add methanol to an analytical sample to extract dicyandiamide (Dd), introduce it to a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC), isolate with an amino propyl silica gel column
and measure at wavelength 215 nm to obtain dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N) in an analytical
sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 4.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Methanol: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8891 or a reagent of equivalent
quality.
b) Methanol: Methanol used in eluent of an HPLC is HPLC analysis grade or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
c) Acetonitrile: A reagent of HPLC grade or equivalents.
d) Dicyandiamide standard solution (1 mg/mL) (1): Put 0.1 g of dicyandiamide [C2H4N4]
(2)
to a weighing dish and measure the mass to the order of 0.1 mg. Add a small amount
of methanol to dissolve, transfer to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add the solvent up to
the marked line. Store in a refrigerator, and do not use after 6 months after preparation.
e) Dicyandiamide standard solution (0.1 mg/mL): Put 10 mL of dicyandiamide standard
solution (1 mg/ mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add methanol up to the marked
line.
f) Dicyandiamide standard solution (10 µg/ mL - 50 µg/ mL) for the calibration curve
preparation: At the time of usage, put 5 mL - 25 mL of dicyandiamide standard
solution (0.1 mg/ mL) to 50-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add methanol up to
the marked line.
g) Dicyandiamide standard solution (1 µg/mL - 10 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation: At the time of usage, put 2.5 mL - 25 mL of dicyandiamide standard
solution (20 µg/mL) for the calibration curve preparation to 50-mL volumetric flasks
step-by-step and add methanol up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) A reagent of no less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity as dicyanamide is
commercially sold.

Comment 1 Dicyandiamide is commercially sold as dicyanodiamide by Wako Pure

Chemical Industries, Ltd. and Kanto Chemical Co., Inc.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph: HPLC specified in JIS K 0124 that
satisfies the following requirements.
1) Column: A column of 4 mm - 6 mm inner diameter and 150 mm - 250 mm long
stainless steel column tube filled with silica gel, to which amino or amino propyl
chemically bonds.
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to at 30 ºC - 45
ºC.
3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 215
nm.
b) Shaking apparatus
453
 c) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g -
10000 × g.

Comment 2 A column is sold under production names such as Hibar LiChrosorb NH2,
Inertsil NH2, Unison UK-Amino, Mightysil NH2, Shim-pack CLC-NH2,
Shodex NH-5A, Unisil Q NH2, etc.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 200-mL - 300-mL ground-in
stopper Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Immediately add 100 mL of methanol (3) and shake to mix by using a shaking apparatus
for about 10 minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution to a 1.5 mL of ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube (4).
d) Centrifuge at 8000 × g - 10000 × g for about five minutes (5)
e) 1 mL of the supernatant is used as the sample solution.

Note (3) Add methanol immediately as the determined value becomes higher than usual if
it is left in air.
(4) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(5) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g - 10000 × g centrifugal force.

Comment 3 Instead of the procedures in (4.1) c) - e), it is allowed to filter with a

membrane filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of PTFE and
the filtrate can be the sample solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
An example of measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph
(HPLC) is shown below. Set up the measurement conditions considering it:
1) Column: A silica gel column (4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm - 250-mm
long, 5-µm particle diameter) to which amino or amino propyl chemically bonds.
2) Temperature of Column bath: 30 ºC - 40 ºC
3) Eluent: Acetonitrile - methanol (6+1）
4) Flow rate: 1 mL/ min
5) Detector: An absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 215 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Inject 10 µL of respective dicyandiamide standard solutions for the calibration
curve preparation to an HPLC, record a chromatogram at wavelength 215 nm, and
obtain the peak area or the height.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration and the peak area or
the height at wavelength 215 nm of the dicyandiamide standard solutions for the
calibration curve preparation.

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
454
 2) Obtain dicyandiamide (Dd) content from the calibration curve to calculate the
concentration of dicyandiamide (Dd) in the analytical sample.
3) Calculate the dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd - N) by the following formula.

Dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd - N) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

= A × (MW1/MW2)
= A × 0.6664

A: Dicyandiamide (Dd) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

MW1: 4 atomic weight of nitrogen (56.027)
MW2: Molecular weight of dicyandiamide (84.080)

Comment 4: Recovery testing was conducted using nitrolime (3 samples) and a blended
fertilizer containing nitrolime (2 samples), as a result, the recovery of
dicyandiamide at concentration level of 6 and 0.6 % (mass fraction) was
94.9 % - 105.1 % and 95.6 % - 103.5 % respectively.
In addition, the results and analysis results of a collaborative study for the
test method validation are shown in Table 1
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is
about 0.01 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study

for the test method validation of dicyandiamide nitrogen
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
Sample Number of Mean sr RSD r sR RSD R
1)
name laboratories (%)
3)
(%)
3)
(%) (%)
3)
(%)
Nitrolime 1 9 0.0321 0.0010 3.2 0.0012 3.8

Nitrolime 2 10 0.159 0.002 1.3 0.006 3.8

Nitrolime 3 11 0.245 0.002 0.7 0.008 3.3

Blended
11 0.124 0.001 0.7 0.002 2.0
fertilizers 1
Blebded
11 0.410 0.007 1.6 0.008 1.9
fertilizers 2
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n = number of laboratories x number of samples (2))
3) Mass fraction
4) Repeatability standard deviation
5) Repeatability relative standard deviation
6) Reproducibility standard deviation
7) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Masakazu SAIKI and Miyuki ASAO: Validation of High Performance Liquid
Chromatography for Determination of Dicyandiamide in Nitrolime, Research Report of
Fertilizers, Vol.2, p. 25 - 31 (2009)
2) Masakazu SAIKI and Masayuki YOSHIMOTO: Determination of Dicyandiamide in
Nitrolime by High Performance Liquid Chromatography: A Collaborative Study,
Research Report of Fertilizers, Vol.2, p. 32 - 37 (2009)

455
(5) Flow sheet for dicyandiamide nitrogen: The flow sheet for dicyandiamide nitrogen in
nitrolime and fertilizers containing nitrolime is shown below:

1.00 g
200-mL - 300-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask
analytical sample
←　100 mL of methanol
Extraction Shaking, 10 minutes

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
8000 ×g - 10000 ×g , 5 minutes

Measurement High Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Figure 　Flow sheet for dicyandiamide nitrogen

in nitrolime and fertilizers containing nitrolime

456
Reference HPLC chromatographs of dicyandiamide standard solution and sample solution
(nitrolime) for the calibration curve preparation are shown below.

0.11 0.11

Dd 8.458
Dd 8.541
0.10 0.10
0.09 0.09
0.08 0.08
0.07 0.07
0.06 0.06
AU

AU
0.05 0.05
0.04 0.04
0.03 0.03
0.02 0.02
0.01 0.01
0.00 0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
min min

1) Standard solution 2) Sample solution

Reference diagram: HPLC chromatogram of dicyandiamide

1) Dicyandiamide standard solution (the equivalents of 100 ng (10 µg/ mL, 10 µL) of
dicyandiamide)
2) Sample solution (nitrolime)

The measurement conditions of HPLC

Column: Hibar LiChrosorb NH2 (4.6-mm inner diameter, 25-cm long, 5-µm
particle diameter)
Other conditions are according to the example of the measurement condition of
HPLC in (4.2) a).

457
6.1.b High Performance Liquid Chromatography (2)
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fertilizers.
Add water to an analytical sample to extract dicyandiamide, introduce it to a High
Performance Chromatograph (HPLC) to isolate it with a weak acid ion-exchange column, and
then measure at wavelength 190 nm to obtain dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N) in an analytical
sample.
Biuret nitrogen (B-N), urea nitrogen (U-N), guanidine urea (Gu-N) and guanylurea nitrogen
(Gy-N) can be simultaneously quantified by using this method. (Refer to Comment 5).

(2) Reagents: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Potassium dihydrogenphosphate: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 9007
or a reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Phosphoric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 9005 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
d) Dicyandiamide nitrogen standard solution (Dd-N 2 mg/mL) (1): Put 0.300 g of
dicyandiamide [C2H4N4] (2) in a weighing dish and measure the mass to the order of 0.1
mg. Add a small amount of water to dissolve, transfer to a 100-mLvolumetric flask and
add water up to the marked line.
e) Dicyandiamide nitrogen standard solution for the calibration curve preparation
(Dd-N 200 µg/mL): Put 10 mL of dicyandiamide nitrogen standard solution (Dd-N 2
mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the marked line.
f) Dicyandiamide nitrogen standard solution (Dd-N 50 µg/mL - 100 µg/mL): Put 25
mL – 50 mL of dicyandiamide nitrogen standard solution (Dd-N 200 µg/mL) to 100-mL
volumetric flasks and add water up to the marked line.
g) Dicyandiamide nitrogen standard solution for the calibration curve preparation
(Dd-N 1 μg/mL - 50 μg/mL): At the time of usage, put 1 mL - 50 mL of dicyandiamide
nitrogen standard solution (Dd-N 100 μg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step
and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) A reagent of no less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity is commercially sold as
dicyandiamid.

Comment 1 Dicyandiamide is sold by Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. In addition, it

is sold by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. and Kanto Chemical Co.,
Inc. as dicyanodiamide.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC): HPLC specified in JIS K 0124
that satisfies following requirements.
1) Column: A 7.5-mm inner diameter 100-mm long stainless steel column tube filled
with weak acid ion-exchange resin.
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 30 ºC - 45 ºC.
3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 190
nm.
b) Magnetic stirrer
c) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g –
10000 × g.

458
 Comment 2 A column is sold under the production name Asahipak ES-502C 7C.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Powdery test sample
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of water and stir it with a magnetic stirrer for about 10 minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution (3) to a 1.5-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube (4).
d) Centrifuge at 8000 × g – 10000 × g centrifugal forces for about five minutes (5) to make
supernatant as the sample solution.

Note (3) If there is a possibility that the dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N) concentration in
the sample solution will exceed the maximum limit of the calibration curve,
dilute a predetermined amount of supernatant with water.
(4) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(5) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g – 10000 × g centrifugal forces.

(4.1.2) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water and shake to mix.
c) Add water up to the marked line (6) and transfer to a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper
centrifugal precipitate tube (4).
d) Centrifuge at 8000 × g – 10000 × g centrifugal forces for about five minutes (5) to make
supernatant as the extract.

Note (6) If there is a possibility that the dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N) concentration in
the sample solution will exceed the maximum limit of the calibration curve,
dilute a predetermined amount of precisely adjusted solution with water.

Comment 3 Instead of procedures in (4.1.1) c) – d) or (4.1.2) c) - d), it is allowed to

filter with a membrane filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made
of hydrophilic PTFE and the filtrate can be the sample solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
Set up the measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph
(HPLC) considering the following example:
1) Column: A weak acid ion-exchange resin column (7.5-mm inner diameter, 100-mm
long, 5-µm – 10-µm particle diameter)
2) Temperature of Column bath: 40 ºC
3) Eluent (1): Dissolve 3.92 g of potassium dihydrogenphosphate and 0.12 g of
phosphoric acid in water to make 1000 mL. Filter with a membrane filter (aperture
diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic PTFE.
4) Flow rate: 0.6 mL/min
5) Injection rate: 10 μL

459
 6) Detector: An absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 190 nm

Comment 4 Eluent can be prepared as follows. Dissolve 19.6 g of potassium

dihydrogenphosphate and 0.584 g of phosphoric acid with water to make
500 mL and store in a refrigerator. At the time of usage, dilute a
predetermined volume of the solution by a factor of 10 and filter with a
membrane filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of
hydrophilic PTFE.

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 10 µL of respective standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation to
an HPLC, record a chromatogram at wavelength 190 nm and obtain the peak area.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N)
concentration and the peak area at wavelength 190 nm of the respective standard
solutions for the calibration curve preparation.

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
2) Obtain the dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N) content from the peak area using the
calibration curve to calculate the dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N) in the analytical
sample.

Comment 5 This test method enables the simultaneous measurement of biuret nitrogen
(B-N), urea nitrogen (U-N), dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N), guanidine urea
(Gu-N) and guanylurea nitrogen (Gy-N). In this case, refer to 5.10.a
Comment 5.

460
(5) Flow sheet for testing method: The flow sheet for dicyandiamide nitrogen in fertilizers
is shown below:

1.00 g
200-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask
analytical sample (powdery)
← 100 mL of water
Extraction Stir to mix, 10 minites

Stand to cool

1.00 g
100-mL volumetric flask
analytical sample (fluid)
←About 50 mL of water
Extraction Shake to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
8000 ×g - 10000 ×g , 5 minutes

Measurement Liquid Chromatograph

Figure Flow sheet for dicyandiamide nitrogen in fertilizers

461
6.2 Chlorine
6.2.a Ion Chromatography
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to potassium sulfate, potassium bicarbonate, magnesium
potassium sulfate, fish cakes powder, fish cakes and compost.
Add water to an analytical sample to extract chloride ions, introduce them to an Ion
Chromatograph (IC) to isolate it with an ion exchange column, and then measure with an
electric conductivity detector to obtain chlorine (Cl) in an analytical sample. In addition, the
performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 3.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a)Water: Water of A4 specified in JIS K 0557.
b)1 mol/L sodium carbonate solution: Solution for ion chromatography.
c)Phthalic acid: A reagent of no less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity.
d)6-aminohexanic acid (1): A reagent of no less than 97 % (mass fraction) in purity.
e)Phenylboronic acid: A reagent of no less than 97 % (mass fraction) in purity.
f)Chloride ion standard solution (Cl- 1 mg/mL): A chloride ion standard solution (Cl-
1000 mg/mL) traceable to National Metrology.
g) Chloride ion standard solution (Cl- 100 µg/mL): Put a predetermined amount of
chloride ion standard solution (Cl- 1 mg/mL) to a volumetric flask and add water up to
the marked line.
h) Chloride ion standard solution (Cl- 5 µg/ mL - 50 µg/ mL) for the calibration curve
preparation: Put 5 mL – 50 mL of Chloride ion standard solution (Cl- 100 µg/mL) to a
100-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the marked line.
i Chloride ion standard solution (Cl- 1 µg/ mL - 2 µg/ mL) for the calibration curve
preparation: Put 5 mL - 10 mL of Chloride ion standard solution (Cl- 20 mg/mL) to a
100-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the marked line.
j) Eluent for suppressor method: Put 6.4 mL of 1 mol/L sodium carbonate solution to a
1000-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the marked line. Then filter with
membrane type filter (pore size: no more than 0.5 μm) made of hydrophilic PTFE (2).
k) Eluent for non-suppressor method: Put 0.349 g of phthalic acid, 0.380 g of
6-aminohexanic acid and 0.732 g of phenylboronic acid to a 1000-mL volumetric flask
and add about 500 mL of water to dissolve. Add water up to the marked line and filter
with membrane type filter (pore size: no more than 0.5 μm) made of hydrophilic PTFE
(2)(3)
.

Note (1) It is also known as “6-amino-n-caprotic acid”.

(2) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.
(3) A solution concentrated by a factor of 10 can be prepared in advance and the
solution can be diluted by a factor of 10 at each usage.

Comment 1 Instead of the chloride ion standard solution in (2), a chloride ion standard
solution for the calibration curve preparation can be prepared by using a
chloride ion standard solution (Cl- 0.1 mg/mL) traceable to National
Metrology.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) Magnetic stirrer
b) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 1700 × g.

462
 c) Ion Chromatograph (IC): IC specified in JIS K 0127 that satisfies following
requirements.
1) Column: In case of a suppressor method, a 4-mm inner diameter 250-mm long
5-μm particle diameter column tube filled with poly vinyl alcohol porous particles,
to which quaternary ammonium group chemically bonds (4).
In case of non-suppressor method, a 4.6-mm inner diameter 100-mm long column
tube filled with hydrophilic polymethacrylate-gel, to which quaternary ammonium
group chemically bonds (5).
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 40 ºC.
3) Suppressor: Cation exchange membrane or resin should be used.
4) Detector: An electric conductivity detector
b) Membrane filters: Pore size is no more than 0.45 μm, made of hydrophilic PTFE

Note (4) A column is commercially sold under the name Shodex IC SI-52 4E, etc.
(5) A column is commercially sold under the name Shodex IC NI-424, etc.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of water and stir it by using a magnetic stirrer for about 10 minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution to a 50-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube.
d) Centrifuge it at 1700 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (6) and use the
supernatant as the extract.
d) Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution, and dilute exactly by a factor of 20
with water (7).
e) Filter with a membrane filter (pore size: no more than 0.45 μm) to make the sample
solution.

Note (6) 16.5-cm of rotor radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g
centrifugal force.
(7) In case of exceeding the calibration curve, dilute by a factor of more than 20.

Comment 2 Instead of the procedures in (4.1.1) c) and d), it is allowed to filter with
Type-3 filter paper and the filtrate can be the sample solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0127 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of an Ion
Chromatograph (IC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for Ion Chromatograph (IC): An example of measurement
conditions for an Ion Chromatograph (IC) is shown below. Set up the measurement
conditions considering it:
aa) Suppressor method
1) Column: A polyvinyl alcohol porous particles column (4-mm inner diameter
250-mm long 5-μm particle diameter) to which quaternary ammonium group
chemically bonds.
2) Temperature of Column bath: 40 ºC
3) Eluent: Prepared in the procedure in (2) j).
4) Flow rate: 0.8 mL/ min
5) Injection rate: 20 µL
463
 5) Detector: An electric conductivity detector

ab) Non-suppressor method

1) Column: A hydrophilic polymethacrylate-gel column (4.6-mm inner diameter
100-mm long) to which quaternary ammonium group chemically bonds.
2) Temperature of Column bath: 40 ºC
3) Eluent: Prepared in the procedure in (2) k).
4) Flow rate: 1.0 mL/ min
5) Injection rate: 20 µL
6) Detector: An electric conductivity detector

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 20 μL of respective standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation to
an IC, and record the chromatogram of electric conductivity to obtain peak area.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration and the peak area of
respective standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 20 μL of sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1)
2) Obtain the chloride ion concentration from calibration curve by peak area to
calculate the chlorine (Cl) in the analytical sample.

Comment 5 Additive recovery testing was conducted with a suppressor method using
samples that 1.8 % – 9.1 % (mass fraction) of sodium chloride as chlorine is
added to potassium sulfate, magnesium potassium sulfate, potassium
bicarbonate, cow dung compost and fish cakes powder. As a result, the mean
recovery at the chlorine additive level of 33.4 % (mass fraction), 10 % -
13.4 % (mass fraction) and 1.8 % - 9.1 % (mass fraction) are 100.8 %, 98.6 %
- 101.1 % and 96.2 % - 103.2 % respectively. With a non-suppressor method,
they are 100.2 %, 96.4 % - 97.2 % and 93.3 % - 101.4 %.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using potassium sulfate,
magnesium potassium sulfate, potassium bicarbonate, cow dung compost and
fish cakes powder to evaluate precision were analyzed by one-way analysis of
variance. Table 1 shows the calculation results of intermediate precision and
repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of the method is about
0.1 % (mass fraction).

464
 Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days
Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
<Suppressor method>
Pottasium sulfate 5 9.93 0.01 0.1 0.03 0.3
Fish cakes powder 5 6.13 0.03 0.5 0.07 1.1
<Non-supprresor method>
Pottasium sulfate 5 4.86 0.01 0.2 0.08 1.7
Magnesium pottasium sulfate 5 4.89 0.02 0.4 0.06 1.2
Pottasium bicarbonate 5 4.85 0.02 0.4 0.06 1.3
Cow dung compost 5 13.15 0.04 0.3 0.16 1.2
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days （T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

References
1) Satoko SAKAIDA, Mariko FUJITA and Yuji SHIRAI: Determination of Chloride in
Fertilizers by Ion Chromatography (IC), Research Report of Fertilizers, Vol.8, p. 50 - 60
(2015)

(5) Flow sheet for testing method: The flow sheet for chlorine in fertilizers is shown
below:

1.00 g
200-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask
analytical sample
←　100 mL of water
Extraction Magnetic stirrer, 10 minutes

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
1700 ×g , 10 minutes

Dilution 20 times of dilution, water

Filtration Hydrophilic PTFE membrane filter (0.45 μm)

Measurement Ion Chromatograph

Figure 　Flow sheet for chlorine in fertilizers

465
Reference IC chromatographs of sample solutions (magnesium potassium sulfate and fish
cakes powder) are shown below.

Cl- Cl-

(A) Chromatograph of (B) Chromatograph of

magnesium potassium sulfate magnesium potassium sulfate
(Suppressor method)） (Non-suppressor method)

Cl- Cl-

(C) Chromatograph of (D) Chromatograph of

fish cakes powder fish cakes powder
(Suppressor method)） (Non-suppressor method)

Reference diagram: IC chromatogram of chloride ion

(Peak：1.chloride ion (Cl-))

466
6.2.b Silver nitrate method
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to potassium sulfate, potassium bicarbonate and magnesium
potassium sulfate.
Add water to an analytical sample to extract chloride ions and titrate (precipitate) with a 0.1
mol/L silver nitrate standard solution to obtain chlorine (Cl) in an analytical sample.

(2) Reagents: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557or equivalent quality.
b) Nitric acid: A JIS Guaranteed (HNO3 60 % (mass fraction)) Reagent specified in JIS K
8541 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
c) 0.1 mol/L silver nitrate solution (1): Weigh 17 g of silver nitrate specified in JIS K
8550 to a 2000-mL beaker, add 1000 mL of water to dissolve and store in a colored
bottle.
Standardization: Heat a sodium chloride reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 at 600 ºC ± 25 ºC for 1 hour, let it stand to cool in a desiccator,
and then transfer about 1.5 g to a weighing dish, and weigh the mass to the order of 0.1
mg. Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask, and add
water up to the marked line to make the sodium chloride solution (1). On each day to use
a 0.1 mol/L silver nitrate solution, transfer 10 mL of the sodium chloride solution to a
200-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of potassium chromate solution (5 g/100
mL) as an indicator, and titrate with a 0.1 mol/L silver nitrate solution until the color of
the solution becomes reddish brown. Calculate the factor of a 0.1 mol/L silver nitrate
solution by the following formula:

Factor (f) of 0.1 mol/L silver nitrate solution

= W1 × (A/100) × (1/58.44) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C)
= (W1 × A/V3) × (4/58.44)

W1: Mass (g) of sodium chloride weighed

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of sodium chloride
V1: Volume (10 mL) of sodium chloride solution transferred
V2: Constant volume (250 mL) of sodium chloride solution
V3: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L silver nitrate solution needed for titration
C: Set concentration (0.1 mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L silver nitrate solution

d) Potassium chromate (5 g/ 100 mL) (1): Dissolve 5 g of potassium chromate in 100 mL

of water.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) Magnetic stirrer
b) pH test paper: A pH test paper infiltrated with indicator and dried, which can measure
the value from pH 1 to pH 11 and a color change chart with the pH interval value 1 is
attached.

Comment 1 pH test paper is sold under the name UNIV Test Paper, etc.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
467
 a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of water and stir it with a magnetic stirrer for about 10 minutes.
c) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer 25mL of the sample solution to a 200-mL tall beaker.
b) Confirm the pH of the solution with a pH-test paper. If the pH is basic, neutralize with
nitric acid (1+10).
c) Add a few drops of potassium chromate solution (5 g/100 mL) to the sample solution
as an indicator and titrate with a 0.1 mol/L silver nitrate solution until the color of the
solution becomes reddish brown.
d) Calculate chlorine (Cl) by the following formula.

Chlorine (Cl) (% (mass fraction)) in an analytical sample

＝V4 × C × f ×（35.45）/W2 × (100/1000) × (V5/ V6)
＝V4 × f × (35.45/25) /W2

V4: Volume (mL) of the 0.1 mol/L silver nitrate solution required for titration
C: Set concentration (0.1 mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L silver nitrate solution
f: Factor of 0.1 mol/L silver nitrate solution
V5: Liquid volume of water (100 mL) subjected to extraction in (4.1) b).
V6: Transferred volume (mL) of the sample solution subjected to titration in (4.2)
a)
W2: Mass (g) of an analytical sample

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.199 - 201, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

(5) Flow sheet for testing method: The flow sheet for chlorine in potassium sulfate is
shown below:

1.0 g analytical sample 200-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask

← 100 mL of water
Extraction Magnetic stirrer, 10 minutes

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot (25 mL) 200-mL tall beaker

pH confirmation pH-test paper

← Nitric acid (1+10) [neutralize in case of basic]

← Several drops of potassium chromate (5 g/100 mL)
0.1 mol/L siver nitrate solution
Titration
(until the solution becomes reddish brown)

Figure Flow sheet for chroline in potassium sulfate

468
6.3 Urea nitrogen
6.3.a Urease method
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fertilizers containing urea or urea compounds such as
acetaldehyde condensed urea, etc. However, in some cases, the method is not applicable to
fertilizers containing compounds such as lime nitrogen, etc. which are digested by heating.
Add water or a phosphate solution (cold buffer solution) to an analytical sample to extract and
add urease to a predetermined amount of the extract to hydrolyze urea into ammonium ion.
Add sodium hydroxide to alkalize the solution and subject it to steam distillation. Collect
isolated ammonia with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and titrate (neutralize) surplus sulfuric acid
using 0.1 mol/L – 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution and correct separately the titers of
urease blank test and urease undigested blank test to obtain urea nitrogen (U-N) in the
analytical sample. Or collect isolated ammonia with a boric acid solution and titrate
(neutralize) the ammonium ion using 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and similarly correct to obtain
ammonia nitrogen (A-N) in the analytical sample. This test method corresponds to the urease
method in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution(1): Transfer about 30 mL of water to
a polyethylene bottle, dissolve about 35 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576
by adding in small portions while cooling, seal tightly and leave at rest for 4 - 5 days.
Transfer 5.5 mL - 11 mL of the supernatant to a ground-in stopperstorage container, and
add 1000 mL of water containing no carbonic acid.
Standardization: Dry sulfamic acid reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 by leaving at rest in a desiccator at no more than 2 kPa for about
48 hours, then transfer about 2.5 g to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask,
and add water up to the marked line (1). Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution
to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of bromothymol blue solution
(0.1 mg/100 mL) as an indicator, and titrate with 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium
hydroxide solution until the color of the solution becomes green. Calculate the factor of
0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution by the following formula:

Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (f1)

= (W1 × A × 0.01/97.095) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C1)

W1: Mass (g) of sulfamic acid sampled

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of sulfamic acid
V1: Volume (mL) of sulfamic acid solution transferred
V2: Constant volume (250 mL) of sulfamic acid solution
V3: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution

b) Magnesium oxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8432 or a reagent of

equivalent quality.
c) Sulfuric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.

469
d) 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid(1) (2): Add about 14 mL of sulfuric acid to a beaker containing
100 mL of water in advance, stir well, and add water to make 1000 mL.
Standardization: Transfer a predetermined amount (3) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to a
200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue
mixture solution, and titrate with 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until
the color of the solution becomes gray-green(4). Calculate the volume of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2
mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid by the
following formula (1). Or, calculate the factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid by the
following formula (2):

Volume (B) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL
of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
= V4/V5 ……….. (1)

Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (f2)

= (f1 × C1 × V4/V5)/ (C2 × 2) ………... (2)

V4: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
V5: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid subjected to standardization
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
C2: Set concentration (0.25 mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid

e) Boric acid solution (40 g/L): Dissolve 40 g of boric acid specified in JIS K 8863 in
water to make 1000 mL.
f) Urease: A regent which completely digests 0.25 g of urea by 0.5 g of urease.
g) Sodium hydroxide solution (5 g/L)(1): Dissolve 5 g of sodium hydroxide specified in
JIS K 8576 in water to make 1000 mL.
h) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
i) Bromothymol blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of bromothymol blue
specified in JIS K 8842 in 20 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102, add water to
make 100 mL.
j) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
k) Methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methylene blue specified in
JIS K 8897 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
l) Methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution: To 2 volumes of a methyl red solution
(0.1 g/100 mL), add 1 volume of a methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL).
m) Bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.5 g of bromocresol green
specified in JIS K 8840 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
n) Methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution: To a methyl red solution (0.1
g/100 mL), add an equal volume of bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) This corresponds to the standard sulfuric acid solution 0.5 M (1/2 sulfuric acid)
solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(3) 5 mL - 10 mL
(4) The endpoint is reached when the color becomes gray-green via dark blue from
blue-purple.

470
 Comment 1 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution in (2) a) can be replaced
with a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution or a 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.
Comment 2 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid in (2) c) can be replaced with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.
Comment 3 Refined products of a sword bean origin are commercially sold. The degree of
activation may degrade even if stored in a refrigerator. Therefore it is
recommended to test similarly and confirm activation by using urea specified
in JIS K 8731 in advance.

(3) Apparatus and Instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below.
a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate a 500-mL volumetric flask upside down
at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Steam distillation apparatus
c) Distillation flask: A Kjeldahl flask or a round bottom flask that can be connected to a
steam distillation apparatus.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Mixed fertilizers containing urea
a) Weigh 5g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg, and put it in a 500-mL
volumetric flask
b) Add 400 mL of water and shake to mix at the rate of 30-40 revolutions/min for about 30
minutes.
c) Add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the extract.

Comment 4 It is also allowed to weigh 2.5g of an analytical sample and put it in a 250-mL
procedure in the procedure in a).
Comment 5 The procedure in (4.1.2) is the same as the procedure in (4.1) in 4.2.4.a.

(4.1.2) Urea compounds and mixed fertilizers containing urea compounds

a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample (5) and put it in a 250-mL volumetric flask
b) Add about 200 mL of phosphate solution and shake to mix at the rate of 30 - 40
revolutions/min for about 30 minutes.
c) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the extract.

Note (5) Prepare the test sample of urea compounds according to Comment 6.

Comment 6 Crush a laboratory sample with a mortar or a pestle, etc. until it completely
passes through a 850 µm aperture sieve.
Comment 7 If there is no possibility for an analytical sample to hydrolyze and form urea,
the extract can be prepared through the procedure in (4.1.1).
Comment 8 The temperature of a solution in the procedure in (4.1) b) – d) should be no
more than 26 ºC.
Comment 9 The procedures in (4.1.2) are the same as in (4.1) in 6.5.a.

(4.2) Hydrolysis by urease: Conduct hydrolysis as shown below.

471
 a) Transfer a predetermined amount of the extract (the equivalents of 10 mg or more as N,
the equivalents of 10 mg – 100 mg as N) to a 300-mL distillation flask.
b) Add water to make the liquid volume about 50 mL.
c) Add a few drops of methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL), and add a sodium hydroxide
solution (5 g/L) or hydrochloric acid (1+200) until the color of the solution becomes
light yellowish red(6).
d) Add a sufficient amount of urease to digest urea in the extract (7) (8), seal tightly and heat
in the water bath at 40 ºC - 50 ºC.
e) Let it stand to cool to make the sample solution.
f) As an extract blank test, conduct the procedures in a) (9) using another distillation flask
to prepare the undigested test solution.
g) As a urease blank test, conduct the procedures in b), e) and f) (8) (10) using another
distillation flask to prepare the blank test solution.

Note (6) pH 5.6 - pH 5.8

(7) An example of the additive volume of urease is shown in Comment 20.
(8) Wash urease off with water if it adheres to the surface of a vessel.
(9) Aliquot the same amount of extract as the prepared sample solution.
(10) Add the same amount of urease as the preparation of the sample solution used.

(4.3) Distillation: Conduct distillation as shown below. Specific distillation procedures are
according to the operation method of the steam distillation apparatus used in
measurement.
a) Transfer a predetermined amount (11) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to an acceptor,(12) add a
few drops of methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to
a steam distillation apparatus. Or, transfer a predetermined amount (11) of boric acid
solution (40 g/L) to an acceptor,(12) add a few drops of methyl red - bromocresol green
mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to a steam distillation apparatus.
b) Add 2 g – 3 g of magnesium oxide to a distillation flask containing the sample solution
(13),
and connect this distillation flask to the steam distillation apparatus.
c) Send steam to the distillation flask to heat the solution in the distillation flask, and distill
at a distillation rate of 5 mL/min - 7 mL/min.
d) Stop distilling when the distillate has reached 120 mL - 160 mL.
e) Wash the part of the steam distillation apparatus that came in contact with the solution
in the acceptor with a small amount of water, and pool the washing with the distillate.
f) Subject the undigested test solution to the same procedure as in a) - e) to obtain the
distillate from the undigested test solution.
g) Subject the blank test solution to the same procedure as in a) - e) to obtain the distillate
from the blank test solution.

Note (11) 5 mL - 20 mL
(12) As an acceptor, use a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask or a 200-mL - 300-mL
beaker with which the distillate outlet of the steam distillation apparatus can be
immersed in 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid or a boric acid solution (40 g/L).
(13) Add a small amount of silicone oil as appropriate.

Comment 10 Immediately conduct the procedure in (4.3) b) not to emit ammonia gas in a
vessel.

(4.4) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

(4.3.1) In case 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid is used in (4.3):
472
 a) Titrate the distillate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the
color of the solution becomes gray-green (4).
b) Subject the distillate from the undigested test solution to the same procedure as in a) to
titrate.
c) Subject the distillate from the blank test solution to the same procedure as in a) to
titrate.
d) Calculate urea nitrogen (U-N) in the analytical sample by the following formula:

Urea nitrogen (U-N) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

＝（(B×V6 －V7 ）－（B×V6 －V8 ）－（B×V6 －V9 ））×C1 ×f1 ×（V10/V11)×（14.007/W2 ）×
（100/1000）
＝（－(B×V6) －(V7－V8－V9））×C1×f1×（V10/V11)×（1.4007/W2）

B: Volume of 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1

mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V6: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid transferred to the acceptor in (4.3)
a)
V7: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration in (4.4.1) a)
V8: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration in (4.4.1) b)
V9: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration in (4.4.1) c)
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
f1: Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
V10: Predetermined volume (mL) of the extract in (4.1.1) c) or (4.1.2) c)
V11: Transferred amount (mL) of the extract subjected to hydrolysis in (4.3) a)
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample in (4.1.1) a) or (4.1.2) a)

(4.4.2) In case a boric acid solution (40 g/L) is used in (4.3):

a) Titrate the distillate with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid until the color of the solution becomes
light red (14).
b) Subject the distillate from the undigested test solution to the same procedure as in a) to
titrate.
c) Subject the distillate from the blank test solution to the same procedure as in a) to
titrate.
d) Calculate urea nitrogen (U-N) in the analytical sample by the following formula:

Urea nitrogen (U-N) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

＝（V12－V13－V14）×C2×2×f2×（V10/V11)×（14.007/W2）×（100/1000）
＝（V12－V13－V14）×C2×f2×（V10/V11)×（2.8014/W2）

V12: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid needed for titration in (4.4.2) a)
V13: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid needed for titration in (4.4.2) b)
V14: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid needed for titration in (4.4.2) c)
C2: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
f2: Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V10: Predetermined volume (mL) of the extract in (4.1.1) c) or (4.1.2) c)
V11: Transferred amount (mL) of the extract subjected to hydrolysis in (4.3) a)
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample in (4.1.1) a) or (4.1.2) a)

473
Note (14) The endpoint is reached when the color changes from green to light red.

Comment 11 If it is hard to confirm the endpoint due to the carbon dioxide resulting from
carbonate in the extract when magnesium oxide is used, it is recommended to
boil the extract for 1-2 minute(s) after distilling and cool, and then titrate.
Comment 12 The titration procedures in (2) a) Standardization, (2) d) Standardization
and (4.4) can be conducted by an automatic titrator. The setup of the titration
program, the determination parameter for the endpoint and vessels such as
acceptors are according to the specification and the operation method of the
automatic titrator used.
Comment 13 An example of the additive volume and titter of urease is shown below.

If the urea content can be estimated, calculate the volume of urea in the transferred
volume of the extract in (4.1.1) or (4.2) a) after the procedures in (4.1.1) by the
following formula.

Estimated urea content (mg) in the transferred volume of the extract

＝（D1/100）×W2×（V11/ V10）

D1： Estimated urea content (% ( mass fraction)) in the analytical sample

V10: Predetermined volume (mL) of the extract in (4.1.1) c) or (4.1.2) c)
V11: Transferred amount (mL) of the extract subjected to hydrolysis in (4.2) a)
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample in (4.1.1) a) or (4.1.2) a)

If the urea content can not be estimated, subtract ammoniacal nitrogen and nitrate
nitrogen from the total nitrogen of the permissible content or the display component
content of the urea nitrogen in a urea compound to obtain nitrogen content. The
obtained nitrogen content is calculated as around the maximum content of urea nitrogen
(U-N). In this case, calculate the volume of urea in the transferred volume of the extract
in (4.1.1) or (4.2) a) after the procedures in (4.1.1) by the following formula.

Calculated urea content (mg) in the transferred volume of the extract

＝（D2/100）×（60.056/（14.007×2））×W2×（V11/ V10）
＝（D2/100）×2.1438×W2×（V11/ V10）

D2 ： Calculated urea nitrogen (U-N) content (% ( mass fraction)) in the

analytical sample
V10: Predetermined volume (mL) of the extract in (4.1.1) c) or (4.1.2) c)
V11: Transferred amount (mL) of the extract subjected to hydrolysis in (4.2) a)
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample in (4.1.1) a) or (4.1.2) a)

The specification of urease shows that “No more than 0.5 g of urease completely
digests 0.25 g of urea”. Therefore about 2 mg of urease is required to digest 1 mg of
urea. Assuming that the estimated urea content or the calculated urea content in the
transferred volume of the extract is about 43 mg (about 20 mg as urea nitrogen),
about 86 mg of urease is required.
In addition, when about 20 mg is transferred as urea nitrogen, the differences
between the titer of the distillate from the sample solution ((4.4.1) a) or (4.4.2) a))
and the titer of the distillate from the undigested test solution ((4.4.1) b) or (4.4.2) b))
are estimated as follows: About 14 mL, when a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution

474
 is used as a titrant, about 7 mL, when 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide is used as a titrant
and t about 3 mL, when 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid is used as a titrant.

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.56 - 59, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

(5) Flow sheet for urea nitrogen testing method: The flow sheets for urea nitrogen test
method in fertilizers are shown below:

5.00 g Analytical sample

Weigh into a 500-mL volumetric flask
(Fertilizer containing urea)
← About 400 mL of water
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min), 1 hour
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Extract

Figure Flow sheet for urea nitrogen (1)

(The extract procedure for a urea compond)

1.00 g Analytical sample

Weigh into a 250-mL volumetric flask
(Urea compond and
fertilizer containing
urea compound)
← 200 mL of phosphate solution
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min), 1 hour
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Extract

Figure Flow sheet for urea nitrogen (2)

(The extract procedure for a urea compond and a fertilizer containing a urea compound)

475
 Extract

Aliquot (predetermined
300-mL digestion flask
volume)
← A few drops of methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL)
← Hydrochloric acid (1+200) or sodium hydroxide solution (5 g/L)
(until the color of the solution becomes light yellowish red)
← Urease (a sufficient amount of urease to digest transferred urea)
Heating 40 ºC - 50 ºC, 1 hour

Standing to cool

Sample solution
← 2 g - 3 g of magnesium oxide
Receiver: 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask or beaker
200-mL - 300-mL beaker. A predetermined amount of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
Steam distillation
and a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue mixture solution,
apparatus
or boric acid solution (40 g/L),
several drops of methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution

Steam distillation Distillation rate: 5 mL/min - 7 mL/min

Stop distilling 120 mL - 160 mL distillate

←　Water (wash the part of the distillation apparatus
that came in contact with the solution in the receiver)
0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (until the
Titration solution becomes gray-green), or
0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (until the solution becomes light red)

Figure Flow sheet for urea nitrogen (3)

(Hydrolysis by urease, distillation and measurement procedures)

476
6.3.b High Performance Liquid Chromatography
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fertilizers.
Add water to an analytical sample to extract urea, introduce it to a High Performance
Chromatograph (HPLC) to isolate it with a weak acid ion-exchange column, and then
measure at wavelength 190 nm to obtain urea nitrogen (U-N) in an analytical sample.
Biuret nitrogen (B-N), dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N), guanidine urea (Gu-N) and
guanylurea nitrogen (Gy-N) can be simultaneously quantified by using this method. (Refer to
Comment 4).

(2) Reagents: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Potassium dihydrogenphosphate: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 9007
or a reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Phosphoric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 9005 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
d) Urea nitrogen standard solution (U-N 2 mg/mL) (1): Put 0.429 g of urea in a weighing
dish and measure the mass to the order of 0.1 mg. Add a small amount of water to
dissolve, transfer to a 100-mLvolumetric flask and add water up to the marked line.
e) Urea nitrogen standard solution for the calibration curve preparation (U-N 200
µg/mL): Put 10 mL of urea nitrogen standard solution (U-N 2 mg/mL) to a 100-mL
volumetric flask and add water up to the marked line.
f) Urea nitrogen standard solution (U-N 50 µg/mL - 100 µg/mL): Put 25 mL – 50 mL
of urea nitrogen standard solution (U-N 200 µg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks and
add water up to the marked line.
g) Urea nitrogen standard solution for the calibration curve preparation (U-N 1
μg/mL - 50 μg/mL): At the time of usage, put 1 mL - 50 mL of urea nitrogen standard
solution (U-N 0.1 mg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add water up
to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC): HPLC specified in JIS K 0124
that satisfies following requirements.
1) Column: A 7.5-mm inner diameter 100-mm long stainless steel column tube filled
with weak acid ion-exchange resin.
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 30 ºC - 45 ºC.
3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 190
nm.
b) Magnetic stirrer
c) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g –
10000 × g.

Comment 1 A column is sold under the production name Asahipak ES-502C 7C.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Powdery test sample
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
477
 b) Add 100 mL of water and stir it with a magnetic stirrer for about 10 minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution (2) to a 1.5-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube (3).
d) Centrifuge at 8000 × g – 10000 × g centrifugal forces for about five minutes (4) to make
supernatant as the sample solution.

Note (2) If there is a possibility that the dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N) concentration in
the sample solution will exceed the maximum limit of the calibration curve,
dilute a predetermined amount of supernatant with water.
(3) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(4) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g – 10000 × g centrifugal forces.

(4.1.2) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water and shake to mix.
c) Add water up to the marked line (5) and transfer to a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper
centrifugal precipitate tube (3).
d) Centrifuge at 8000×g - 10000×g centrifugal forces for about five minutes (4) to make
supernatant as the extract.

Note (5) If there is a possibility that the urea nitrogen (U-N) concentration in the sample
solution will exceed the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a
predetermined amount of precisely adjusted solution with water.

Comment 2 Instead of procedures in (4.1.1) c) – d) or (4.1.2) c) - d), it is allowed to

filter with a membrane filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made
of hydrophilic PTFE and the filtrate can be the sample solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
Set up the measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph
(HPLC) considering the following example:
1) Column: A weak acid ion-exchange resin column (7.5-mm inner diameter, 100-mm
long, 5-µm – 10-µm particle diameter)
2) Temperature of Column bath: 40 ºC
3) Eluent (1): Dissolve 3.92 g of potassium dihydrogenphosphate and 0.12 g of
phosphoric acid in water to make 1000 mL. Filter with a membrane filter (aperture
diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic PTFE.
4) Flow rate: 0.6 mL/min
5) Injection rate: 10 μL
6) Detector: An absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 190 nm

Comment 3 Eluent can be prepared as follows. Dissolve 19.6 g of potassium

dihydrogenphosphate and 0.584 g of phosphoric acid with water to make
500 mL and store in a refrigerator. At the time of usage, dilute a
predetermined volume of the solution by a factor of 10 and filter with a

478
 membrane filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of
hydrophilic PTFE.

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 10 µL of respective standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation to
an HPLC, record a chromatogram at wavelength 190 nm and obtain the peak area.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the urea nitrogen (U-N) concentration
and the peak area at wavelength 190 nm of the respective standard solutions for the
calibration curve preparation.

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
2) Obtain the urea nitrogen (U-N) content from the peak area using the calibration curve
to calculate the urea nitrogen (U-N) in the analytical sample.

Comment 4 This test method enables the simultaneous measurement of biuret nitrogen
(B-N), urea nitrogen (U-N), dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N), guanidine urea
(Gu-N) and guanylurea nitrogen (Gy-N). In this case, refer to 5.10.a
Comment 5.

(5) Flow sheet for testing method: The flow sheet for urea nitrogen in fertilizers is
shown below:

1.00 g
200-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask
analytical sample (powdery)
← 100 mL of water
Extraction Stir to mix, 10 minites

Stand to cool

1.00 g
100-mL volumetric flask
analytical sample (fluid)
←About 50 mL of water
Extraction Shake to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
8000 ×g - 10000 ×g , 5 minutes

Measurement Liquid Chromatograph

Figure Flow sheet for urea nitrogen in fertilizers

479
6.4 Guanidine nitrogen

6.4.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography

(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fertilizers.
Add water to an analytical sample to extract guanidine, introduce it to a High Performance
Chromatograph (HPLC) to isolate it with a weak acid ion-exchange column, and then
measure at wavelength 190 nm to obtain guanidine nitrogen (Gu-N) in an analytical sample.
Biuret nitrogen (B-N), dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N), urea nitrogen (U-N) and guanylurea
nitrogen (Gy-N) can be simultaneously quantified by using this method. (Refer to Comment
5).

(2) Reagents: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Potassium dihydrogenphosphate: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 9007
or a reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Phosphoric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 9005 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
d) Guanidine nitrogen standard solution (Gu-N 2 mg/mL) (1): Put 0.515 g of guanidine
sulfate [C2H10N6･H2SO4] (2) in a weighing dish and measure the mass to the order of 0.1
mg. Add a small amount of water to dissolve, transfer to a 100-mLvolumetric flask and
add water up to the marked line.
e) Guanidine nitrogen standard solution for the calibration curve preparation (Gu-N
200 µg/mL): Put 10 mL of guanidine nitrogen standard solution (Gu-N 2 mg/mL) to a
100-mL volumetric flask and add water up to the marked line.
f) Guanidine nitrogen standard solution (Gu-N 50 µg/mL - 100 µg/mL): Put 25 mL –
50 mL of guanidine nitrogen standard solution (Gu-N 200 µg/mL) to 100-mL
volumetric flasks and add water up to the marked line.
g) Guanidine nitrogen standard solution for the calibration curve preparation (Gu-N
1 μg/mL - 50 μg/mL): At the time of usage, put 1 mL - 50 mL of guanidine nitrogen
standard solution (Gu-N 100 µg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add
water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) A reagent of no less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity as guanidine sulfate is
commercially sold.

Comment 1 Guanidine sulfate is commercially sold by Wako Pure Chemical Industries,

Ltd., Kanto Chemical Co., Inc. and Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC): HPLC specified in JIS K 0124
that satisfies following requirements.
1) Column: A 7.5-mm inner diameter 100-mm long stainless steel column tube filled
with weak acid ion-exchange resin.
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 30 ºC - 45 ºC.
3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 190
nm.
b) Magnetic stirrer
c) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g –
10000 × g.
480
 Comment 1 A column is sold under the production name Asahipak ES-502C 7C.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Powdery test sample
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of water and stir it with a magnetic stirrer for about 10 minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution (3) to a 1.5-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube (4).
d) Centrifuge at 8000 × g – 10000 × g centrifugal forces for about five minutes (5) to make
supernatant as the sample solution.

Note (3) If there is a possibility that the guanidine nitrogen (Gu-N) concentration in the
sample solution will exceed the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a
predetermined amount of supernatant with water.
(4) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(5) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g – 10000 × g centrifugal forces.

(4.1.2) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water (6) and shake to mix.
c) Add water up to the marked line and transfer to a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal
precipitate tube (4).
d) Centrifuge at 8000 × g – 10000 × g centrifugal forces for about five minutes (5) to make
supernatant as the extract.

Note (6) If there is a possibility that the guanidine nitrogen (Gu-N) concentration in the
sample solution will exceed the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a
predetermined amount of precisely adjusted solution with water.

Comment 3 Instead of procedures in (4.1.1) c) – d) or (4.1.2) c) - d), it is allowed to

filter with a membrane filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made
of hydrophilic PTFE and the filtrate can be the sample solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
Set up the measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph
(HPLC) considering the following example:
1) Column: A weak acid ion-exchange resin column (7.5-mm inner diameter, 100-mm
long, 5-µm – 10-µm particle diameter)
2) Temperature of Column bath: 40 ºC
3) Eluent (1): Dissolve 3.92 g of potassium dihydrogenphosphate and 0.12 g of
phosphoric acid in water to make 1000 mL. Filter with a membrane filter (aperture
diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic PTFE.
4) Flow rate: 0.6 mL/min

481
 5) Injection rate: 10 μL
6) Detector: An absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 190 nm

Comment 4 Eluent is allowed to prepare as follows. Dissolve 19.6 g of potassium

dihydrogenphosphate and 0.584 g of phosphoric acid with water to make 500
mL and store in a refrigerator. At the time of usage, dilute a predetermined
volume of the solution by a factor of 10 and filter with a membrane filter
(aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic PTFE.

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 10 µL of respective standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation to
an HPLC, record a chromatogram at wavelength 190 nm and obtain the peak area.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the guanidine nitrogen (Gu-N)
concentration and the peak area at wavelength 190 nm of the respective standard
solutions for the calibration curve preparation.

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
2) Obtain the guanidine nitrogen (Gu-N) content from the peak area using the
calibration curve to calculate the guanidine nitrogen (Gu-N) in the analytical sample.

Comment 5 This test method enables the simultaneous measurement of biuret nitrogen
(B-N), urea nitrogen (U-N), dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N), guanidine urea
(Gu-N) and guanylurea nitrogen (Gy-N). In this case, refer to 5.10.a
Comment 5.

482
(5) Flow sheet for testing method: The flow sheet for guanidine nitrogen in
fertilizers is shown below:

1.00 g
200-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask
analytical sample (powdery)
← 100 mL of water
Extraction Stir to mix, 10 minites

Stand to cool

1.00 g
100-mL volumetric flask
analytical sample (fluid)
←About 50 mL of water
Extraction Shake to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
8000 ×g - 10000 ×g , 5 minutes

Measurement Liquid Chromatograph

Figure Flow sheet for guanidine nitrogen in fertilizers

483
6.5 Cold buffer solution soluble nitrogen (water-soluble nitrogen)
6.5.a Cold buffer solution method
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to formaldehyde processed urea fertilizers.
Add a phosphate solution (cold buffer solution) to an analytical sample to extract, add copper
(II) sulfate pentahydrate, sulfuric acid and potassium sulfate, pretreat by the Kjeidahl method
to change cold buffer solution soluble nitrogen to ammonium ion and add a sodium hydroxide
solution to subject to steam distillation. Collect isolated ammonia with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid and measure surplus sulfuric acid by (neutralization) titration using a 0.1 mol/L – 0.2
mol/L sodium hydroxide solution to obtain cold buffer solution soluble nitrogen
(water-soluble nitrogen) in the analytical sample. Or collect isolated ammonia with a boric
acid solution and measure ammonium ion by (neutralization) titration using 0.25 mol/L
sulfuric acid to obtain cold buffer solution soluble nitrogen (water-soluble nitrogen) in the
analytical sample.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution(1): Transfer about 30 mL of water to
a polyethylene bottle, dissolve about 35 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576
by adding in small portions while cooling, seal tightly and leave at rest for 4-5 days.
Transfer 5.5 mL -11 mL of the supernatant to a ground-in stopperstorage container, and
add 1000 mL of wate.
Standardization: Dry sulfamic acid reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 by leaving at rest in a desiccator at no more than 2 kPa for about
48 hours, then transfer about 2.5 g to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask,
and add water up to the marked line.(1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution
to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of bromothymol blue solution
(0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator, and titrate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium
hydroxide solution until the color of the solution becomes green. Calculate the factor of
a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution by the following formula:

Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (f1)

= (W1 × A × 0.01/97.095) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C1)

W1: Mass (g) of sulfamic acid sampled

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of sulfamic acid
V1: Volume (mL) of sulfamic acid solution transferred
V2: Constant volume (250 mL) of sulfamic acid solution
V3: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution

b) Sulfuric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of

equivalent quality.
c) 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid(1) (2): Add about 14 mL of sulfuric acid to a beaker containing
100 mL of water in advance, stir well, and add water to make 1000 mL.
Standardization: Transfer a predetermined amount (3) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to a
200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue
mixture solution, and titrate with a 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
until the color of the solution becomes gray-green.(4) Calculate the volume of a 0.1

484
 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid by the following formula (1). Or, calculate the factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid by
the following formula (2):

Volume (B) of 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL
of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
= V4/V5 …… (1)

Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (f2)

= (f1 × C1 × V4/V5)/(C2 × 2) …… (2)

V4: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
V5: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid subjected to standardization
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
C2: Set concentration (0.25 mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid

d) Boric acid solution (40 g/L): Dissolve 40 g of boric acid specified in JIS K 8863 in
water to make 1000 mL.
e) Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L) (1): Dissolve 100 g - 250 g of sodium
hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576 in water to make 500 mL.
f) Bromothymol blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of bromothymol blue
specified in JIS K 8842 in 20 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102, and add water
to make 100 mL.
g) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
h) Methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methylene blue specified in
JIS K 8897 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
i) Methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution: To 2 volumes of a methyl red solution
(0.1 g/100 mL), add 1 volume of a methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL).
j) Bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.5 g of bromocresol green
specified in JIS K 8840 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
k) Methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution: To a methyl red solution (0.1
g/100 mL), add an equal volume of bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL).
l) Phosphate solution: Dissolve 3.63 g of potassium dihydrogen phosphate specified in
JIS K 8863 and 5.68 g of disodium hydrogen phosphate in water (5). When it is used,
adjust the liquid temperature at about 25 ºC (cold buffer solution).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) This corresponds to the standard sulfuric acid solution 0.5 M (1/2 sulfuric acid)
solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(3) 5 mL -10 mL
(4) The endpoint is reached when the color becomes gray-green via dark blue from
blue-purple.
(5) pH 7.0±pH 0.2

Comment 1 A 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution in (2) a) can be replaced
with a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution or a 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.
Comment 2 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid in (2) c) can be replaced with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.
485
(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below.
a) Rotary shaker: A rotary shaker that can rotate a 250-mL volumetric flask upside down
at 30 - 40 revolutions/min.
b) Steam distillation apparatus
c) Digestion flask: A Kjeldahl flask which can be connected to a steam distillation
apparatus.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1)
Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a)Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample (6) and put it in a 250-mL volumetric flask
b)Add about 200 mL of phosphate solution and shake to mix at the rate of 30 - 40
revolutions/min for about 30 minutes.
c) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line.
d) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the extract.

Note (6) Prepare the test sample according to Comment 3.

Comment 3 Crush a laboratory sample with a mortar or a pestle, etc. until it completely
passes through 850 µm aperture sieve.
Comment 4 If there is no possibility for an analytical sample to hydrolyze, it is allowed to
use water instead of a phosphoric acid solution.
Comment 5 The temperature of a solution in the procedure in (4.1) b) – d) should be no
more than 26 ºC.

(4.2) Kjeldahl method: Conduct digestion as shown below.

a) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.5 g or less
as cold buffer solution soluble nitrogen) to a 300-mL distillation flask.
b) Add 0.1 g of copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate (7) specified in JIS K 8962, and further add
5 mL of sulfuric acid, shake to mix and heat gently to evaporate moisture.
c) After standing to cool, add 1 g of potassium sulfate specified in JIS K 8962 and heat to
digest.
d) Ignite further for 30 minutes.
e) After standing to cool, add water while shaking to mix until liquid volume reaches
about 30 mL and let it stand to cool to make the digestion solution.

Note (7) Crush into powder as appropriate.

(4.3) Distillation: Conduct distillation as shown below. Specific distillation procedures are
according to the operation method of the steam distillation apparatus used in
measurement.
a) Transfer a predetermined amount (8) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to an acceptor,(9) add a
few drops of methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to
a steam distillation apparatus. Or, transfer a predetermined amount (8) of boric acid
solution (40 g/L) to an acceptor,(9) add a few drops of methyl red - bromocresol green
mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to a steam distillation apparatus.
b) Add a proper amount of sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L) (10), and
immediately connect this digestion flask to the steam distillation apparatus.
c) Send steam to the distillation flask to heat the solution in the distillation flask, and distill
at a distillation rate of 5 mL/min - 7 mL/min.
d) Stop distilling when the distillate has reached 120 mL - 160 mL.
486
 e) Wash the part of the steam distillation apparatus that came in contact with the solution
in the acceptor with a small amount of water, and pool the washing with the distillate.
Note (8) 5 mL - 20 mL
(9) As an acceptor, use a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask or a 200-mL - 300-mL
beaker with which the distillate outlet of the steam distillation apparatus can be
immersed in 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid or a boric acid solution (40 g/L).
(10) An amount sufficient to make the solution strong alkalinity. A blue color will
appear.

(4.4) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

(4.4.1) In case 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid is used in (4.2):
a) Titrate the distillate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the
color of the solution becomes gray-green (4).
b) Calculate the cold buffer solution soluble nitrogen in the analytical sample by the
following formula:

Cold buffer solution soluble nitrogen (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample
= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (V8/V9) × (14.007/W2) × (100/1000)
= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (V8/V9) × (1.4007/W2)

B: Volume of 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1

mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V6: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid transferred to the acceptor in (4.2)
a)
V7: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
f1: Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
V8: Predetermined volume (mL) of the extract in (4.1) c)
V9: Transferred amount (mL) of the extract subjected to the Kjeldahl method in
(4.2) a)
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

(4.4.2) In case a boric acid solution (40 g/L) is used in (4.2):

a) Titrate the distillate with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid until the color of the solution becomes
light red (11).
b) Calculate the cold buffer solution soluble nitrogen in the analytical sample by the
following formula:

Cold buffer solution soluble nitrogen (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample
= V10 × C2×2× f2 × (V11/V12) × (14.007/W2) × (100/1000)
= V10 × C2 × f2 × (V11/V12) × (2.8014/W2)

V10: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid needed for titration
C2: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
f2: Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V11: Predetermined volume (mL) of the extract in (4.1) c)
V12: Transferred amount (mL) of the extract subjected to the Kjeldahl method in
(4.2) a)
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

487
 Note (11) The endpoint is reached when the color changes from green to light red.

Comment 6 The titration procedures in (2) a) Standardization, (2) c) Standardization

and (4.4) can be conducted by an automatic titrator. The setup of the titration
program, the determination parameter for the endpoint and vessels such as
acceptors are according to the specification and the operation method of the
automatic titrator used.

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 67 - 68, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

488
(5) Flow sheet for cold buffer solution soluble nitrogen testing method: The flow sheets
for cold buffer solution soluble nitrogen testing method in formaldehyde processed urea
fertilizers are shown below:

1.00 g
Weigh into a 250-mL volumetric flask.
analytical sample
←150 mL phosphate solution [about 25ºC]
Shaking to mix Rotary shaker (30 - 40 revolutions/min), 1 hour

Standing to cool
← small amount of water
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot (predetermined 300-mL digestion flask

volume)
← 0.1 g copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate
← 5 mL sulfuric acid
Heating Gently

Standing to cool
← 1 g potassium sulfate
Heating After digestion, ignite further for 30 minutes

Standing to cool
← Water (until liquid volume reaches about 30 mL)
Standing to cool
← Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L)
Receiver: 200-mL - 300 - mL Erlenmeyer flask or beaker
A predetermined amount of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and
Steam distillation
a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue mixture solution,
apparatus
or boric acid solution (40 g/L), several drops of
methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution

Steam distillation Distillation rate: 5 mL/min -7 mL/min

Stop distilling 120 mL – 160 mL distillate

←　Water (wash the part of the distillation apparatus
that came in contact with the solution in the receiver)
0.1 mol/L-0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (until the
Titration solution becomes gray-green), or
0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (until the solution becomes light red)

Figure Flow sheet for cold buffer solution soluble nitrogen testing method
in formaldehyde processed urea fertilizers

489
6.6 Heat buffer solution soluble nitrogen (hot water-soluble nitrogen)
6.6.a Heat buffer solution method
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to methylolurea polymerization fertilizers.
Add a heat phosphate solution (heat buffer solution) to an analytical sample to elute heat
buffer solution soluble nitrogen, add copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate, sulfuric acid and
potassium sulfate, pretreat non-dissolved matter by Kjeidahl method to change heat buffer
solution soluble nitrogen to ammonium ion and add a sodium hydroxide solution to subject to
steam distillation. Collect isolated ammonia with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and measure
surplus sulfuric acid by (neutralization) titration using a 0.1 mol/L – 0.2 mol/L sodium
hydroxide solution to obtain the nitrogen which is insoluble in a heat buffer solution in the
analytical sample. Or collect isolated ammonia with a boric acid solution and measure
ammonium ion by (neutralization) titration using 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to obtain the
nitrogen which is insoluble in a heat buffer solution in the analytical sample. Subtract the
nitrogen whichi is insoluble in a heat buffer solution from the separately obtained total
nitrogen (T-N) according to the method in 4.1.1 to calculate the nitrogen which is soluble in a
heat buffer solution (hot water-soluble nitrogen).

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution(1): Transfer about 30 mL of water to
a polyethylene bottle, dissolve about 35 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576
by adding in small portions while cooling, seal tightly and leave at rest for 4-5 days.
Transfer 5.5 mL -11 mL of the supernatant to a ground-in stopperstorage container, and
add 1000 mL of wate.
Standardization: Dry sulfamic acid reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 by leaving at rest in a desiccator at no more than 2 kPa for about
48 hours, then transfer about 2.5 g to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask,
and add water up to the marked line.(1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution
to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of bromothymol blue solution
(0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator, and titrate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium
hydroxide solution until the color of the solution becomes green. Calculate the factor of
a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution by the following formula:

Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (f1)

= (W1 × A × 0.01/97.095) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C1)

W1: Mass (g) of sulfamic acid sampled

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of sulfamic acid
V1: Volume (mL) of sulfamic acid solution transferred
V2: Constant volume (250 mL) of sulfamic acid solution
V3: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution

b) Sulfuric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of

equivalent quality.
c) 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid(1) (2): Add about 14 mL of sulfuric acid to a beaker containing
100 mL of water in advance, stir well, and add water to make 1000 mL.

490
 Standardization: Transfer a predetermined amount (3) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to a
200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue
mixture solution, and titrate with 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until
the color of the solution becomes gray-green.(4) Calculate the volume of a 0.1 mol/L -
0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid by
the following formula (1). Or, calculate the factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid by the
following formula (2):

Volume (B) of 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL
of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
= V4/V5 …… (1)

Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (f2)

= (f1 × C1 × V4/V5)/(C2 × 2) …… (2)

V4: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
V5: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid subjected to standardization
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
C2: Set concentration (0.25 mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid

d) Boric acid solution (40 g/L): Dissolve 40 g of boric acid specified in JIS K 8863 in
water to make 1000 mL.
e) Catalyst (5): Mix potassium sulfate specified in JIS K 8962 and copper (II) sulfate
pentahydrate (6) specified in JIS K 8983 in the ratio of 9 to 1.
f) Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L) (1): Dissolve 100 g - 250 g of sodium
hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576 in water to make 500 mL.
g) Bromothymol blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of bromothymol blue
specified in JIS K 8842 in 20 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102, and add water
to make 100 mL.
h) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
i) Methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methylene blue specified in
JIS K 8897 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
j) Methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution: To 2 volumes of a methyl red solution
(0.1 g/100 mL), add 1 volume of a methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL).
k) Bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.5 g of bromocresol green
specified in JIS K 8840 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
l) Methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution: To a methyl red solution (0.1
g/100 mL), add an equal volume of bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL).
m) Heat phosphate solution: Dissolve 3.63 g of potassium dihydrogen phosphate
specified in JIS K 8863 and 5.68 g of disodium hydrogen phosphate in water (7). When it
is used, heat until it reaches boiling point (heat buffer solution).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) This corresponds to the standard sulfuric acid solution 0.5 M (1/2 sulfuric acid)
solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(3) 5 mL -10 mL
(4) The endpoint is reached when the color becomes gray-green via dark blue from
blue-purple.
(5) A tablet is commercially available.
491
 (6) Crush into powder as appropriate.
(7) pH 7.0±pH 0.2

Comment 1 A 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution in (2) a) can be replaced
with a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution or a 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.
Comment 2 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid in (2) c) can be replaced with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.

(3) Apparatus and Instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below.
a)Water bath: A water bath which can boil water.
b)Steam distillation apparatus
c)Digestion flask: A Kjeldahl flask which can be connected to a steam distillation
apparatus.
d) Distillation flask: A Kjeldahl flask or a round bottom flask that can be connected to a
steam distillation apparatus.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1)
Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a)Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample (8) and put it in a 300-mL volumetric flask
b)Add 100 mL of heat phosphate solution and stir it gently.
c)Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat in a boiling water bath while stirring
at ten-minute intervals for about 30 minutes.
d) Immediately filter with Type 3 filter paper, move the whole non-dissolved matter in a
vessel on the filter paper with 100 mL of heat phosphate solution and wash the
non-dissolved matter with hot water.

Note (8) Prepare the test sample according to Comment 3.

Comment 3 Crush a laboratory sample with a mortar or a pestle, etc. until it completely
passes through a sieve of 850 µm aperture.

(4.2) Kjeldahl method: Conduct digestion as shown below.

a) Put the non-dissolved matter in (4.1) d) together with the filter paper into a 300-mL -
500-mL digestion flask.
b) Add 5 g - 10 g of catalyst, and further add 20 mL - 40 mL of sulfuric acid, shake to mix
and heat gently.
c) After bubbles cease to form, heat until white smoke of sulfuric acid evolves.
d) Ignite until organic matters are completely digested (9).
e) After standing to cool, add a small amount of water, mix well by shaking, transfer to a
250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask with water (10), and further mix by shaking.
f) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line to make the digestion solution.

Note (9) When the solution has finished changing color, heat further for no less than 2
hours.
(10) When the entire sample solution volume is used in measurement, it is not
necessary to transfer it to a volumetric flask.

(4.3) Distillation: Conduct distillation as shown below. Specific distillation procedures are
according to the operation method of the steam distillation apparatus used in
measurement.
492
 a) Transfer a predetermined amount(11) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to an acceptor,(12) add a
few drops of methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to
a steam distillation apparatus. Or, transfer a predetermined amount(11) of boric acid
solution (40 g/L) to an acceptor,(12) add a few drops of methyl red - bromocresol green
mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to a steam distillation apparatus.
b) Transfer a predetermined amount of the digestion solution to a 300-mL distillation flask,
add a proper amount of sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L) (13), and
immediately connect this distillation flask to the steam distillation apparatus.
c) Send steam to the distillation flask to heat the solution in the distillation flask, and distill
at a distillation rate of 5 mL/min - 7 mL/min.
d) Stop distilling when the distillate has reached 120 mL - 160 mL.
e) Wash the part of the steam distillation apparatus that came in contact with the solution
in the acceptor with a small amount of water, and pool the washing with the distillate.

Note (11) 5 mL - 20 mL
(12) As an acceptor, use a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask or a 200-mL - 300-mL
beaker with which the distillate outlet of the steam distillation apparatus can be
immersed in 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid or a boric acid solution (40 g/L).
(13) An amount sufficient to make the solution strong alkalinity. A blue color will
appear.

(4.4) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

(4.4.1) In case 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid is used in (4.2):
a) Titrate the distillate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the
color of the solution becomes gray-green (4).
b) Calculate the heat buffer solution soluble nitrogen in the analytical sample by the
following formula:
c) Subtract the nitrogen whichi is insoluble in a heat buffer solution from the separately
obtained total nitrogen (T-N) according to the method in 4.1.1 to calculate the nitrogen
which is soluble in a heat buffer solution (14).

Heat buffer solution soluble nitrogen (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample
= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (V8/V9) × (14.007/W2) × (100/1000)
= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (V8/V9) × (1.4007/W2)

B: Volume of 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1

mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V6: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid transferred to the acceptor in (4.2)
a)
V7: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
f1: Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
V8: Predetermined volume (mL) of the extract in (4.2) f)
V9: Transferred amount (mL) of the extract subjected to Kjeldahl method in (4.3)
b)
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

Note (14) The total nitrogen (T-N) and the nitrogen whichi is insoluble in a heat buffer
solution use raw data without rounding numerical value.

493
(4.4.2) In case a boric acid solution (40 g/L) is used in (4.3):
a) Titrate the distillate with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid until the color of the solution becomes
light red (15).
b) Calculate the nitrogen whichi is insoluble in a heat buffer solution in the analytical
sample by the following formula:
c) Subtract the nitrogen whichi is insoluble in a heat buffer solution from the separately
obtained total nitrogen (T-N) according to the method in 4.1.1 to calculate the nitrogen
which is soluble in a heat buffer solution

Nitrogen whichi is insoluble in a heat buffer solution (% (mass fraction)) in the

analytical sample
= V10 × C2×2× f2 × (V11/V12) × (14.007/W2) × (100/1000)
= V10 × C2 × f2 × (V11/V12) × (2.8014/W2)

V10: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid needed for titration
C2: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
f2: Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V11: Predetermined volume (mL) of the extract in (4.2) f)
V12: Transferred amount (mL) of the extract subjected to Kjeldahl method in (4.3)
b)
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

Note (15) The endpoint is reached when the color changes from green to light red.

Comment 4 The titration procedures in (2) a) Standardization, (2) c) Standardization

and (4.4) can be conducted by an automatic titrator. The setup of the titration
program, the determination parameter for the endpoint and vessels such as
acceptors are according to the specification and the operation method of the
automatic titrator used.

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 68 - 69, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

494
(5) Flow sheet for heat buffer solution soluble nitrogen testing method: The flow sheets
for heat buffer solution soluble nitrogen testing method in methylolurea polymerization
fertilizers are shown below:

1.00 g
Weigh into a 300-mL tall beaker
analytical sample
←150 mL heat phosphate solution
Stirring Gently

Boiling water bath

Heating
while stirring at 10-minute intervals for 30 minutes

Type 3 filter paper

Filtration
Transfer with 100 mL heat phosphate solution
←Wash with hot water
Put 300-mL - 500-mL digestion flask
←5 g - 10 g catalyst
←20 mL - 40 mL sulfuric acid
Heating Gently

After bubbles cease to form,

Heating
ignite until organic matters are completely digested

Standing to cool
← A small amount of water
Transfer 250-mL - 500-mLvolumetric flask, water

Standing to cool Room temperature

← Water (up to the marked line )
Aliquot (predetermined 300-mL distillation flask
volume)
← Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L)
Receiver: 200-mL - 300 - mL Erlenmeyer flask or beaker
A predetermined amount of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and
Steam distillation
a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue mixture solution,
apparatus
or boric acid solution (40 g/L), several drops of
methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution

Steam distillation Distillation rate: 5 mL/min -7 mL/min

Stop distilling 120 mL – 160 mL distillate

←　Water (wash the part of the distillation apparatus
that came in contact with the solution in the receiver)
0.1 mol/L-0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (until the
Titration solution becomes gray-green), or
0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (until the solution becomes light red)

Figure Flow sheet for heat buffer solution soluble nitrogen testing method
in methylolurea polymerization fertilizers

495
6.7 Activity coefficient of nitrogen
6.7.a Buffer solution method
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to formaldehyde processed urea fertilizers.
Add water to an analytical sample to elute cold water-soluble nitrogen, add potassium sulfate
copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate and sulfuric acid, pretreat non-dissolved matter by Kjeidahl
method to change cold water-soluble nitrogen to ammonium ion and add a sodium hydroxide
solution to subject to steam distillation. Collect isolated ammonia with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid and measure surplus sulfuric acid by (neutralization) titration using a 0.1 mol/L – 0.2
mol/L sodium hydroxide solution to obtain cold water insoluble nitrogen in the analytical
sample. Or collect isolated ammonia with a boric acid solution and measure ammonium ion
by (neutralization) titration using 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to obtain cold water-soluble
nitrogen in the analytical sample. Separately add a heat phosphate solution (heat buffer
solution) to an analytical sample to elute the nitrogen which is soluble in a heat buffer
solution and conduct the same procedures as above to obtain the nitrogen which is insoluble
in a heat buffer solution in the analytical sample. Subtract the nitrogen which is insoluble in a
heat buffer solution from cold water non-dissolved matter and calculate the activity
coefficient of nitrogen by dividing the subtracted value by the cold water non-dissolved
matter.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution(1): Transfer about 30 mL of water to
a polyethylene bottle, dissolve about 35 g of sodium hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576
by adding in small portions while cooling, seal tightly and leave at rest for 4-5 days.
Transfer 5.5 mL -11 mL of the supernatant to a ground-in stopperstorage container, and
add 1000 mL of wate.
Standardization: Dry sulfamic acid reference material for volumetric analysis
specified in JIS K 8005 by leaving at rest in a desiccator at no more than 2 kPa for about
48 hours, then transfer about 2.5 g to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer to a 250-mL volumetric flask,
and add water up to the marked line.(1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution
to a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of bromothymol blue solution
(0.1 g/100 mL) as an indicator, and titrate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium
hydroxide solution until the color of the solution becomes green. Calculate the factor of
a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution by the following formula:

Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (f1)

= (W1 × A × 0.01/97.095) × (V1/V2) × (1000/V3) × (1/C1)

W1: Mass (g) of sulfamic acid sampled

A: Purity (% (mass fraction)) of sulfamic acid
V1: Volume (mL) of sulfamic acid solution transferred
V2: Constant volume (250 mL) of sulfamic acid solution
V3: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution

b) Sulfuric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8951 or a reagent of

equivalent quality.

496
c) 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid(1) (2): Add about 14 mL of sulfuric acid to a beaker containing
100 mL of water in advance, stir well, and add water to make 1,000 mL.
Standardization: Transfer a predetermined amount (3) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to a
200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask, add a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue
mixture solution, and titrate with a 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
until the color of the solution becomes gray-green.(4) Calculate the volume of a 0.1
mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid by the following formula (1). Or, calculate the factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid by
the following formula (2):

Volume (B) of 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1 mL
of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
= V4/V5 …… (1)

Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (f2)

= (f1 × C1 × V4/V5)/(C2 × 2) …… (2)

V4: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
V5: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid subjected to standardization
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
C2: Set concentration (0.25 mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid

d) Boric acid solution (40 g/L): Dissolve 40 g of boric acid specified in JIS K 8863 in
water to make 1000 mL.
e) Catalyst (5): Mix potassium sulfate specified in JIS K 8962 and copper (II) sulfate
pentahydrate (6) specified in JIS K 8983 in the ratio of 9 to 1.
f) Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L) (1): Dissolve 100 g - 250 g of sodium
hydroxide specified in JIS K 8576 in water to make 500 mL.
g) Bromothymol blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of bromothymol blue
specified in JIS K 8842 in 20 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102, and add water
to make 100 mL.
h) Methyl red solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methyl red specified in JIS K
8896 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
i) Methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.1 g of methylene blue specified in
JIS K 8897 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
j) Methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution: To 2 volumes of a methyl red solution
(0.1 g/100 mL), add 1 volume of a methylene blue solution (0.1 g/100 mL).
k) Bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL): Dissolve 0.5 g of bromocresol green
specified in JIS K 8840 in 100 mL of ethanol (95) specified in JIS K 8102.
l) Methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution: To a methyl red solution (0.1
g/100 mL), add an equal volume of bromocresol green solution (0.5 g/100 mL).
m) Heat phosphate solution: Dissolve 3.63 g of potassium dihydrogen phosphate specified
in JIS K 8863 and 5.68 g of disodium hydrogen phosphate in water (7). When it is used,
heat until it reaches boiling point (heat buffer solution).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) This corresponds to the standard sulfuric acid solution 0.5 M (1/2 sulfuric acid)
solution in the Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers (1992).
(3) 5 mL -10 mL

497
 (4) The endpoint is reached when the color becomes gray-green via dark blue from
blue-purple.
(5) A tablet is commercially available.
(6) Crush into powder as appropriate.
(7) pH 7.5±pH 0.2

Comment 1 A 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution in (2) a) can be replaced
with a 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution or a 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide
solution conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.
Comment 2 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid in (2) c) can be replaced with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric
acid conforming to ISO/IEC 17025.

(3) Apparatus and Instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below.
a)Water bath: A water bath which can boil water.
b)Steam distillation apparatus
c)Digestion flask: A Kjeldahl flask which can be connected to a steam distillation
apparatus.
d) Distillation flask: A Kjeldahl flask or a round bottom flask that can be connected to a
steam distillation apparatus.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below. Subject the non-dissolved matters of
(4.1.1) f) and (4.1.2) d) to the Kjeidahl method respectively.
(4.1.1) Extraction by cold water
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample (8) and put it in a 300-mL tall beaker.
b) Add a small amount of ethanol specified in JIS K 8101 to moisten and add 20 mL of
water at 25ºC±2ºC to stir.
c) Leave at rest for 15 minutes while stirring at 5-minute intervals.
d) Filter the supernatant with Type 2 filter paper
e) Wash non-dissolved matter with water at 25ºC±2ºC five times and filter the supernatant.
f) Transfer the whole non-dissolved matter on the filter paper using water at 25ºC±2ºC and
wash the non-dissolved matter using water at the same temperature until filtrate reaches
250 mL.

Note (8) Prepare the test sample according to Comment 3.

Comment 3 Crush a laboratory sample with a mortar or a pestle, etc. until it completely
passes through a 850 µm aperture sieve.

(4.1.2) Extraction by heat phosphate solution

a) Weigh an analytical sample (8) equivalent to 0.12 g of cold non-resolved matter and put
it in a 200-mL tall beaker.
b) Add 100 mL of heat phosphate solution and stir.
c) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat in a boiling water bath while stirring
at ten-minute intervals for about 30 minutes.
d) Immediately filter with Type 2 filter paper,transfer the whole non-dissolved matter in a
vessel on the filter paper using boiling water and wash the non-dissolved matter using
100 mL of boiling water.

Note (9) If it takes 4 minutes or more for filtrating, conduct extracting anew according to
Comment 4.
498
 Comment 4 After conducting the procedures in (4.1.1) a) – c), add 1 g of diatomaceous
earth to stir and conduct the procedure in (4.1.2) d).

(4.2) Kjeldahl method: Conduct digestion as shown below.

a) Put the non-dissolved matter in (4.1.1) f) or (4.1.2) d) together with the filter paper into
a 300-mL - 500-mL digestion flask.
b) Add 5 g - 10 g of catalyst, and further add 20 mL - 40 mL of sulfuric acid, shake to mix
and heat gently.
c) After bubbles cease to form, heat until white smoke of sulfuric acid evolves.
d) Ignite until organic matters are completely digested (10).
e) After standing to cool, add a small amount of water, mix well by shaking, transfer to a
250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask with water (11), and further mix by shaking.
f) After standing to cool, add water up to the marked line to make the digestion solution.

Note (10) When the solution has finished changing color, heat further for no less than 2
hours.
(11) When the entire sample solution volume is used in measurement, it is not
necessary to transfer it to a volumetric flask.

(4.3) Distillation: Conduct distillation as shown below. Specific distillation procedures are
according to the operation method of the steam distillation apparatus used in
measurement.
a) Transfer a predetermined amount (12) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid to an acceptor,(13) add a
few drops of methyl red - methylene blue mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to
a steam distillation apparatus. Or, transfer a predetermined amount(11) of boric acid
solution (40 g/L) to an acceptor,(12) add a few drops of methyl red - bromocresol green
mixture solution, and connect this acceptor to a steam distillation apparatus.
b) Transfer a predetermined amount of the digestion solution to a 300-mL distillation flask,
add a proper amount of sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L) (14), and
immediately connect this distillation flask to the steam distillation apparatus.
c) Send steam to the distillation flask to heat the solution in the distillation flask, and distill
at a distillation rate of 5 mL/min - 7 mL/min.
d) Stop distilling when the distillate has reached 120 mL - 160 mL.
e) Wash the part of the steam distillation apparatus that came in contact with the solution
in the acceptor with a small amount of water, and pool the washing with the distillate.

Note (12) 5 mL - 20 mL
(13) As an acceptor, use a 200-mL - 300-mL Erlenmeyer flask or a 200-mL - 300-mL
beaker with which the distillate outlet of the steam distillation apparatus can be
immersed in a 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid or boric acid solution (40 g/L).
(14) An amount sufficient to make the solution strong alkalinity. A blue color will
appear.

(4.4) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

(4.4.1) In case 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid is used in (4.3):
a) Titrate the distillate with a 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution until the
color of the solution becomes gray-green (4).
b) Calculate the cold water insoluble nitrogen (N1) and the nitrogen which is insoluble in a
heat buffer solution (N2) in the analytical sample by the following formula (3):

499
 c) Obtain the activity coefficient of nitrogen in the analytical sample by the following
formula (4) (15).

Cold water insoluble nitrogen (N1) or the nitrogen which is insoluble in a heat buffer
solution (N2) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample
= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (V8/V9) × (14.007/W2) × (100/1000)
= (B × V6 - V7) × C1 × f1 × (V8/V9) × (1.4007/W2) ------ (3)

B: Volume of 0.1 mol/L -0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution equivalent to 1

mL of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V6: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid transferred to the acceptor in (4.2)
a)
V7: Volume (mL) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution needed for
titration
C1: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
f1: Factor of 0.1 mol/L - 0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution
V8: Predetermined volume (mL) of the extract in (4.2) f)
V9: Transferred amount (mL) of the extract subjected to Kjeldahl method in (4.3)
b)
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

Activity coefficient of nitrogen (%)

= ((N1 ˗ N2)/N1 × 100 ------ (4)

N1 : Cold water insoluble nitrogen (% (mass fraction))

N2: Heat buffer solution insoluble nitrogen (% (mass fraction))

Note (15) Cold water insoluble nitrogen (N1) or the nitrogen which is insoluble in a heat
buffer solution (N2) uses raw data without rounding numerical value.

(4.4.2) In case a boric acid solution (40 g/L) is used in (4.3):

a) Titrate the distillate with 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid until the color of the solution becomes
light red (16).
b) Calculate the cold water insoluble nitrogen (N1) and the nitrogen which is insoluble in a
heat buffer solution (N2) in the analytical sample by the following formula (5):
c) Obtain the activity coefficient of nitrogen in the analytical sample by the formula (4) in
(4.4.1) (14).

Cold water insoluble nitrogen (N1) or the nitrogen which is insoluble in a heat buffer
solution (N2) (% (mass fraction)) in the analytical sample
= V10 × C2×2× f2 × (V11/V12) × (14.007/W2) × (100/1000)
= V10 × C2 × f2 × (V11/V12) × (2.8014/W2)

V10: Volume (mL) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid needed for titration
C2: Set concentration (mol/L) of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
f2: Factor of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid
V11: Predetermined volume (mL) of the extract in (4.2) f)
V12: Transferred amount (mL) of the extract subjected to the Kjeldahl method in
(4.3) b)
W2: Mass (g) of the analytical sample

500
 Note (16) The endpoint is reached when the color changes from green to light red.

Comment 5 The titration procedures in (2) a) Standardization, (2) c) Standardization

and (4.4) can be conducted by an automatic titrator. The setup of the titration
program, the determination parameter for the endpoint and vessels such as
acceptors are according to the specification and the operation method of the
automatic titrator used.

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 68 - 69, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

(5) Flow sheet for the activity coefficient of nitrogen testing method: The flow sheets
for the activity coefficient of nitrogen testing method in formaldehyde processed urea
fertilizers are shown below:

1.00 g
Weigh into a 50-mL beaker
analytical sample
←A small amount of ethanol
←150 mL water [25ºC±2ºC]
Stirring
For 15 minutes
Leaving at rest while stirring at 5-minute intervals

Type 2 filter paper

Filtration
Move with water [25ºC±2ºC]
←Wash with 100 mL of water [25ºC±2ºC]
(until filtrat reaches about 250 mL)
Cold water
non-dissolved mater

Figure Flow sheet (1) for the activity coefficient of nitrogen testing method
in formaldehyde processed urea fertilizers
(Extraction by cold water)

Analytical sample
Weigh into a 200-mL tall beaker
(equivalent to 0.12 g of
cold water soluble
nitrogen)
←150 mL heat phosphate solution
Stirring

Boiling water bath

Heating
while stirring at 10-minute intervals for 30 minutes

Type 2 filter paper

Filtration Move with water (boiling)
←Wash with 100 mL of water (boiling)
Heat buffer solution non-
dissolved matter

Figure Flow sheet (2) for the activity coefficient of nitrogen testing method
in formaldehyde processed urea fertilizers
(Extraction by heat phosphate solution)
501
 Cold water Subject Cold water non-dissolved mater or
non-dissolved mater or heat buffer solution non-dissolved matter to
heat buffer solution non- Kjeldahl method, disttilation and
dissolved matter measurement respectively

Transfer
(together with filter paper)
←5 g - 10 g catalyst
←20 mL - 40 mL sulfuric acid
Heating Gently

After bubbles cease to form,

Heating
ignite until organic matters are completely digested

Standing to cool
← A small amount of water
Transfer 250-mL - 500-mLvolumetric flask, water

Standing to cool Room temperature

← Water (up to the marked line )
Aliquot (predetermined 300-mL distillation flask
volume)
← Sodium hydroxide solution (200 g/L - 500 g/L)
Receiver: 200-mL - 300 - mL Erlenmeyer flask or beaker
A predetermined amount of 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid and
Steam distillation
a few drops of methyl red-methylene blue mixture solution,
apparatus or boric acid solution (40 g/L), several drops of
methyl red - bromocresol green mixture solution

Steam distillation Distillation rate: 5 mL/min -7 mL/min

Stop distilling 120 mL – 160 mL distillate

←　Water (wash the part of the distillation apparatus
that came in contact with the solution in the receiver)
0.1 mol/L-0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (until the
Titration solution becomes gray-green), or
0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid (until the solution becomes light red)
Figure Flow sheet (3) for the activity coefficient of nitrogen testing method
in formaldehyde processed urea fertilizers
(Measurement procedure)

502
6.8 Initial elution rate
6.8.a Standing-in-water method
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to coated fertilizers. An initial elution rate is a quick- acting
component of coated fertilizers. Target components include total nitrogen (T-N), ammoniacal
nitrogen (A-N), nitrate nitrogen (N-N), water-soluble phosphoric acid (W-P2O5), water-
soluble potassium (W-K2O) and water-soluble magnesia (W-MgO). Add water to a laboratory
sample, leave it at rest while maitaining in water at 30ºC and obtain the initial elution flow of
a target component. Separately measure the corresponding component content by 4.1.1, 4.1.2,
4.1.3, 4.2.4, 4.3.3 or 4.6.3. Calculate an initial elution rate dividing the initial elution flow of a
target component by the corresponding component content.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Reagent solutions for total nitrogen: Reagents corresponding to clauses in 4.1.1 when
determining total nitrogen.
b) Reagent solutions for ammoniacal nitrogen: Reagents corresponding to clauses in
4.1.2 when determining ammoniacal nitrogen.
c) Reagent solutions for nitrate nitrogen: Reagents corresponding to clauses in 4.1.3
when determining nitrate nitrogen.
d) Reagent solutions for water-soluble phosphoric acid: Reagents corresponding to
clauses in 4.2.4 when determining water-soluble phosphoric acid.
e) Reagent solutions for water-soluble potassium: Reagents corresponding to clauses in
4.3.3 when determining water-soluble potassium.
f) Reagent solutions for water-soluble magnesia: Reagents corresponding to clauses in
4.6.3 when determining water-soluble magnesia.

(3) Apparatus and Instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below.
a) Incubator: An incubator whose temperature is 30 ºC ±1 ºC.
b) Total nitrogen: Apparatus and instruments corresponding to clauses in 4.1.1 when
determining total nitrogen.
c) Ammonium nitrogen: Apparatus and instruments corresponding to clauses in 4.1.2
when determining ammoniacal nitrogen.
d) Nitrate nitrogen: Apparatus and instruments corresponding to clauses in 4.1.3 when
determining nitrate nitrogen.
e) Water-soluble phosphoric acid: Apparatus and instruments corresponding to clauses
in 4.2.4 when determining water-soluble phosphoric acid.
f) Water-soluble potassium: Apparatus and instruments corresponding to clauses in 4.3.3
when determining water-soluble potassium.
g) Water-soluble magnesia: Apparatus and instruments corresponding to clauses in 4.6.3
when determining water-soluble magnesia.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 12.5 g of a laboratory sample and put it in a 300-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask (1).
b) Add 250 mL of water at 30ºC±1ºC, put it into an incubator at 30ºC±1ºC and leave it at
rest for 24 hours (2).
c) Filter with Type 3 filter paper (3) and shake to mix the filtrate to make the sample
solution.

503
 Note (1) Since no grinding is conducted and inhomogeneous laboratory samples are used,
it is desirable to heighten the reliability of determined values by conducting tests
using 3 - 5 laboratory samples.
(2) Since an initial elution flow is estimated to be higher than usual if the laboratory
sample vibrates in water, water should be added gently. Do not shake to mix the
sample solution until the filtering in c) is completed.
(3) Filter most of the solution so that non-dissolved matter remains in the
Erlenmeyer flask.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct the measurements of the initial elution flow of a target
component as specified in respective clauses in a) – f). In addition, specific
measurement procedure for each component is carried out according to a corresponding
clause.
a) Total nitrogen: Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution and quantitate
total nitrogen according to respective clauses in 4.1.1 to make the initial elution flow
b) Ammonium nitrogen: Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution and
quantitate ammoniacal nitrogen according to respective clauses in 4.1.2 to make the
initial elution flow.
c) Nitrate nitrogen: Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution and quantitate
nitrate nitrogen according to respective clauses in 4.1.3 to make the initial elution flow.
d Water-soluble phosphoric acid: Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution
and quantitate water-soluble phosphoric acid according to respective clauses in 4.2.4 to
make the initial elution flow.
e) Water-soluble potassium: Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution and
quantitate water-soluble potassium according to respective clauses in 4.3.3 to make the
initial elution flow.
f) Water-soluble magnesia: Transfer a predetermined amount of sample solution and
quantitate water-soluble magnesia according to respective clauses in 4.6.3 to make the
initial elution flow.

(5) Calculation of initial elution rate

a) Calculate an initial elution rate (%) by the following formula using the initial elution
flow of a target component obtained in (4.2) and separately determine (4) the
corresponding component content (5).

Initial elution rate (%)

= (C1/C2) × 100
C1: Initial elution rate of a target component (% (mass fraction))
C2: Corresponding component content (% (mass fraction))

Note (4) Determine total nitrogen (T-N), ammoniacal nitrogen (A-N), nitrate nitrogen
(N-N), water-soluble phosphoric acid (W-P2O5), water-soluble potassium
(W-K2O) and water-soluble magnesia (W-MgO) in 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.3, 4.2.4,
4.3.3 or 4.6.3 using test samples prepared in 2.3 Preparation of test samples.

(5) Initial elution flow and corresponding component content use raw data without
rounding numerical value.

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 288 - 290, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)
504
(6) Initial elution rate testing method: The flow sheet for initial elution rate testing
method in coated fertilizers is shown below:

12.5 g
300 mL Erlenmeyer flask
laboratory sample
←250 mL water [30ºC±1ºC]
Extract

Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Determination of Initial elution rate

a target component of a target component

Figure Flow sheet for initial elution rate testing method

of coated fertilizers

505
6.9 Humic acid (Acid insoluble - alkali soluble component)
6.9.a Gravimetric analysis
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to humic acid salt fertilizers. Add hydrochloric acid (1+9) to
elute acid dissolved matter, filter non-dissolved matter and measure the mass of non-dissolved
matter to obtain acid non-dissolved matter in the analytical sample. Separately add
hydrochloric acid (1+9) to elute acid dissolved matter, add a sodium hydroxide solution (10
g/L) to non-dissolved matter to elute alkali dissolved matter, and filter the non-dissolved
matter to obtain acid non-dissolved alkali non-dissolved matter. Subtract acid non-dissolved
alkali non-dissolved matter from acid dissolved matter to calculate humic acid (acid insoluble
alkali soluble component).

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Sodium hydroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8576 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Shaking apparatus
b) Drying apparatus: A drying apparatus whose temperature can be adjusted to 105 ºC –
110 ºC.
c) Crucible type glass filter: A crucible type glass filter 1G4 specified in JIS R 3503:
After heating it in a drying apparatus at 105 ºC – 110 ºC in advance, let it stand to cool
in a desiccator and measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.
d) Ground-in stopperweighing bottles (1): Low-form weighing bottles, 50 mm × 30 mm,
specified in JIS R 3503. Dry by heating in advance in a drying apparatus at 105 ºC - 110
ºC, stand to cool in a desiccator, and measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.

Note (1) Aluminum weighing dishes described in the Handbook of the Feed Analysis
Standards -2009- can also be used.
(2) A rotary shaker that can rotate a 100-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal
precipitate tube upside down at 30 - 40 revolutions/min may also be used.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Acid non-dissolved matter
(4.1.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1 mg and put it in a 100-mL ground-in
stoppercentrifugal precipitate tube.
b) Add 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+9) and shake to mix by using a shaking apparatus (2)
for about 1 hour.
c) Centrifuge at about 1700 × g for about five minutes (3) to remove supernatant (4).
d) Add water to stir (5) and centrifuge at about 1700 × g for about five minutes (3) to remove
supernatant (4).
e) Repeat the procedure in d) 3 times.

Note (3) When using a rotary shaker, it should be adjusted to 30 - 40 revolutions/min.

(4) 16.5-cm of radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g centrifugal
force.
(5) Remove using Komagome pipet, etc.

506
 (6) Stir with a glass rod, wash non-dissolved matter which may have adhered to the
glass rod with water and add wash to a centrifugal precipitate tube.

(4.1.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Transfer the whole non-dissolved matter in (4.1.1) e) to a crucible type glass filter and
filter under reduced pressure.
b) Put the non-dissolved matter together with the crucible type glass filter into a drying
apparatus and heat at 105 ºC – 110 ºC for 3 hours.
c) As soon as heating is complete, move it into a desiccator and let it stand to cool.
d) After standing to cool, remove the crucible type glass filter from the desiccator and
measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.

(4.2) Acid non-dissolved – alkali non-dissolved matter

(4.2.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1 g of an analytical sample to the order of 1mg and put it in a 100-mL ground-in
stoppercentrifugal precipitate tube.
b) Add 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+9) and shake to mix by using a shaking apparatus (2)
for about 1 hour.
c) Centrifuge at about 1700 × g for about five minutes (3) to remove supernatant (4).
d) Add water to stir (5) and centrifuge at about 1700 × g for about five minutes (3) to remove
supernatant (4).
e) Repeat a procedure in d) 3 times.
f) Add 50 mL of sodium hydroxide (10 g/L) and shake to mix by using a shaking
apparatus (2) for about 1 hour.
g) Centrifuge at about 1700 × g for about five minutes (3) to remove supernatant (4).
h) Add water to stir (5) and centrifuge at about 1700 × g for about five minutes (3) to remove
supernatant (4).
i) Repeat the procedure in h) 3 times.

(4.2.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement as shown below.

a) Put the non-dissolved matter together with a ground –in stopperweighing bottle into a
drying apparatus and heat (6).
b) After cooling, transfer the non-dissolved matter into the ground –in stopperweighing
bottle.
c) Put the non-dissolved matter together with a ground –in stopperweighing bottle into a
drying apparatus and heat at 105 ºC – 110 ºC for 3 hours.
d) After heating, fit the stopper into the ground-in stopperweighing bottle, and
immediately transfer to a desiccator to let it stand to cool.
e) After cooling, remove the ground-in stopperweighing bottle from the desiccator, and
measure the mass to the order of 1 mg.

Note (7) Heat at the temperature to enable the procedure in (4.2.2) b).

(5) Calculation of humic acid

a) Calculate humic acid by the following formula

Humic acid（%（mass fraction））

＝(A1/W1) × 100－(A2/W2) × 100 -------- （1）

A1： Mass (g) of the acid non-dissolved matter determined in (4.1.2) d)

W1： Mass (g) of the analytical sample sampled in (4.1.1）a)
507
 A2： Mass (g) of the acid non-dissolved – alkali non-dissolved matter determined in
(4.2.2) e)
W2： Mass (g) of the analytical sample sampled in (4.2.1) a)

Reference
1) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.316 - 317, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

(6) Humic acid testing method: The flow sheet for humic acid testing method is shown
below:

1g Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 100-mL

analytical sample ground-in stopper cetrifugal precipitate tubu
←About 50 mL hydrochloric acid (1+9)
Shaking to mixg Shaking, 1 hour
Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube
Centrifugal separation About 1700 × g , 5 minutes

Removing supernatant

←Water
Stirring
Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube
Centrifugal separation About 1700 × g , 5 minutes

Removing supernatant
Further repeat 3 times

Transfer Crucible type glass filter 1G4, water

Heating 105 ºC – 110 ºC, 3 hours

Standing to cool Desiccator

Measurement Weigh to the order of 1 mg

Figure Flow sheet (1) for humic acid testing method in humic acid salt fertilizers
(Measurement of acid non-dissolved matter)

508
 1g Weigh to the order of 1 mg into a 100-mL
analytical sample ground-in stopper cetrifugal precipitate tubu
← 50 mL hydrochloric acid (1+9)
Shaking to mixg Shaking, 1 hour

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube

Centrifugal separation About 1700 × g , 5 minutes

Removing supernatant

←Water
Stirring
Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube
Centrifugal separation About 1700 × g , 5 minutes

Removing supernatant
Further repeat 3 times
← 50 mL sodium hydroxide (10 g/L)
Shaking to mixg Shaking, 1 hour
Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube
Centrifugal separation
About 1700 × g , 5 minutes

Removing supernatant

←Water
Stirring
Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube
Centrifugal separation About 1700 × g , 5 minutes

Removing supernatant
Further repeat 3 times
Heating Drying

Transfer Ground-in stopper weighing bottle

Heating 105 ºC – 110 ºC, 3 hours

Standing to cool Desiccator
Measurement Weigh to the order of 1 mg

Figure Flow sheet (2) for humic acid testing method in humic acid salt fertilizers
(Measurement of acid insoluble - alkali non-dissolved matter)

509
6.10 Sulfate

This method is according to 5.29.2 Sulfate analysis in “The Official Methods of Analysis of
Fertilizers 1992”.

Reference
1) National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries: The Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers 1992, p. 145 -
147, Japan Fertilizers Analysis Association, Tokyo (1992)
2) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p. 285 - 286, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

510
6.11 Carbon dioxide

This method is according to 5.20 Carbon dioxide analysis in “The Official Methods of
Analysis of Fertilizers 1992”.

Reference
1) National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries: The Official Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers 1992, p.121 -
123, Japan Fertilizers Analysis Association, Tokyo (1992)
2) Masayoshi KOSHINO: Second Revision of The Methods of Analysis of Fertilizers
(Details), p.259 - 261, Yokendo, Tokyo (1988)

511
7. Nitrification inhibitor

7.1 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM)

7.1.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography

(1) Summary
This testing method is applicable to fertilizers containing
2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM).
Add methanol - water (1+1) to an analytical sample to extract
2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine, introduce it into a High Performance Liquid
Chromatograph (HPLC), isolate with an octadecyl silylation silica gel column, and measure at
wavelength 295 nm to obtain 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM) in an analytical
sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 6.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below.

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Methanol: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8891 or a reagent of equivalent
quality.
c) Methanol: Methanol used in eluent of an HPLC is a regent of HPLC analysis grade or
equivalents.
d) 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine standard solution (1 mg/mL)(1): Put 0.1 g of
2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine [C5H6ClN3](2) in a weighing dish and measure the
mass to the order of 0.1 mg. Add methanol - water (1+1) to dissolve, transfer to a
100-mL volumetric flask and add the same solvent up to the marked line. Store in a
refrigerator, and do not use after 6 months after preparation.
e) 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine standard solution (0.1 mg/mL): In the case of
usage, transfer 10 mL of 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine standard solution (1
mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add methanol - water (1+1) up to the marked
line.
f) 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine standard solution (10 µg/mL - 50 µg/mL) for
the calibration curve preparation: In the case of usage, transfer 5 mL - 25 mL of
2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine standard solution (0.1 mg/mL) to 50-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step and add methanol - water (1+1) up to the marked line.
g) 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine standard solution （1 µg/mL - 10 µg/mL）for
the calibration curve preparation: In the case of usage, transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of
2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine standard solution (20 µg/mL) for the calibration
curve preparation to 50-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add methanol - water
(1+1) up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) A reagent of no less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity is commercially sold as
2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine.

Comment 1: 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine is commercially sold by Wako Pure

Chemical Industries, Ltd. and Kanto Chemical Co., Inc.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph: HPLC specified in JIS K 0124 that
satisfies the following requirements.
1) Column: A 4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter 150-mm - 250-mm long stainless steel
column tube filled with silica gel, to which octadecyl chemically bonds.
512
 2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 30 ºC - 45 ºC.
3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 295
nm.
b) Magnetic stirrer
c) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 1700 × g.
d) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g -
10000 × g.
e) Acidic alumina cartridge column: Link a 10-mL cylinder to a column (3) that is filled
with 500 mg - 1 g of acidic alumina, put 3 mL of methanol and let it flow down.

Note (3) A cartridge with a 3-mL - 6-mL column filled with 500-mg - 1-g of silica gel can
be used.

Comment 2 A column is sold under production names such as Inertsil ODS, Mightysil
RP-18, L-column ODS, Shim-pack VP-ODS, Silica C18M 4D, Puresil C18,
COSMOSIL 5C18-MS-II, etc.
Comment 3 An acidic alumina cartridge is commercially sold under production names
such as Bond Elut AL-A, Sep-Pak Alumina-A, Supelclean LC-Alumina-A.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of methanol - water (1+1) and stir it by using a magnetic stirrer for about
30 minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution to a 50-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube.
d) Centrifuge it at 1700 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (4) and use the
supernatant as the extract (5).

Note (4) 16.5-cm of rotor radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g
centrifugal force.
(5) If there is a possibility that the 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine in the
sample solution exceeds the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a
predetermined amount of extract with methanol water (1+1).

(4.2) Cleanup: Conduct cleanup as shown below:

a) Transfer the extract to an acidic alumina cartridge column.
b) Dispose of about the first 3 mL of effluent and then transfer about the next 2 mL to a
test tube.
c) Transfer the effluent to a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube (6).
d) Centrifuge at 8000 × g - 10000 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (7) and use
the supernatant as the sample solution.

Note (6) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(7) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g - 10000 × g centrifugal force.

513
 Comment 4 Instead of the procedures in (4.2) c) - e), it is allowed to filter with a
membrane filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of PTFE
and the filtrate can be the sample solution.
Comment 5 The test is possible by the following procedures in the case of fertilizers not
containing organic matters.
The procedures in (4.1) c) - d) and (4.2) a) - b) are omitted and “Transfer
effluent” in (4.2) c) is replaced with the “After allowing to stand still,
transfer supernatant” to operate.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
Set up the measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph
(HPLC) considering the following example:
1) Column: A silica gel column (4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm - 250-mm
long, 5-µm particle diameter) to which octadecyl chemically bonds.
2) Temperature of column bath: 30 ºC - 40 ºC
3) Eluent: Methanol - water (4+6）
4) Flow rate: 1 mL/min
5) Detector: An absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 295 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Inject 10 µL of respective 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine standard solutions
for the calibration curve preparation to an HPLC, record a chromatogram at
wavelength 295 nm and obtain the peak area or height.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration and the peak area or
height at wavelength 295 nm of the 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine standard
solutions for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
2) Obtain 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine content from the calibration curve to
calculate 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM) in the analytical sample.

Comment 6 A recovery testing was conducted using compound fertilizer (1 sample) and
blended fertilizer (2 samples), as a result, the mean recovery rate of
2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine at concentration level of 1.0 % (mass
fraction), 0.4 % (mass fraction) and 0.1 % (mass fraction) were 99.1 % -
100.5 %, 99.3 % - 101.6 % and 100.2 % - 100.7 %. Additionally, the
minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about 0.005 % (mass
fraction).

Reference
1) Yuji SHIRAI: The volumetric analysis of 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine in
fertilizers with High Performance Liquid Chromatograph, Validation Report of
Fertilizers (in Japanese), 44 (3), p. 26 - 41(1991)

514
(5) Flow sheet for 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine: The flow sheet for
2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine in fertilizers is shown below:

1.00 g
200-mL of ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask
analytical sample
←　100 mL of methanol-water (1+1)
Extraction Shaking, 30 minutes

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
1700 × g , 5 minutes

Cleanup Acidic alumina cartridge column

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
8000 × g - 10000 × g, 5 minutes

Measurement High Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Figure 　Flow sheet for 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylprimidine (AM) in fertilizers.

Reference: HPLC chromatogram of 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM) standard

solution for the calibration curve preparation is shown below.

Reference diagram: HPLC chromatogram of

2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM) standard
solution

Measurement conditions for HPLC

Column: Mightysil RP-18 GP
(4.6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm long, 5-µm particle diameter)
2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine standard solution (the equivalents of 100 ng)
515
Other conditions are according to the examples of the measurement conditions of
(4.3) a) HPLC.

516
7.2 1-amidino-2-thiourea (ASU)
7.2.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography
(1) Summary
This testing method is applicable to fertilizers containing 1-amidino-2-thiourea (ASU). Add
water to an analytical sample to extract 1-amidino-2-thiourea, introduce it into a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC), isolate with an octadecyl silylation silica gel
column, and measure at wavelength 262 nm to obtain 1-amidino-2-thiourea (ASU) in an
analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment
4.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below.

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Methanol: Methanol used in eluent of an HPLC is a regent of HPLC analysis grade or
equivalents.
c) 1-sodium hexasulfonate: A reagent of ion pair chromatography analysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Acetic acid: A reagent of HPLC analysis grade or equivalents.
e) 1-amidino-2-thiourea standard solution (1 mg/mL)(1): Put 0.1 g of
1-amidino-2-thiourea [C2H6N4S](2) in a weighing dish and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Add water to dissolve, transfer to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add water
up to the marked line. Store in a refrigerator, and do not use after 6 months after
preparation.
f) 1-amidino-2-thiourea standard solution (0.1 mg/mL): In the case of usage, transfer
10 mL of 1-amidino-2-thiourea standard solution (1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric
flask and add water up to the marked line.
g) 1-amidino-2-thiourea standard solution (10 µg/mL- 50 µg/mL) for the calibration
curve preparation: In the case of usage, transfer 5 mL - 25 mL of
1-amidino-2-thiourea standard solution (0.1 mg/mL) to 50-mL volumetric flasks
step-by-step and add water up to the marked line.
h) 1-amidino-2-thiourea standard solution (1 µg/mL- 10 µg/mL) for the calibration
curve preparation: In the case of usage, transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of
1-amidino-2-thiourea standard solution (20 µg/mL) for the calibration curve preparation
to 50-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) A reagent of no less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity is commercially sold as
1-amidino-2-thiourea.

Comment 1 1-amidino-2-thiourea is sold under the name guanylthiourea by Tokyo

Chemical Industry Co., Ltd, and under the name amidino thiourea by Kanto
Chemical Co., Inc.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below.

a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC): HPLC specified in JIS K 0124
that satisfies the following requirements.
1) Column: A column of 4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter 150-mm - 250-mm long
stainless steel column tube filled with silica gel, to which octadecyl chemically
bonds.
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 30 ºC - 45 ºC.

517
 3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 262
nm.
b) Magnetic stirrer
c) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g -
10000 × g.

Comment 2: A column is sold under the production names such as Inertsil ODS,
Mightysil RP-18, L-column ODS, Shim-pack VP-ODS, Silica C18M 4D,
Puresil C18, COSMOSIL 5C18-MS-II.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of water and stir it with a magnetic stirrer for about 10 minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant (3) solution to a 1.5-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube (4).
d) Centrifuge at 8000 × g - 10000 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (5) to make
supernatant as the sample solution.

Note (3) If there is a possibility that the 1-amidino-2-thiourea concentration in the sample
solution exceeds the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a
predetermined amount of supernatant with water.
(4) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(5) 7.2-cm - 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g - 10000 × g centrifugal force.

Comment 3 Instead of procedures in (4.1) c) - d), it is allowed to filter with a membrane

filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic PTFE
and the filtrate can be the sample solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
Set up the measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph
(HPLC) considering the following example:
1) Column: A silica gel column (4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm - 250-mm
long, 5-µm particle diameter) to which octadecyl chemically bonds.
2) Temperature of Column bath: 30 ºC - 45 ºC
3) Eluent: Dissolve 0.94 g of sodium 1-hexasulfonic acid in 1000 mL of methanol
water (2+8), adjust to pH 3.15 with acetic acid and filter with a membrane filter
(aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic PTFE (1).
4) Flow rate: 1 mL/min
5) Detector: An absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 262 nm

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 10 µL of respective 1-amidino-2-thiourea standard solutions for the calibration
curve preparation to an HPLC, record a chromatogram at wavelength 262 nm and
obtain the peak area or height.
518
 2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration and the peak area or
height at wavelength 262 nm of the 1-amidino-2-thiourea standard solutions for the
calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
2) Obtain the 1-amidino-2-thiourea content from the calibration curve to calculate
1-amidino-2-thiourea (ASU) in the analytical sample.

Comment 4 A recovery testing with triplicates measurement was conducted using

compound fertilizer (2 samples), as a result, the mean recovery rate of
1-amidino-2-thiourea at concentration level of 1.0 % (mass fraction), 0.5 %
(mass fraction) and 0.25 % (mass fraction) were 99.0 % - 104.3 %, 97.7 % -
100.7 % and 99.7 % - 101.3 %.
In addition, the results and analysis results of a collaborative study for test
method validation are shown in Table 1.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is
about 0.005 % (mass fraction)

Table 1 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study

for the test method validation of 1-amidino-2-thiourea (ASU)
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
Mean sr RSD r sR RSD R
Number of 3) 3) 3)
Sample name 1) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
laboratories

Compound fertilizer 1 10 0.093 0.009 9.1 0.010 11.2

Compound fertilizer 2 10 0.246 0.021 8.6 0.021 8.6
Compound fertilizer 3 10 0.511 0.018 3.6 0.025 4.9
Compound fertilizer 4 10 0.759 0.039 5.1 0.040 5.3
Compound fertilizer 5 10 1.020 0.039 3.8 0.044 4.3
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n = number of laboratories × number of samples (2))
3) Mass fraction
4) Repeatability standard deviation
5) Repeatability relative standard deviation
6) Reproducibility standard deviation
7) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

Reference
1) Kazunori CHIBA: Analysis method of 1-amidino-2-thiourea (ASU) of Nitrification
inhibitor in fertilizers with High Performance Liquid Chromatograph, Validation Report
of Fertilizers (in Japanese), 43 (4), p. 15 - 22 (1990)
2) Shigehiro KAI and Erina WATABE: Determination of 1-Amidino-2-thiourea as a
Nitrification Inhibitor in Compound Fertilizer by High Performance Liquid
Chromatography: A Collaborative Study, Research Report of Fertilizers, Vol.6, p. 36 -
42 (2013)

519
(5) Flow sheet for 1-amidino-2-thiourea: The flow sheet for 1-amidino-2-thiourea in
fertilizers is shown below:

1.00 g analytical sample 200-mL of ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask

←　100 mL of water
Extraction Shaking, 10 minutes

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
8000 × g - 10000 × g , 5 minutes

Measurement High Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Figure 　Flow sheet for 1-amidino-2-thiourea (ASU) in fertilizers.

Reference HPLC chromatogram of 1-amidino-2-thiourea (ASU) standard solution for

the calibration curve preparation is shown below.

Reference diagram: HPLC chromatogram of 1-amidino-2-thiourea (ASU) standard

solution

Measurement conditions for HPLC

Column: Mightysil RP-18 GP (4.6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm long, 5-µm particle
diameter)
1-amidino-2-thiourea standard solution (the equivalents of 200 ng)
Other conditions are shown according to the examples of the measurement conditions of
(4.2) a) HPLC.

520
7.3 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride (ATC)
7.3.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography
(1) Summary
This testing method is applicable to fertilizers containing 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole
hydrochloride (ATC) but not containing organic matters.
Add methanol to an analytical sample to extract 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride,
introduce it into a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC), isolate with an
aminopropyl silica gel column, and measure at wavelength 220 nm to obtain
4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride (ATC) in an analytical sample. In addition, the
performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 4.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below.

a) Methanol: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8891 or a reagent of equivalent
quality.
b) Methanol: Methanol used in eluent of an HPLC is a regent of HPLC analysis grade or
equivalents.
c) Acetonitrile: Acetonitrile used in eluent of an HPLC is a regent of HPLC analysis grade
or equivalents.
d) 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole standard solution (1 mg/mL)(1)(2): Transfer 0.1 g of
4-amino-1,2,4-triazole [C2H4N4](3) to a weighing dish and measure the mass to the order
of 0.1 mg. Add methanol to dissolve, transfer to a 100-mL amber volumetric flask and
add methanol to the marked line. Store in a refrigerator, and do not use after 6 months
after preparation.
e) 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole standard solution (0.1 mg/mL):In the case of usage, transfer
10 mL of 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole standard solution (1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric
flask and add methanol up to the marked line.
f) 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole standard solution (10 µg/mL - 50 µg/mL) for the calibration
curve preparation: In the case of usage, transfer 5 mL - 25 mL of
4-amino-1,2,4-triazole standard solution (0.1 mg/mL) to 50-mL volumetric flasks
step-by-step and add methanol up to the marked line.
g) 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole standard solution (1 µg/mL - 10 µg/mL) for the calibration
curve preparation: In the case of usage, transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of
4-amino-1,2,4-triazole standard solution for the calibration curve preparation (20
µg/mL) to 50-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add methanol up to the marked
line.

Note (1) The solution contains 1.434 mg/mL as 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride.

(2) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.
(3) A reagent of no less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity is commercially sold as
4-amino-1,2,4-triazole.

Comment 1 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole is sold under production names such as

4-amino-1,2,4-triazole by Wako Pure Chemical Industries., Ltd. and Tokyo
Chemical Industry Co., Ltd, and 4-amino-4H-1,2,4-triazole by Kanto
Chemical Co., Inc.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC): HPLC specified in JIS K 0124
that satisfies the next requirements.

521
 1) Column: A 4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter 150-mm - 250-mm long stainless steel
column tube filled with silica gel, to which amino or aminopropyl chemically bonds.
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 30 ºC - 45 ºC.
3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 220
nm.
b) Magnetic stirrer
c) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g -
10000 × g.

Comment 2 A column is commercially sold under the names such as Hibar LiChrosorb
NH2, Inertsil NH2, Unison UK-Amino, Mightysil NH2, Shim-pack
CLC-NH2, Shodex NH-5A, Unisil Q NH2.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it to a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of methanol and stir it with using a magnetic stirrer for about 10 minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer the supernatant solution to a 1.5-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube (4)
d) Centrifuge at 8000 × g - 10000 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (5) to make
the supernatant as the sample solution.

Notes (4) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(5) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g - 10000 × g centrifugal force.

Comment 3 Instead of procedures in (4.1) c) - d), it is allowed to filter with a membrane

filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of PTFE and the
filtrate can be the sample solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
Set up the measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph
(HPLC) considering the following example:
1) Column: A silica gel column (4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm - 250-mm
long, 5-µm particle diameter) to which amino or aminopropyl chemically bonds.
2) Temperature of Column bath: 30 ºC - 40 ºC
3) Eluent: Acetonitrile-methanol (9+1)
4) Flow rate: 1 mL/min
5) Detector: An absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 220 nm

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 10 µL of respective 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole standard solutions for the
calibration curve preparation to an HPLC, record a chromatogram at wavelength 220
nm and obtain the peak area or height.

522
 2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration and the peak area or
height at wavelength 220 nm of the 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole standard solutions for the
calibration curve preparation.

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
2) Obtain the amount of 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole from the calibration curve to calculate
4-amino-1,2,4-triazole in the analytical sample.
3) Calculate the 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride by the following formula.

4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride in the analytical sample (% (mass fraction))

＝A × 1.434

A: 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole in the analytical sample (% (mass fraction))

Comment 4 A recovery testing was conducted using compound fertilizer (2 samples), as

a result, the mean recovery rate of 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride at
concentration level of 0.5 % (mass fraction), 0.3 % (mass fraction) and
0.2 % (mass fraction) were 100.2 % - 104.9 %, 100.8 % - 103.0 % and
100.7 % - 104.2 %. Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of
this test method is about 0.005 % (mass fraction)

Reference
1) Koichi SAKAGAMI: Analysis methods of 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride with
High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Validation Report of Fertilizers (in
Japanese), 40 (4), p.9 - 16 (1987)

(5) Flow sheet for 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride (ATC): The flow sheet for
4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride in fertilizers is shown below:

1.00 g analytical sample 200-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask

←　100 mL of Methanol
Extraction Shaking, 10 minutes

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
8000 × g - 10000 × g , 5 minutes

Measurement High Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Figure 　Flow sheet for 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride (ATC) in fertilizers.

523
7.4 N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid (DCS)
7.4.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography
(1) Summary
This testing method is applicable to fertilizers containing N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic
acid (DCS) but not containing organic matters.
Add methanol - phosphoric acid (996+4) and water to an analytical sample to extract
N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid (DCS), introduce it into a High Performance Liquid
Chromatograph (HPLC), isolate with octadecyl silylation silica gel column, and measure at
wavelength 246 nm to obtain N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid (DCS) in an analytical
sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment 3.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below.

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Methanol: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8891 or a reagent of equivalent
quality.
c) Methanol: Methanol used in eluent of an HPLC is a regent of HPLC analysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Phosphoric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 9005 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
e) N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid standard solution(1 mg/mL) (1) : Transfer 0.1
g of N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid [C10H9Cl2NO3] to a weighing dish and
measure the mass to the order of 0.1 mg. Add methanol to dissolve, transfer to a
100-mL volumetric flask and add methanol to the marked line. Store in a refrigerator,
and do not use after 6 months after preparation.
f) N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid standard solution(0.1 mg/mL): In the case of
usage, transfer 10 mL of N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid standard solution (1
mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add methanol up to the marked line.
g) N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid standard solution (10 µg/mL - 50 µg/mL) for
the calibration curve preparation: In the case of usage, transfer 5 mL - 25 mL of
N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid standard solution (0.1 mg/mL) to 50-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step and add methanol up to the marked line.
h) N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid standard solution (1 µg/mL - 10 µg/mL) for
the calibration curve preparation: In the case of usage, transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of
N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid standard solution for the calibration curve
preparation (20 µg/mL) to 50-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add methanol up to
the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC): HPLC specified in JIS K 0124
that satisfies the following requirements.
1) Column: A 4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter 150-mm - 250-mm long stainless steel
column tube filled with silica gel, to which octadecyl chemically bonds.
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 30 ºC - 45 ºC.
3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 246
nm.
b) Magnetic stirrer
c) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g -
10000 × g.

524
 Comment 1 A column is sold under the production names such as Inertsil ODS,
Mightysil RP-18, L-column ODS, Shim-pack VP-ODS, Silica C18M 4D,
Puresil C18, COSMOSIL 5C18-MS-II.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of methanol - phosphate (996+4) and stir it with a magnetic stirrer for
about 30 minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution (2) to 1.5-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube (3).
d) Centrifuge at 8000 × g - 10000 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (4) to make
supernatant as the sample solution.

Note (2) If there is a possibility that the N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid

concentration in the sample solution exceeds the maximum limit of the
calibration curve, dilute a predetermined amount of the outflow solution with
methanol.
(3) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(4) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g - 10000 × g centrifugal force.

Comment 2 Instead of procedures in (4.1) c) - d), it is allowed to filter with a membrane

filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic PTFE
and the filtrate can be the sample solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
Set up the measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph
(HPLC) considering the following example:
1) Column: A silica gel column (4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm - 250-mm
long, 5-µm particle diameter) to which octadecyl chemically bonds.
2) Temperature of Column bath: 30 ºC - 40 ºC
3) Eluent: Methanol - water (5) (55 + 45)
4) Flow rate: 0.8 mL/min
5) Detector: Absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 246 nm

Note (5) Adjust the water used to pH 3 with phosphpric acid in advance.

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 10 µL of respective N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid standard solutions
for the calibration curve preparation to an HPLC, record a chromatogram at
wavelength 246 nm and obtain the peak area or height.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration and the peak area or
height at wavelength 246 nm of the N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid standard
solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
525
 1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
2) Obtain the N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid content from the calibration curve
to calculate N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid (DCS) in the analytical sample.

Comment 3 Recovery testing was conducted using compound fertilizer (2 samples) and
blended fertilizer (1 sample), as a result, the mean recovery rate of
N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid at concentration level of 0.4 % (mass
fraction), 0.2 % (mass fraction) and 0.1 % (mass fraction) were 100.9 % -
101.4 %, 100.8 % - 101.4 % and 101.2 % - 103.4 %. Additionally, the
minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about 0.005 % (mass
fraction)

Reference
1) Akira KUBO: Analysis methods of N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid (DCS) of
Nitrification suppression materials in fertilizers with High Performance Liquid
Chromatograph, Validation Report of Fertilizers (in Japanese), 44 (4), p.25 - 36 (1991).

(5) Flow sheet for N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid (DCS): The flow sheet for
N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid (DCS) in fertilizers is shown below:

1.00 g analytical sample 200-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask

←　100 mL of methanol phosphoric acid (996+4)
Extraction Shaking, 30 minutes

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
8000 × g - 10000 × g , 5 minutes

Measurement High Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Figure 　Flow sheet for N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid (DCS) in fertilizers.

526
Reference: HPLC chromatogram of N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid (DCS) standard
solution for the calibration curve preparation is shown below.

Reference diagram: HPLC chromatogram of N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid

Measurement conditions for HPLC

Column: Mightysil RP-18 GP (4.6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm long, 5-µm particle
diameter)
N-2,5-dichlorophenyl succinamic acid standard solution (the equivalents of 100 ng)
Other conditions are according to the examples of the measurement conditions of (4.2) a)
HPLC.

527
7.5 Dicyandiamide (Dd)
7.5.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography
(1) Summary
This testing method is applicable to fertilizers containing dicyandiamide (Dd).
Add water to an analytical sample, leave at rest for a little while and add methanol to extract
dicyandiamide. After removing interfering substances with a silica gel cartridge column,
introduce it into a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC), isolate with an
aminopropyl silica gel column, and measure at wavelength 215 nm to obtain dicyandiamide
(Dd) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in
Comment 5.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below.

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557 or water with equivalent quality.
b) Methanol: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8891 or a reagent of equivalent
quality.
c) Methanol: Methanol used in eluent of an HPLC is a regent of HPLC analysis grade or
equivalents.
d) Acetonitrile: A regent of HPLC analysis grade or equivalents.
e) Dicyandiamide standard solution (1 mg/mL) (1): Transfer 0.1 g of dicyandiamide
[C2H4N4](2) to a weighing dish and measure the mass to the order of 0.1 mg. Add a small
amount methanol to dissolve, transfer to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add the same
solvent up to the marked line. Store in a refrigerator, and do not use after 6 months after
preparation.
f) Dicyandiamide standard solution (0.1 mg/mL): In the case of usage, transfer 10 mL
of dicyandiamide standard solution (1 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add
methanol up to the marked line.
g) Dicyandiamide standard solution (10 µg/mL - 50 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation: In the case of usage, transfer 5 mL - 25 mL of dicyandiamide standard
solution (0.1 mg/mL) to 50-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add methanol up to
the marked line.
h) Dicyandiamide standard solution (1 µg/mL - 10 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation: In the case of usage, transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of dicyandiamide standard
solution for the calibration curve preparation (20 µg/mL) to 50-mL volumetric flasks
step-by-step and add methanol up to the marked line.
i) Sodium sulfate: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8987 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) A reagent of no less than 98 % in purity is commercially sold as dicyandiamide.

Comment 1 Dicyandiamide is commercially sold as Dicyanodiamide by Wako Pure

Chemical Industries., Ltd and Kanto Chemical Co., Inc.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below.

a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC): HPLC specified in JIS K 0124
that satisfies the following requirements.
1) Column: A 4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter 150-mm - 250-mm long stainless steel
column tube filled with silica gel, to which octadecyl chemically bonds.
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 30 ºC - 45 ºC.

528
 3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 215
nm.
b) Shaking apparatus
c) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 1700 × g.
d) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g -
10000 × g.
e) Silica gel cartridge column: Link a 10-mL cylinder to the column (3) filled with 500 mg
- 1 g of silica gel, add 3 mL of methanol to let it flow down.

Note (3) A cartridge with a 3-mL - 6-mL column that is filled with 500 mg - 1 g of silica
gel can be used.

Comment 2 A column is commercially sold under production names such as Hibar

LiChrosorb NH2 、 Inertsil NH2, Unison UK-Amino, Mightysil NH2,
Shim-pack CLC-NH2, Shodex NH-5A, Unisil Q NH2.
Comment 3 A silica gel cartridge column is commercially sold under production names
such as Sep-Pak Plus Silica, InertSep Si.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 1 mL of water (4) and leave at rest for 5 minutes.
c) Add 100 mL of methanol and shake to mix with a shaking apparatus for about 10
minutes.
d) Add an appropriate amount of sodium sulfate (5).
e) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution to a 50-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube.
f) Centrifuge at 1700 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (6) to make the
supernatant as the extract (7).

Note (4) Mix well until the whole sample comes in contact with water.
(5) About 5 g - 10 g.
(6) 16.5-cm of rotor radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g
centrifugal force.
(7) If there is a possibility that the concentration of dicyandiamide in the sample
solution exceeds the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a
predetermined amount of extract with methanol.

(4.2) Cleanup: Conduct cleanup as shown below

a) Transfer extract to a silica gel cartridge column.
b) Dispose of about the first 3 mL of effluent and then transfer about the next 2 mL to a
test tube.
c) Transfer effluent to a 1.5- mL of ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube (8).
d) Centrifuge at 8000 × g - 10000 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (9) to make
supernatant as the sample solution.

Note (8) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(9) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g - 10000 × g centrifugal force.
529
 Comment 4 Instead of the procedures in (4.2) c) - d), it is allowed to filter with a
membrane filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of PTFE
and the filtrate can be the sample solution.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
Set up the measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph
(HPLC) considering the following example:
1) Column: A silica gel column (4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm - 250-mm
long, 5-µm particle diameter) to which amino or aminopropyl chemically bonds.
2) Temperature of column bath: 30 ºC - 40 ºC
3) Eluent: Acetonitrile – methanol (6+1)
4) Flow rate: 0.5 mL/min - 1 mL/min
5) Detector: An absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 215 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Inject 10 µL of respective dicyandiamide standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation to an HPLC, record a chromatogram at wavelength 215 nm and obtain
the peak area or height.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration and the peak area or
height at wavelength 215 nm of the dicyandiamide standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
2) Obtain the dicyandiamide content from the calibration curve to calculate
dicyandiamide (Dd) in the analytical sample.

Comment 5: Recovery testing was conducted using inorganic compound fertilizer (2

samples) and organic compound fertilizer (3 samples), as a result, the mean
recovery at the concentration level of 2 % (mass fraction) and 0.2% (mass
fraction) were 101.2 % - 102.6 % and 98.4 % - 100.6 %.
In addition, the results and analysis results of a collaborative study for a test
method validation are shown in Table 1.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is
about 0.01 % (mass fraction).

530
 Table 1 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study
for the test method validation of dicyandiamide
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
Number of Mean sr RSD r sR RSD R
Sample name 1) 3) 3) 3)
laboratories (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Compound fertilizer 1 11 0.263 0.009 3.2 0.019 7.4
Compound fertilizer 2 11 2.04 0.04 1.7 0.07 3.2
Compound fertilizer 3 13 0.548 0.011 2.0 0.033 6.0
Compound fertilizer 4 12 0.423 0.013 3.2 0.022 5.2
Compound fertilizer 5 12 1.02 0.01 1.4 0.04 4.3
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Mean (n = number of laboratories × number of samples (2))
3) Mass fraction
4) Repeatability standard deviation
5) Repeatability relative standard deviation
6) Reproducibility standard deviation
7) Reproducibility relative standard deviation

References
1) Masakazu SAIKI: Development of High Performance Liquid Chromatography for
Determination of Dicyandiamide as a Nitrification Inhibitor in Fertilizer. Research
Report of Fertilizer, Vol.3, p. 43 - 50 (2010)
2) Masakazu SAIKI: Determination of Dicyandiamide as a Nitrification Inhibitor in
Fertilizer by High Performance Liquid Chromatography: Collaborative Study, Research
Report of Fertilizer, Vol.4, p. 16 - 22 (2011)

(5) Flow sheet for dicyandiamide: The flow sheet for dicyandiamide in fertilizers is
shown

1.00 g
200-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask
analytical sample
←　1mL of water
Leave at rest 5 minutes
←　100 mL of methanol
Shaking 10 minutes
←　An adequate amount of sodium sulfate
Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,
Centrifugal separation
1700　× g , 5 minutes

Cleanup Silica gel cartridge column

1.5-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
8000 × g - 10000 × g , 5 minutes
Measurement High Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Figure 　Flow sheet for dicyandiamide (Dd) in fertilizers

531
Reference: HPLC chromatogram of dicyandiamide standard solution for the calibration curve
preparation and sample solution (compound fertilizer) are shown below.

0.20 0.20

0.18 0.18

8.607 Dd
0.16 0.16

0.14 0.14

8.605 Dd
0.12 0.12
AU

AU
0.10 0.10

0.08 0.08

0.06 0.06

0.04 0.04

0.02 0.02

0.00 0.00
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
min min

1) Standard solution 2) Sample solution

Reference diagram HPLC chromatogram of dicyandiamide (Dd)

1) Dicyandiamide standard solution (the equivalents of 100 ng of dicyandiamide

(10 µg/mL, 10 µL))
2) Sample solution (compound fertilizer)

Measurement conditions for HPLC

Column: Inertsil NH2 (4.6-mm inner diameter, 250-mm long, 5-µm particle
diameter)
Temperature of Column bath: 30 ºC
Flow rate: 0.5 mL/min
Other conditions are according to the examples of the measurement
conditions of (4.3) a) HPLC.

532
7.6 2-sulfanilamide thiazole (ST)
7.6.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography
(1) Summary
This testing method is applicable to fertilizers containing 2-sulfanilamide thiazole (ST).
Add methanol - water (1+1) to an analytical sample to extract 2-sulfanilamide thiazole,
introduce it into a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC), isolate with an
octadecyl silylation silica gel column, and measure at wavelength 285 nm to obtain
2-sulfanilamide thiazole (ST) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this
testing method is shown in Comment 6.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below.

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557 or water with equivalent quality..
b) Methanol: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8891 or a reagent of equivalent
quality.
c) Methanol: Methanol used in eluent of an HPLC is a reagent of HPLC analysis grade or
equivalents.
d) 2-sulfanilamide thiazole standard solution (1 mg/mL) (1) :Transfer 0.1 g of
2-sulfanilamide thiazole [C9H9N3O2S2](2) to a weighing dish and measure the mass to
the order of 0.1 mg. Add water to dissolve, transfer to a 1000-mL volumetric flask and
add methanol - water (1+1) to the marked line. Store in a refrigerator, and do not use
after 6 months after preparation.
e) 2-sulfanilamide thiazole standard solution (0.1 mg/mL): In the case of usage, transfer
10 mL of 2-sulfanilamide thiazole standard solution (100 µg/mL) to a 100-mL
volumetric flask and add methanol - water (1+1) up to the marked line.
f) 2-sulfanilamide thiazole standard solution (10 µg/mL - 50 µg/mL) for the
calibration curve preparation: In the case of usage, transfer 5 mL - 25 mL of
2-sulfanilamide thiazole standard solution (0.1 mg/mL) to 50-mL volumetric flasks
step-by-step and add methanol - water (1+1) up to the marked line.
g) 2-Sulfanilamide thiazole standard solution（1 µg/mL - 10 µg/mL）for the calibration
curve preparation: In the case of usage, transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of 2-sulfanilamide
thiazole standard solution for the calibration curve preparation (20 µg/mL) to 50-mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step and add methanol - water (1+1) up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) A reagent of no less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity is commercially sold as
2-sulfanilamide thiazole.

Comment 1: 2-sulfanilamide thiazole is sold under the production name sulfathiazole by

Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd, Wako Pure Chemical Industries., Ltd
and Kanto Chemical Co., Inc.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph: HPLC specified in JIS K 0124 that
satisfies the following requirements.
1) Column: A 4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter 150-mm - 250-mm long stainless steel
column tube filled with silica gel, to which octadecyl chemically bonds.
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 30 ºC - 45 ºC.
3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 285
nm.
b) Magnetic stirrer
533
 c) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 1700 × g.
d) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g -
10000 × g.
e) Acidic alumina cartridge column: Link a 10-mL cylinder to column (3) that is filled
with 500 mg - 1 g of acidic alumina and add 3 mL of methanol to let it flow down.

Note (3) A cartridge with a 3-mL - 6-mL column filled with 500 mg - 1 g of silica gel can
be used.

Comment 2 A column is sold under production names such as Inertsil ODS, Mightysil
RP-18, L-column ODS, Shim-pack VP-ODS, Silica C18M 4D, Puresil C18,
COSMOSIL 5C18-MS-II, etc.
Comment 3 An acidic alumina cartridge is commercially sold under production names
such as Bond Elut AL-A, Sep-Pak Alumina-A, Supelclean LC-Alumina-A.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of methanol - water (1+1) and stir it with a magnetic stirrer for about 15
minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution to a 50-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube.
d) Centrifuge at 1700 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (4) to make the
supernatant as the extract (5).

Note (4) 16.5-cm of rotor radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g
centrifugal force.
(5) If there is a possibility that the 2-sulfanilamide thiazole concentration in the
sample solution exceeds the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a
predetermined amount of the extract with methanol.

(4.2) Cleanup: Conduct cleanup as shown below:

a) Transfer extract to an acidic alumina cartridge column.
b) Dispose of about first 3 mL of effluent and then transfer about the next 2 mL to a test
tube.
c) Transfer effluent to a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube (6).
d) Centrifuge at 8000 × g - 10000 × g centrifugal force for about five minutes (7) to make
the supernatant as the sample solution.

Note (6) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(7) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g - 10000 × g centrifugal force.

Comment 4 Instead of the procedures in (4.2) c) - d), it is allowed to filter with a

membrane filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of PTFE
and the filtrate can be the sample solution.
Comment 5 The test is possible by the following procedures in the case of fertilizers not
containing organic matters.

534
 The procedures in (4.1) c) - d) and (4.2) a) - b) are omitted and “Transfer
effluent” in (4.2) c) is replaced with the “After allowing to stand still,
transfer supernatant” to operate.

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
Set up the measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph
(HPLC) considering the following example:
1) Column: A silica gel column (4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm - 250-mm
long, 5-µm particle diameter) to which octadecyl chemically bonds.
2) Temperature of Column bath: 30 ºC - 40 ºC
3) Eluent: Methanol - water (2+8)
4) Flow rate: 1 mL/min
5) Detector: An absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 285 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Inject 10 µL of respective 2-sulfanilamide thiazole standard solutions for the
calibration curve preparation to an HPLC, record a chromatogram at wavelength 285
nm and obtain the peak area or height.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration and the peak area or
height at wavelength 285 nm of the 2-sulfanilamide thiazole standard solutions for
the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
2) Obtain the 2-sulfanilamide thiazole content from the calibration curve to calculate
2-sulfanilamide thiazole (ST) in the analytical sample.

Comment 6 Recovery testing was conducted using compound fertilizer (1 sample) and
blended fertilizer (2 sample), as a result, the mean recovery rate of
2-sulfanilamide thiazole at the concentration level of 1.0 % (mass fraction),
0.4 % (mass fraction) and 0.1 % (mass fraction) were 101.2 % - 102.1 %,
99.6 % - 101.7 % and 99.4 % - 101.0 %.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is
about 0.005 % (mass fraction).

Reference
1) Yuji SHIRAI: The volumetric analysis of 2-sulfanilamide thiazole in fertilizers with
High Performance Liquid Chromatograph, Validation Report of Fertilizers (in Japanese),
44 (1), p. 10 - 20 (1991)

535
(5) Flow sheet for 2-sulfanilamide thiazole: The flow sheet for 2-sulfanilamide thiazole in
fertilizers is shown below:

1.00 g analytical sample 200-mL of ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask

←　100 mL of methanol - water (1+1)
Extraction Shaking to mix, 15 minutes

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
1700 × g , 5 minutes

Cleanup Acidic alumina cartridge column

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
8000 × g - 10000 × g , 5 minutes

Measurement High Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Figure 　Flow sheet for 2-sulfanilamide thiazole (ST) in fertilizers.

536
Reference: HPLC chromatogram of 2-sulfanilamide thiazole (ST) standard solution for the
calibration curve preparation is shown below.

Reference diagram: HPLC chromatogram of 2-sulfanilamide thiazole (ST)

Measurement conditions for HPLC

Column: Mightysil RP-18 GP (4.6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm long, 5-µm
particle diameter)
2-sulfanilamide thiazole standard solution (the equivalents of 200 ng)
Other conditions are according to the examples of the measurement conditions of
(4.3) a) HPLC.

537
8. Others

8.1 Melamine and its degradation products

8.1.a Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
(1) Summary
Extract melamine and its derivative substances (hereinafter referred to as “melamine
derivations”) in organic matters and fertilizers containing organic matters with
diethylamine-water-acetonitrile (1+4+5) and derivatize with BSTFA-TMCS (99+1) and then
measure with a gas chromatography/mass spectrometer to obtain melamine deviations in an
analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in Comment
8.

Comment 1 The structural formula of melamine and its degradation products is shown in
the figure 1. During the production process of melamine, a by-product that
replaces “-NH2” of R1-R3 with “–OH” is formed in some cases.

R1
R1 R2 R3 MW
Melamine NH2 NH2 NH2 126.12
N N Ammeline OH NH2 NH2 127.10
Ammelide OH OH NH2 128.09
R2 N R3 Cyanuric acid OH OH OH 129.07

Figure 1 Structural formula of melamine and its degradation products

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Acetonitrile: A reagent of agricultural chemicals residue/PCB testing grade
(concentration: no less than 300) specified in JIS K 8039 or a reagent of equivalent
quality.
c) Diethylamine: A guaranteed reagent or a reagent of equivalent quality.
d) Pyridine (dehydration) (1): A reagent of organic synthesis grade of no less than 99.5 %
(mass fraction) in purity and no more than 0.05 mg/mL in moisture or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
e) Derivatization reagent (2): Bis (trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide -
trimethylchlorosilane (99+1).
f) Melamine derivations standard solution (0.5 mg/mL): Put about 0.05 g of melamine
[C3H6N6] (3), ammeline [C3H5N5O] (3), ammelide [C3H4N4O2] (3) and cyanuric acid
[C3H3N3O3] (3) into a weighing dish and measure the mass to the order of 0.1 mg.
Dissolve in a small amount of diethylamine - water (1+4), transfer to a 100 mL
volumetric flask respectively, and add the solvent up to the marked line.
g) Mixture standard solution (50 µg/mL) (3): Put 5 mL of respective melamine
derivations standard solutions (0.5 mg/mL) to 50-mL volumetric flasks and add
diethylamine - water - acetonitrile (1+4+5) up to the marked line.

Note (1) After it is opened once, add a proper amount of sodium sulfate (anhydrous) and
seal tightly to store.
(2) A mixed derivatization reagent is commercially sold under the name
BSTFA-TMCS (99+1).
(3) The respective standard reagents of melamine, ammeline, ammelide and
cyanuric acid are commercially sold.
538
 Comment 2 BSTFA-TMCS (99+1) is sold as 1-mL ampoule by SUPELCO. After it is
opened once, use it on the same day.
Comment 3 The standard reagent of melamine, ammeline, ammelide and cyanuric acid
are sold by Wako Pure Chemical Industries., Ltd and Kanto Chemical Co.,
Inc. and Hayashi Pure Chemical Industries., Ltd.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below.

a) Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS): GC/MS specified in JIS K 0123
that satisfies the following requirements.
1) Gas Chromatograph
(i) Sample injector: An injector that enables split less system.
(ii) Capillary column: A capillary column (0.25-mm - 0.32-mm inner diameter and
30-m long) made of fused silica. 5 % phenyl 95 % methyl polysiloxane
chemically bonds to the inner surface of a capillary column with 0.25 µm
thickness. The column is according to the specification of mass spectrometer.
(iii) Carrier gas: High purity helium of no less than 99.999 % (volume fraction) in
purity.
2) Mass Spectrometer
(i) Ionization method: Electron-Impact ionization (EI) method
(ii) Ion detection method: Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM) method
b) Ultrasonic generator: An ultrasonic washer can be used.
c) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g -
10000 × g.
d) Concentrator: A Centrifugal evaporator that can be adjusted to 70 ºC ± 2 ºC.
e) Water bath: A water bath that can be adjusted to 70 ºC ± 2 ºC.

Comment 4 A capillary column is commercially sold under the names such as DB-5ms,
Rtx-5ms, HP-5ms, SLB-5ms, BPX-5, CP-Sil 8CB low Bleed/MS and
TC-5HT for GC/MS.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 0.50 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL - 300-mL ground-in
stopper Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 160 mL - 200 mL of diethylamine - water - acetonitrile (1+4+5), and subject to
ultra-sonication for about 30 minutes using an ultrasonic generator.
c) Transfer about 1.5 mL to a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube (4), and
centrifuge at 8000 × g - 10000 × g for about 5 minutes(5).
d) Transfer 1 mL of the supernatant solution to 5-mL - 50-mL volumetric flasks, add
diethylamine - water - acetonitrile (1+4+5) up to the marked line to make the extract.

Note (4) Confirm that the tube is made of polypropylene, etc. to not affect testing results.
(5) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g - 10000 × g centrifugal force.

Comment 5 Grind until it completely passes through a sieve of 500 µm aperture to

prepare the test sample.
Comment 6 Weigh 0.5 g of an analytical sample, extract with 200 mL of diethylamine -
water - acetonitrile (1+4+5). If it is diluted 50 times in the procedure in d),
the quantitative range of melamine derivations in the analytical sample is
539
 0.2 % - 10 % (mass fraction). In the case of measuring melamine derivations
which do not reach the quantitative range, make the dilution factor in the
procedure in d) decrease. In addition, if the contents of melamine derivations
exceeds 10 % (mass fraction) respectively, the sampling volume of an
analytical sample should be reduced.

(4.2) Derivatization: Conduct derivatization as shown below.

a) Transfer 0.2 mL of the extract to a 5-mL - 10-mL test tube with a screw stopper.
b) Place a test tube in a concentrator, concentrate under reduced pressure at 70 ºC ± 2 ºC
and vaporize the solvent completely (6).
c) Add 0.3 mL of pyridine (dehydration) (1) and 0.2 mL of derivatization reagent (2) to the
residue to mix, and then stopple to seal tightly.
d) After heating in a water bath at 70 ºC ± 2 ºC for about 45 minutes (7), let it stand to cool
to make the sample solution (8).

Note (6) A spraying type concentrator can be used.

(7) If moisture remains after the procedure in b) or the reagent used in the procedure
in c) contains moisture, the reaction of the derivatization in d) does not advance
enough in some cases.
(8) If necessary, transfer the sample solution into a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper
centrifugal precipitate tube (4) to centrifuge at 8000 × g - 10000 × g for about 5
minutes (5).

(4.3) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0123 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the gas
chromatograph/ mass spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the gas chromatograph/ mass spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions considering the following example of measurement conditions
for gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer.
1) Gas chromatograph:
(i) Sample injection method: split less injection method (1min)
(ii) Temperature of sample injector: 280 ºC
(iii) Capillary column: A capillary column (0.25-mm - 0.32-mm inner diameter,
30-m long, 0.25 µm layer thickness) made of fused silica. 5 % phenyl 95 %
methyl polysiloxane chemically bonds to the inner surface of the capillary
column.
(iv) Temperature of column bath: 100 ºC (1 min) → (15 ºC /min) → 320 ºC (3 min)
(v) Temperature of GC/MS: 250 ºC
(vi) Carrier gas: helium, flow rate: 1.5 mL/min
2) Mass spectrometer:
(i) Ionization method: Electron-Impact ionization (EI) method
(ii) Ionization voltage: 70 V
(iii) Temperature of ion source: 230 ºC
(iv) Ion detection method: Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM) method
(v) Measurement of ion: As shown in table 1

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Transfer 5 mL of mixture standard solution (50 µg/mL) to a 50-mL volumetric flask
and add diethylamine - water - acetonitrile (1+4+5) up to the marked line to make the
mixture standard solution (5 µg/mL).

540
 2) Transfer 1 mL - 20 mL of the mixture standard solution (5 µg/ mL) to 50 mL
volumetric flasks step-by-step and add diethylamine - water - acetonitrile (1+4+5) up
to the marked line to make the mixture standard solution (0.1 µg/mL - 2 µg/mL).
3) Conduct the procedures of (4.2) b) - d) for the mixture standard solution (0.1 µg/mL
- 2 µg/mL) to make the mixture standard solution, the equivalents of 0.04 µg/mL -
0.8 µg/mL, for calibration curve.
4) Inject 1 µL of respective mixture standard solutions for calibration curve to GC/MS
and record the chromatogram of ion (m/z) for determination and ion (m/z) for
validation of materials subjected to measurement to obtain the peak area and height.
5) Calculate the peak area ratio or height ratio of ion (m/z) for determination and ion
(m/z) for validation of respective materials subjected to measurement. .
6) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration of material subjected
to measurement and the peak area or height of ion (m/z) for determination of
respective mixture solutions for the calibration curve preparation.

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 1 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 4) - 5) (9).
2) Obtain the content of respective materials subjected to measurement from the
calibration curve to calculate respective materials subjected to measurement in the
analytical sample.

Note (9) Confirm that the ratio against the peak area ratio or height ratio of the standard
solution is within the range of about ± 30 %. In addition, the peak area ratio or
height ratio depends on the concentration.

Comment 7 If the variation of sensitivity of melamine derivations is observed, conduct

measurement by the following method of a) or b).
a) In the procedure in (4.3) c) 1, inject the sample solution into GC/MS
predetermined times, and then correct the calibration curve according to
(4.3) b) 4) - 6).
b) Add 2,6-diamino-4-chloropyrimidine (the equivalents of 0.5 µg) as an
internal reference material to the standard solution and the sample
solution, conduct the same procedures as (4.2) c) - d), (4.3) b) 4) - 6) and
c) 1). However, prepare the calibration curve from the peak area ratio or
height ratio of ion (m/z) for determination of respective materials
subjected to measurement and internal reference material, and calculate
the concentration of respective materials subjected to measurement in the
analytical sample.

Table 1　Fragment ion of materials to be measured

Materials Measured fragment ion (m /z)
to be measured Determination Validation Validation Validation Validation
Melamine 342 344 327 285 213
Ammeline 328 345 343 285 214
Ammelide 344 346 329 214 198
Cyanuric acid 345 347 330 215 188
DACP(I.S.) 288 289 290 273 275

Comment 8 Recovery testing of melamine derivations was conducted using soybean

meal, fish meal, fish waste processed fertilizer, mixed organic fertilizer,
blended fertilizer and compound fertilizer, as a result, the mean recovery
541
 rate at additive level of 10 % (mass fraction) and 0.2 % (mass fraction) were
92.1 % - 102.9 % and 90.3 % - 102.2 %.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of melamine derivations
of the test method is about 0.01 % (mass fraction).

Reference
1) Yuji SHIRAI, Jun OKI: Validation of Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry for
Determination of Melamine and Its Degradation Products in Fertilizers, Research
Report of Fertilizer, Vol.1, p. 114 - 121 (2008)

(5) Flow sheet for melamine derivations: The flow sheet for melamine derivations in
fertilizers is shown below.

0.50 g analytical sample 200-mL - 300-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask

← 160 mL - 200 mL of diethylamine - water - acetonitrile（1+4+5）
Extraction Ultrasonic extraction for 30 minutes

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitation tube

Centrifugal separation
8000 × g - 10000 × g, 5 minutes

Transfer 1 mL to 5-mL - 50-mL volumetric flasks,

Dilution
add diethylamine - water - acetonitrile（1+4+5）up to the marked line

0.2 mL Aliquot 5-mL - 10-mL test tube with a screw stopper

Vacuum
concentration Centrifugal evaporator (70 ºC ± 2 ºC)
/Drying up
←　0.3 mL of pyridine (dehydration)
←　0.2 mL of derivatization reagent (BSTFA-TMCS (99+1))
　Stopple and seal.
Derivatization 70 ºC ± 2 ºC, 45 minutes

Standing to cool

Measurement Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer

Figure 2　　Flow sheet for melamine derivations in fertilizers

542
 Reference Total Ion Chromatogram (TIC) of GC/MS of mixture standard solution for
calibration curve preparation of melamine derivations is shown below.

↓ ↓a ↓b ↓c ↓d

Figure 3 Total Ion Chromatogram (TIC) of GC/MS for melamine derivations

Measurement conditions of GC/MS

Capillary column: Rtx-5ms (0.25-mm inner diameter, 30-m long, 0.25 µm
layer thickness)
Other conditions are according to the example of measurement conditions for
gas chromatography/mass spectrometer in (4.3) a.
Peak name of respective total ion chromatograms
a) Cyanuric acid b) Ammelide
c) Ammeline d) Melamine
Sample and amount injected into GC/MS
Injected sample: Mixture standard solutions (the equivalents of 2 µg/mL) for
the calibration curve preparation of respective melamine derivations.
Injected amount: 1 µL (the equivalents of 2 ng of respective melamine
derivations)

543
8.1.b (This section is skipped)

544
8.1.c High Performance Liquid Chromatography (Fertilizers not containing organic
matters)
(1) Summary
This method is applicable to fertilizers not containing organic matters.
Add hydrochloric acid (1+15) to an analytical sample, extract melamine and its degradation
products (hereinafter referred to as “melamine derivations”), introduce them into a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC), isolate with a silica gel column to which
carbamoyl chemically bonds, and measure at wavelength 214 nm to obtain melamine
derivations in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is
shown in Comment 4.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below.

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Acetonitrile: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8032 or a reagent of
equivalent quality. In addition, acetonitrile used in eluent of an HPLC is a regent of
HPLC analysis grade.
c) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent or a reagent of equivalent quality.
d) Phosphate buffer solution (1): Dissolve 0.237 g of disodium hydrogen-phosphate
specified in JIS K 9020 and 0.520 g of sodium dihydrogenphosphate dihydrate specified
in JIS K 9009 in water to make 1000 mL (2). If it is used for eluent of HPLC, filter with
a membrane filter (pore size: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic PTFE.
e) Melamine derivations standard solution (0.5 mg/mL): Put about 0.05g of melamine
[C3H6N6](3), ammeline [C3H5N5O](3), ammelide [C3H4N4O2](3) and cyanuric acid
[C3H3N3O3] (3) to weighing dishes respectively and measure the mass to the order of 0.1
mg. Dissolve them with a small amount of hydrochloric acid (1+15), transfer to 100 mL
volumetric flasks respectively, and add the solutions up to the marked line.
f) Mixture standard solution (50 µg/mL) (1): Transfer 5 mL of respective melamine
derivations standard solutions (0.5 mg/mL) to 50-mL volumetric flasks and add
acetonitrile - phosphate buffer solutions (4+1) up to the marked line.
g) Mixture standard solution for calibration curve preparation (1 µg/mL - 5 µg/mL):
In the case of usage, transfer 1 mL - 5 mL of mixture standard solution (50 µg /mL) to
50-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add acetonitrile - phosphate buffer solutions
(4+1) up to the marked line.
h) Mixture standard solution for calibration curve preparation (0.05 µg/mL – 0.5
µg/mL): In the case of usage, transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of mixture standard solution (1
µg/ mL) to 50-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add acetonitrile - phosphate buffer
solutions (4+1) up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) The phosphate buffer solution becomes pH 6.7 ± pH 0.2.
(3) Standard reagents as melamine, ammeline, ammelide and cyanuric acid are
commercially sold respectively.

Comment 1 The standard reagents of melamine, ammeline, ammelide and cyanuric acid
are sold by Wako Pure Chemical Industries., Ltd, Kanto Chemical Co., Inc.,
Hayashi Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd and Tokyo Chemical Industry Co.,
Ltd.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below.

a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC): HPLC specified in JIS K 0124
that satisfies the following requirements.
545
 1) Column: A 4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter 150-mm - 250-mm long stainless steel
column tube filled with silica gel, to which carbamoyl chemically bonds.
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 40 ºC ± 1 ºC.
3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 214
nm.
b) Ultrasonic generator: An ultrasonic washer can be used.
c) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 1700 × g.
d) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g -
10000 × g.

Comment 2 Column is sold under the production name TSKgel Amide-80, etc. A
column which has actually isolated melamine, ammeline, ammelide and
cyanuric acid should be used.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 0.50 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+15) and conduct ultra-sonication for about 30
minutes using an ultrasonic generator.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution to a 50-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube.
d) Centrifuge at 1700 × g for about 5minutes (4) to make supernatant as the extract.
e) Transfer 5 mL of the extract (5) into a 50-mL volumetric flask, and add an acetonitrile -
phosphate buffer solution (4+1) up to the marked line to dilute.
f) Transfer dilution liquid to a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube (6).
g) Centrifuge at 8000 × g - 10000 × g for about 5 minutes (7) to make supernatant as the
sample solution

Note (4) 16.5-cm of rotor radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g
centrifugal force.
(5) If there is a possibility that the concentration of melamine derivations in the
sample solution exceeds the maximum limit of the calibration curb, the amount
of a supernatant solution to be transferred should be1 mL - 2.5 mL.
(6) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(7) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g - 10000 × g centrifugal force.

Comment 3 Instead of the procedures in (4.1) f) - g), it is allowed to filter with a

membrane filter (pore size: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic
PTFE and the filtrate can be the sample solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions of High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
Set up the measurement conditions considering the following example of measurement
conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC).
1) Column: A silica gel column (4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm - 250-mm
long, 5-µm particle diameter column) to which carbamoyl chemically bonds.
546
 2) Temperature of column bath: 40 ºC ± 1 ºC
3) Eluent: Acetonitrile - phosphate buffer solution (4+1)
4) Flow rate: 1 mL/min
5) Detector: An absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 214 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Inject 10 µL of respective mixture standard solutions for calibration curve
preparation into an HPLC (HPLC), record a chromatogram at wavelength 214 nm
and obtain the peak area or height.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration and the peak area or
height at wavelength 214 nm of respective mixture solutions for the calibration curve
preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
2) Obtain the melamine derivations content from the calibration curve to calculate
respective melamine derivations in the analytical sample.

Comment 4 Recovery testing was conducted using 3 brands of nitrolime, 1 brand of

compound fertilizer containing nitrolime, 2 brands of compound fertilizers
not containing nitrolime, 1 brand of ammonium sulfate and 1 brand of urea,
as a result, the recovery rate of melamine derivations at concentration level
of 4 % (mass fraction) and 0.1 % (mass fraction) were 90.5 % - 106.3 % and
92.2 % - 107.0 %.
In addition, the results and analysis results of a collaborative study for test
method validation are shown in Table 1.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of the test method is
about 0.02 % (mass fraction) for melamine and cyanuric acid and about
0.01 % (mass fraction) for ammeline and ammelide. In the case of ammelide
and cyanuric acid, the sufficient reproducibility was observed in the range of
0.188 % - 1.10 % and 0.105 % - 1.15 % respectively.

547
 Table 1 Results and analysis results from a collaborative study
for the test method validation of melamine deivations
2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
Agrichemical Number of Mean sr RSD r sR RSD R
Sample name 1) 7) 7) 7)
name laboratories (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Melamine Nitrolime 1 9 2.83 0.04 1.4 0.12 4.3
Nitrolime 2 10 0.391 0.003 0.8 0.023 5.8
Compound fertilizer
9 0.845 0.019 2.2 0.036 4.2
containing nitrolime
Compounf ferttilizer 11 0.198 0.005 2.6 0.012 6.2
Ammonium sulfate 10 0.0343 0.0015 4.5 0.0040 11.6
Ammeline Nitrolime 1 9 1.60 0.02 1.3 0.06 3.8
Nitrolime 2 10 0.105 0.001 1.3 0.002 2.3
Compound fertilizer
9 0.629 0.027 4.3 0.023 3.7
containing nitrolime
Compounf ferttilizer 11 0.195 0.004 2.1 0.009 4.5
Ammonium sulfate 10 0.0346 0.0013 3.7 0.0024 6.9
Ammelide Nitrolime 1 9 1.10 0.02 2.1 0.08 7.6
Nitrolime 2 11 0.361 0.008 2.2 0.023 6.5
Compound fertilizer
9 0.188 0.004 2.2 0.014 7.5
containing nitrolime
Compounf ferttilizer 11 0.718 0.028 3.9 0.052 7.2
Ammonium sulfate 11 0.0345 0.0031 8.9 0.0056 16.1
Cyanuric acid Nitrolime 1 9 1.15 0.06 4.8 0.09 7.7
Nitrolime 2 10 0.390 0.018 4.5 0.029 7.4
Compound fertilizer
9 0.105 0.003 2.9 0.014 13.2
containing nitrolime
Compounf ferttilizer 9 0.788 0.026 3.2 0.054 6.8
Ammonium sulfate 10 0.0365 0.0015 4.2 0.0067 18.3
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Total mean (n = number of laboratories × number of repeated tests (2))
3) Repeatability standard deviation
4) Repeatability relative standard deviation
5) Reproducibility standard deviation
6) Reproducibility relative standard deviation
7) Mass fraction

Reference
1) Etsuko BANDO and Yuji SHIRAI: Validation of High Performance Liquid
Chromatography (HPLC) for Determination of Melamine and Its Related Substances in
Fertilizer, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.6, p. 27 – 35 (2013)
2) Etsuko BANDO and Sigehiro KAI: Determination of Melamine and Its Related
Substances in Fertilizer by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC): A
Collaborative Study, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.7, p. 10 – 21 (2014)

548
(5) Flow sheet for melamine derivations: The flow sheet for melamine derivations in
fertilizers is shown below.

0.50 g analytical sample 200-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask

←100 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+15）
Extraction Ultrasonic extraction for 30 minutes

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitation tube

Centrifugal separation
1700 × g, 5 minutes

Transfer 5 mL to a 50-mL volumetric flask,

Dilution
add acetonitrile - phosphate buffer solution (4+1) up to the marked line

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitation tube

Centrifugal separation
8000 × g - 10000 × g, 5 minutes

Measurement High Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Figure Flow sheet for melamine derivations in fertilizers

Reference HPLC chromatogram of the mixture standard solution for calibration curve
preparation of melamine derivations is shown below.

Reference diagram HPLC chromatogram of melamine derivations

The names of materials for respective peaks

(1) cyanuric acid (2) ammelide (3) melamine (4) ammeline
Measurement conditions of HPLC
Column: TSKgel Amide-80 (4.6-mm inner diameter, 250-mm long, 5-µm particle
diameter)
Mixture standard solutions (respective equivalents of 10 ng (1 µg/mL, 10 µL)) for
calibration curve preparation of respective melamine derivations
Other conditions are according to the examples of the measurement conditions in
(4.2) a) HPLC.

549
8.1.d High Performance Liquid Chromatography (Fertilizers containing organic
matters)
(1) Summary
This method is applicable to organic fertilizers or fertilizers containing organic matters.
Add water to an analytical sample to extract melamine, introduce it into a High Performance
Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC), isolate with a silica gel column to which carbamoyl
chemically bonds, and measure at wavelength 214 nm to obtain melamine in an analytical
sample. However, cyanuric acid, ammelide and ammeline which are melamine derivations are
excluded from components subjected to measurement. The performance of this testing
method is shown in Comment 3.

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below.

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Acetonitrile: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8032 or a reagent of
equivalent quality. In addition, acetonitrile used in eluent of an HPLC is a regent of
HPLC analysis grade.
c) Phosphate buffer solution (1): Dissolve 0.237 g of disodium hydrogen-phosphate
specified in JIS K 9020 and 0.520 g of sodium dihydrogenphosphate dihydrate specified
in JIS K 9009 in water to make 1,000 mL (2). If it is used for eluent of HPLC, filter with
a membrane filter (pore size: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic PTFE.
d) Melamine standard solution (0.5 mg/mL): Put about 0.05g of melamine [C3H6N6](3)
to a weighing dish and measure the mass to the order of 0.1 mg. Dissolve it with a small
amount of water, transfer to a 100 mL volumetric flask and add the solution up to the
marked line.
e) Melamine standard solution (50 µg/mL) (1): Transfer 5 mL of melamine standard
solutions (0.5 mg/mL) to a 50-mL volumetric flask and add an acetonitrile - phosphate
buffer solution (82+18) up to the marked line.
f) Melamine standard solution for calibration curve preparation (1 µg/mL - 5
µg/mL): In the case of usage, transfer 1 mL - 5 mL of melamine standard solution (50
µg /mL) to 50-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step and add acetonitrile - phosphate buffer
solutions (82+18) up to the marked line.
g) Melamine standard solution for calibration curve preparation (0.05 µg/mL – 0.5
µg/mL): In the case of usage, transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of melamine standard solution (1
µg/ mL) to 50-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, add acetonitrile - phosphate buffer
solutions (82+18) up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) pH of the phosphate buffer solution becomes 6.7 ± 0.2.
(3) A standard reagent as melamine is commercially sold.

Comment 1 A standard reagent of melamine is sold by Wako Pure Chemical Industries.,

Ltd, Kanto Chemical Co., Inc., and Hayashi Pure Chemical Industries.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below.

a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC): HPLC specified in JIS K 0124
that satisfies the following requirements.
1) Column: A 4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter 150-mm - 250-mm long stainless steel
column tube filled with silica gel, to which carbamoyl chemically bonds.
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 40 ºC ± 1 ºC.
3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 214
nm.
550
 b) Ultrasonic generator: An ultrasonic washer can be used.
c) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 1700 × g.
d) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g
-10000 × g.

Comment 2 Column is sold under production name of TSKgel Amide-80, etc. A column
which has actually isolated melamine, ammeline, ammelide and cyanuric
acid should be used.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 0.50 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of water and conduct ultra-sonication for about 10 minutes using an
ultrasonic generator.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution to a 50-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube.
d) Centrifuge at 1700 × g for about 5minutes (4) to make supernatant as the extract.
e) Transfer 5 mL of the extract (5) into a 50-mL volumetric flask, and add an acetonitrile -
phosphate buffer solution (82+18) up to the marked line to dilute.
f) Transfer dilution liquid to a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube (6).
g) Centrifuge at 8000 × g - 10000 × g for about 5 minutes (7) to make supernatant as the
sample solution

Note (4) 16.5-cm of rotor radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g
centrifugal force.
(5) If there is a possibility that the concentration of melamine derivations in the
sample solution exceeds the maximum limit of the calibration curb, the amount
of a supernatant solution to be transferred should be1 mL - 2.5 mL.
(6) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(7) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g - 10000 × g centrifugal force.

Comment 3 Instead of the procedures in (4.1) f) - g), it is allowed to filter with a

membrane filter (pore size: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic
PTFE and the filtrate can be the sample solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions of High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
Set up the measurement conditions considering the following example of measurement
conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC).
1) Column: A silica gel column (4-mm - 6-mm inner diameter, 150-mm - 250-mm
long, 5-µm particle diameter column) to which carbamoyl chemically bonds.
2) Temperature of column bath: 40 ºC ± 1 ºC
3) Eluent: Acetonitrile - phosphate buffer solution (82+18)
4) Flow rate: 1 mL/min
5) Detector: An absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 214 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
551
 1) Inject 10 µL of respective melamine standard solutions for calibration curve
preparation into an HPLC (HPLC), record a chromatogram at wavelength 214 nm
and obtain the peak area or height.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration and the peak area or
height at wavelength 214 nm of respective melamine solutions for the calibration
curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
2) Obtain the melamine content from the calibration curve to calculate melamine in the
analytical sample.

Comment 4 Additive recovery testing was conducted to evaluate trueness using rape seed
meal, soybean meal, compound fertilizer containing lime nitrogen and organic
matter, compound fertilizer containing organic matter and blended fertilizer
containing organic matter (1 brand for each). As a result, the mean recovery
rate at additive level of 2 % (mass fraction), 0.4 % (mass fraction) and 0.1 %
(mass fraction) were 94.6 % - 99.8 %, 92.4 % - 98.5 % and 93.1 % - 98.4 %
respectively.
The results of the repeatability tests on different days using soybean meal and
compound fertilizer containing organic matter, to evaluate precision were
analyzed by one-way analysis of variance. Table shows the calculation results
of intermediate precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of this test method is about
0.02 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days

Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Soybean meal 5 1.91 0.03 1.7 0.04 2.2
Compound fertilizer
5 0.100 0.001 1.4 0.002 2.5
containing organic matter
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days （T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation

552
(5) Flow sheet for melamine derivations: The flow sheet for melamine derivations in
fertilizers is shown below.

0.50 g analytical sample 200-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask

←100 mL of water
Extraction Ultrasonic extraction for 10 minutes

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitation tube

Centrifugal separation
1700 × g, 10 minutes

Dilution Transfer 5 mL to a 50-mL volumetric flask,

add acetonitrile - phosphate buffer solution (82+18) up to the marked line

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitation tube

Centrifugal separation
8000 × g - 10000 × g, 5 minutes

Measurement High Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Figure Flow sheet for melamine in fertilizers containing organic matter

553
Reference HPLC chromatogram of the mixture standard solution for calibration curve
preparation of melamine is shown below.

←melamine

Reference diagram HPLC chromatogram of melamine

Measurement conditions for HPLC

Column: TSKgel Amide-80 (4.6-mm inner diameter, 250-mm long, 5-µm particle
diameter)
Melamine standard solution (the equivalents of 10 ng (1 µg/mL, 10 µL) for each)
Other conditions are according to the examples of the measurement conditions of
(4.2) a) HPLC.

554
8.2 Clopyralid and its degradation products
8.2.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry
(1) Summary
This method is applicable to compost and composted sludge fertilizers.
Extract clopyralid, aminopyralid and picloram with methanol under alkaline condition, refine
with a cleanup cartridge by taking advantage of characteristics that the behavior of elution
varies between acidity and alkaline, and then measure with a High Performance Liquid
Chromatograph Tandem Mass Spectrometer to obtain clopyralid, aminopyralid and picloram
in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown in
Comment 7.

Comment 1 Structural formulas of clopyralid, aminopyralid and picloram are as shown

in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Structural formula of clopyralid, aminopyralid and picloram

(2) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557. Note that water of A4 should be used as
the eluent which is introduced to LC-MS/MS.
b) Acetonitrile: A regent of agricultural chemicals residue/PCB testing grade
(concentration: no less than 300) specified in JIS K 8039 or a reagent of equivalent
quality.
c) Methanol: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8891 or a reagent of equivalent
quality.
d) Methanol: Methanol used in eluent of LC-MS/MS is a regent of LC-MS analysis grade
or equivalents.
e) Sodium hydroxide: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8576 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
f) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
g) Ammonia solution: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent of 25 % (mass fraction) specified in JIS
K 8085 or a reagent of equivalent quality.
h) Formic acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8264 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
i) Ammonia solution (0.0025 % (mass fraction)) (1): Add 0.1 mL of ammonia solution to
1000 mL of water.
j) Respective agrichemical standard solutions (0.1 mg/mL)(1): Put about 0.01 g of
clopyralid [C6H3Cl2NO2](2), aminopyralid [C6H4Cl2N2O2](2), picloram [C6H3Cl3N2O2] (2)
to weighing dishes and measure the mass to the order of 0.1 mg. Dissolve with a small
amount of acetonitrile, transfer to 100-mL volumetric flasks and add the solvent up to
the marked line.

555
 k) Mixture standard solution (250 ng/mL): Dilute a predetermined amount of respective
agrichemical standard solutions (0.1 mg/mL) with formic acid (1+1000) to prepare
mixture standard solution (250 ng/mL).
l) Mixture standard solution for calibration curve preparation (5 ng/mL - 50 ng/mL):
In the case of usage, transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of mixture standard solution (100 ng/mL)
to 50 mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add formic acid (1+1000) up to the marked
line.
m) Mixture standard solution for calibration curve preparation (0.5 ng/mL - 5
ng/mL): In the case of usage, transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of mixture standard solution (10
ng/mL) to 50-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add formic acid (1+1000) up to
the marked line.

Notes (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) A standard reagent is commercially sold.

Comment 2 Standard reagents of clopyralid, aminopyralid and picloram are sold by Wako
Pure Chemical Industries., Ltd, Kanto Chemical Co., Inc. and Hayashi Pure
Chemical Ind., Ltd.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS/MS):
LC-MS/MS specified in JIS K 0136 that satisfies the following requirements.
1) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph:
(i) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted at 30 ºC - 45
ºC.
(ii) Column: A 2-mm - 3-mm inner diameter 50-mm - 150-mm long 1.6-µm -
2.2-µm particle diameter stainless steel column tube filled with silica gel, to
which octadecyl chemically bonds. The specification is according to the mass
spectrometer specification.
2) Mass Spectrometer:
(i) Ionization method: Electro Spray Ionization (ESI)
(ii) Ion detection method: Selected Reaction Monitoring
b) Shaking apparatus
c) Manifold
d) Centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 1700 × g.
e) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g -
10000 × g.
f) Concentrator: An evaporator that can adjust to 40 ºC ± 2 ºC.
g) Copolymer cartridge column: A divinylbenzene-N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymer mini
column (200 mg)

Comment 3 A column is sold under the production names such as ACQUITY UPLC
HSS C18.
Comment 4 A copolymer cartridge is sold under the production names such as Oasis
HLB 6cc (200 mg).

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a) Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample and put it into a 200-mL - 300-mL ground-in
stopper Erlenmeyer flask.

556
 b) Add 1 mL of sodium hydroxide solution (40 g/L) and 99 mL of methanol, shake to mix
with a shaking apparatus for about 30 minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer the supernatant solution to a 50-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube.
d) Centrifuge at 1700 × g for about 5 minutes (3) to make supernatant as the sample
solution.

Note (3) 16.5-cm of rotor radius and 3000 rpm of revolutions makes about 1700 × g
centrifugal force.

Comment 5 Grind until it completely passes through 500 µm aperture sieve to prepare
the test sample.

(4.2) Cleanup (1): Conduct cleanup (1) as shown below.

a) Wash a cartridge column quickly with about 5 mL of methanol and 5 mL of water in
advance.
b) Place a 50-mL round-bottom flask under the cartridge column, transfer 5 mL of the
extract to the cartridge column and allow the extract to overflow quickly until the
surface of the liquid reaches the top of the packing materials.
c) Add about 5 mL of sodium hydroxide solution (0.4 g/L) - methanol (1+1) to the
cartridge column 2 times and allow the liquid to overflow in the same manner in b).

Note (4) If there is a possibility to foam by the concentration procedure in (4.3) b), a
100-mL round-bottom flask can be used.

(4.3) Cleanup (2): Conduct cleanup (2) as shown below.

a) Wash a new cartridge column quickly with about 5 mL of acetonitrile and 5 mL of
hydrochloric acid (1+120) in advance.
b) After conducting vacuum concentration of the effluent in (4.2) c) until no more than 5
mL on a water bath at no more than 40 °C, add 3 mL of hydrochloric acid (1 +11).
c) Put the concentrated effluent into the cartridge column and allow the effluent quickly to
overflow until the surface of liquid reaches the top of packing materials.
d) Wash a round-bottom flask with about 5 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+120) 2 times and
add washing into the cartridge successively.
e) Then, add about 5 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+120) - acetonitrile (9+1) and about 5 mL
of water into the cartridge successively and allow the liquid to overflow quickly.
f) Place a 5-mL volumetric flask under the cartridge column, add 4 mL of ammonia
solution (0.0025 % (mass fraction)) - acetonitrile (9+1) to the cartridge column and
allow clopyralid, aminopyralid and picloram to elute quickly.
g) Add formic acid (1+1000) up to the marked line (5) and transfer it to 1.5-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube.
h) Centrifuge at 8000 × g - 10000 × g centrifugal force for about 5 minutes (7) to make
supernatant as the sample solution.

Note (5) If there is a possibility that the clopyralid, aminopyralid and picloram
concentration in the sample solution exceed the maximum limit of the
calibration curve, dilute a predetermined amount of effluent with formic acid (1
+1000).
(6) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.

557
 (7) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g - 10000 × g centrifugal force.

Comment 6 The procedures in (4.2) and (4.3) should be quickly carried out by using a
suction apparatus.

(4.4) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0136 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions of High Performance Liquid Chromatograph/Mass
Spectrometer: Set up the measurement conditions considering the following example
of measurement conditions for High Performance Liquid Chromatograph/Mass
Spectrometer.
1) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph:
(i) Column: A silica gel column (2-mm - 3-mm inner diameter, 50-mm - 150-mm
long, 1.6-µm - 2.2-µm particle diameter column) to which octadecyl
chemically bonds.
(ii) Flow rate: 0.2 mL/min - 0.5 mL/min
(iii) Eluent: A: Formic acid (1+1000) B: methanol
(iv) Gradient: 0 min (5 % B) → 5 min (60 % B) → 6 min (95 % B) → 7 min (5 %
B)
(v) Temperature of column bath: 40 ºC
(vi) Injection volume: 5 µL
2) Mass Spectrometer:
(i) Ionization method: Electro Spray Ionization (ESI) method
(ii) Mode: Positive
(iii) Capillary voltage: 1.0 kV
(iv) Ion source temperature: 120 ºC
(v) Desolvation temperature: 400 ºC
(vi) Cone voltage: Shown in Table 1
(vii) Collision energy: Shown in Table 1
(viii) Monitor ion: Shown in Table 1

Table 1 Monitor ion, etc. of respective agrichemicals

Substance Precussor ion Product ion Product ion Cone Collision energy Collision energy
name (Determination) (Validation) voltage (Determination) (Validation)
(m/z ) (m/z ) (m/z ) (v) (eV) (eV)
Clopyralid 192 146 110 20 20 30
Aminipyralid 207 161 189 22 22 16
Oicrloram 241 195 223 28 22 16

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 5 μL of respective mixture standard solutions for calibration curve into the
LC-MS/MS, record the chromatogram of ion (m/z) for determination and ion (m/z)
for validation of clopyralid, aminopyralid and picloram and obtain respective peak
areas or heights.
2) Calculate the peak area ratio or height ratio of ion (m/z) for determination and ion
(m/z) for validation of clopyralid, aminopyralid and picloram.

558
 3) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration of respective
agrichemicals and the peak area or height of ion (m/z) for determination of respective
mixture standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 5 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 2) - 3) (8).
2) Obtain the content of material subjected to measurement from the calibration curve
to calculate the material subjected to measurement in the analytical sample.

Note (8) Confirm that the ratio against the peak area ratio or height ratio of the standard
solution is within the range of about ± 30 %. In addition, the peak area ratio or
height ratio depends on the concentration.

Comment 7 Additive recovery testing of clopyralid, aminopyralid and picloram was

conducted using cow dung compost (2 kinds), composted sludge fertilizers
containing cow manure (2 kinds) and composted sludge fertilizers
containing pig manure (1 kind), as a result, the mean recovery rates at
additive level of 1000 µg/kg, 400 µg/kg and 40 µg/kg were 78.1 % - 90.0 %,
81.0 % - 117.6 % and 71.2 % - 101.3 % respectively.
Additionally, the minimum limits of quantification of clopyralid,
aminopyralid and picloram of the test method are about 10 µg/kg
respectively.

Reference
1) Toshiharu YAGI, Yuko SEKINE, Yuji SHIRAI: Determination of Clopyralid in
Fertilizer by Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS),
Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 3, p. 51 – 59 (2010)
2) Hisanori ARAYA, Toshiharu YAGI, Yoshimi HASHIMOTO and Yuji SHIRAI:
Determination of Clopyralid, Aminopyralid and Picloram in Compost and Composted
Sludge Fertilizer by Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS),
Research Report of Fertilizer Vol. 7, p. 1 – 9 (2014)

559
(5) Flow sheet for clopyralid and its derivative substances: The flow sheet for clopyralid
and its derivative substances in compost and composted sludge fertilizer is shown below

5.00 g analytical sample 200-mL - 300-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask

← 1 mL of sodium hydroxide solution (4 g/L)
← 99 mL of methanol
shaking 30 minutes

Centrifugal separation 50 mL centrifugal precipitate tube, 1700 × g, 5 minutes

← 5 mL of extract
copolymer cartridge column (1)
(Wash with about 5 mL of methanol, then 5 mL of water in advance）
Cleanup (1)
Cleanup procedures should be quickly carried out
by using a suction apparatus.
　　[Collection, 50-mL eggplant-shaped flask]
← About 5 mL of sodium hydroxide solution (0.04 w/v %) - methanol [1+1] × 2 times
　　[Collection, same as above vessel]
Vacuum
40 ºC
concentration
← 3 mL of hydrochloric acid (1+11)
copolymer cartridge column (1)
(Wash with about 5 mL of acetonitrile,
Cleanup (2) then 5 mL of hydrochloric acid in advance)
Clean up procedures should be quickly carried out
by using a suction apparatus.
← Wash the vessel 2 times with about 5mL of hydrochloric acid (1+120)
← Wash with about 5mL of hydrochloric acid (1+120) -acetonitrile [9+1]
← Wash with about 5mL of water
← 4 mL of ammonia solution (0.0025 w/v %)- acetonitrile [9+1]
　[Elute, 5-mL volumetric flask]
Filling up
← Formic acid (1+1000) (up to the marked line)
1.5-mL ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,
Centrifugal separation
8000 × g - 10000 × g , 5 minutes

Measurement LC-MS/MS

Figure 2 Flow sheet for clopyralid and its derivative substances in compost and composted sludge fertilizers

560
References Selected Reaction Monitoring chromatograms of mixture standard solution
for calibration curve preparation and sample solution (cow dung compost)
are shown below

Peak No.

1
Intensity / arb.units

3
0 5
Retention Time / min
1) Standard solution 2) Sample solution

Peak No1: Picloram

No2: Aminopyralid
No3: Clopyralid

Reference diagram: SRM chromatograms of respective agrichemicals

Mixture standard solution (the equivalents of 200 pg as respective agrichemicals)

Measurement conditions of LC-MS/MS

Column: ACQUITY UPLC HSS C18 (2.1-mm inner diameter, 100-mm long,
1.8-µm particle diameter)
Other conditions are according to the examples of the measurement conditions in
(4.4) a) LC-MS/MS.

561
8.3 Residue agrichemicals multi component analysis
8.3.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry
(1) Compounds subjected to analysis: Abamectin: Abamectin B1a, ivermectin: 22,
23-dihydro avermectin B1a (Another name: ivermectin B1a), eprinomectin: eprinomectin B1a,
rotenone: rotenone, piperonylbutoxide: piperonylbutoxide, pyrethrin: pyrethrin I and pyrethrin
II

(2) Summary
This method is applicable to fluid home garden-use mixed fertilizer and fluid mixed fertilizer.
Dissolve respective agricultural chemicals in fertilizers with acetonitrile and water, and
extract. Refine by using 2 kinds of cleanup cartridge, and then measure with a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer to obtain compounds subjected to
analysis in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing method is shown
in Comment 3.

(3) Reagents, etc.: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Acetonitrile: A regent of agricultural chemicals residue/PCB testing grade
(concentration: no less than 300) specified in JIS K 8039 or a reagent of equivalent
quality.
c) Methanol: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8891 or a reagent of equivalent
quality.
d) Methanol: Methanol used in eluent of an HPLC is a regent of LC-MS analysis grade or
equivalents.
e) Ethyl acetate: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8361 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
f) Toluene: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8680 or a reagent of equivalent
quality.
g) Ammonium formate: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent (no less than 95 % (mass fraction) in
purity) or a reagent of equivalent quality.
h) Ammonium formate solution (0.1 mol/L) (1): Add 6.306 g of ammonium formate into
1000 mL of water
i) Ammonium formate solution (0.1 mmol/L) (1): Add 1mL of formic acid ammonium
solution (0.1 mol/L) into 1000 mL water
j) Formic acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8264 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
k) Formic acid solution (0.1 v/ v %) (1): Add 1 mL of formic acid to 1,000 mL of water
l) Acetonitrile formate solution (0.1 v/v %) (1): Add 1 mL of formic acid to 1,000 mL of
acetonitrile
m) Respective agricultural chemicals standard solutions (0.1 mg/mL) (1): Put about 0.01
g of abamectin [C48H72O14] (2), ivermectin [C48H74O14] (2), eprinomectin [C50H75NO14] (2),
rotenone [C23H22O6] (2), piperonylbutoxide [C19H30O5] (2) and pyrethrin [pyrethrin I:
C21H28O3 and pyrethrin II: C22H28O5] (2) to a weighing dish, and measure the mass to the
order of 0.1 mg. Dissolve with a small amount of methanol, transfer to a 100-mL
volumetric flask and add the solvent up to the marked line. (However 0.1 mg/mL of
pyrethrin contains total of pyrethrin I/II)
n) Mixture standard solution (10 µg/mL): Transfer 10 mL of respective agricultural
chemicals standard solutions to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add methanol up to the
marked line.

562
 o) Mixture standard solution (1000 ng/mL): Transfer 10 mL of mixture standard
solution (10 µg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add methanol up to the marked
line.
p) Mixture standard solution for calibration curve preparation (50 ng/mL - 500
ng/mL): In the case of usage, transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of mixture standard solution
(1000 ng/ mL) to 50-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add methanol up to the
marked line.
q) Mixture standard solution for calibration curve preparation (5 ng/mL - 50 ng/mL):
In the case of usage, transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of mixture standard solution (100 ng/mL)
to 50-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add methanol up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) A standard reagent is commercially sold.

Comment 1 A standard reagent of respective agricultural chemicals is sold by Wako

Pure Chemical Industries., Ltd, Kanto Chemical Co., Inc. and Hayashi Pure
Chemical Industries., Ltd.

(4) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below.
a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS/MS):
LC-MS/MS specified in JIS K 0136 that satisfies the following requirements.
1) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph:
(i) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted at 30 ºC - 45
ºC.
(ii) Column: A 2-mm - 3-mm inner diameter 50-mm - 150-mm long 1.6-µm -
3.0-µm particle diameter stainless steel column tube filled with silica gel, to
which octadecyl chemically bonds. The specification is according to the mass
spectrometer specification (3).
2) Mass Spectrometer:
(i) Ionization method: Electro Spray Ionization (ESI)
(ii) Ion detection method: Selected Reaction Monitoring
b) Ultrasonic generator: An ultrasonic washer can be used.
c) Concentrator: An evaporator whose temperature can be adjusted up to 40 ºC.
d) Porous diatomaceous earth cartridge column: A column that is filled with the porous
diatomaceous earth (capacity: 5 mL) (4)
e) Graphite carbon-NH2 laminate cartridge column: A 6-mL cylinder on which 500 mg
of graphite carbon and 500 mg of aminopropyl silylation silica gel is laminated (5).

Note (3) The column is sold under the names ACQUITY UPLC HSS C18, etc.
(4) The column is sold under the names Chem Elut (5 mL), etc.
(5) The column is sold under the names Envi-carb/LC-NH2 (500 mg/500 mg, 6 mL),
etc.

(5) Test procedures

(5.1)
Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
a)Put about 5.00 mL (6) of an analytical sample into a 10-mL volumetric flask.
b)Add 3 mL of acetonitrile to the same volumetric flask, and add water up to the marked
line to shake to mix well.
c) Conduct ultra-sonication for about 30 minutes using an ultrasonic generator (7) to make
the extract.

563
 Note (6) After measuring the specific gravity of sample, calculate the concentration of
materials subjected to measurement in the analytical sample.
(7) Note that the volume of the solution may expand as a result of ultra-sonication.
It is recommended to leave it at room temperature for a while when it expands.

Comment 2 The specific gravity (density) can be calculated by placing a 10-mL

volumetric flask on an electric balance, aligning the scale to zero,
transferring 5.00 mL of the analytical sample to the volumetric flask and
reading the weighing value.

(5.2) Cleanup (1): Conduct cleanup (1) as shown below.

a) Put 5 mL of extract into a porous diatomaceous earth cartridge column and keep it in the
column for about 5 minutes.
b) Place a 100-mL round-bottom flask under the same cartridge column, add about 5 mL
of ethyl acetate into the same cartridge column 4 times successively and allow the
solution to elute until the surface of the solution reaches the top of packing materials (8).
c) After conducting vacuum concentration of elute in a water bath of no more than 40 ºC
until most of the elute dries up, send a nitrogen gas to dry up the elute (9), and add 2 mL
of acetonitrile-toluene (3+1) to dissolve the residue.

Note (8) Confirm the solution to elute before conducting the testing.
(9) There is a possibility for agricultural chemicals to vaporize if it is dried up
excessively.

(5.3) Cleanup (2): Conduct cleanup (2) as shown below.

a) Wash the graphite carbon-NH2 laminate cartridge column with about 10 mL of
acetonitrile - toluene (3+1) in advance
b) Place a 100-mL round-bottom flask under the same cartridge column, put the solution in
(5.2) c) to the same cartridge column, and allow the solution to overflow until the
surface of the solution reaches the top of packing materials.
c) Wash the vessel with about 5 mL of acetonitrile-toluene (3+1) 5 times and add washing
to the same cartridge successively to allow it to overflow.
d) After conducting vacuum concentration of elute in a water bath of no more than 40 ºC
until most of the elute dries up, send a nitrogen gas to dry up the elute (10), and add 2 mL
of methanol to dissolve the residue. Transfer a predetermined amount of the solution
precisely and dilute with methanol exactly by a factor of 5 to make the solution as the
sample solution.

Note (10) There is a possibility for agricultural chemicals to vaporize if it is dried up

excessively.
(11) If there is a possibility that the concentration of agricultural chemicals in the
sample solution exceeds the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a
predetermined amount of the sample solution with methanol.

(5.4) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0136 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer used in measurement.
a) The measurement conditions of High Performance Liquid Chromatograph/Mass
spectrometer: Set up the measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid
Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer considering the following:
1) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph:
564
 (i) Column: A silica gel column (2-mm - 3-mm inner diameter, 50-mm - 150-mm
long, 1.6-µm - 3.0-µm particle diameter column) to which octadecyl
chemically bonds.
(ii) Flow rate: 0.2 mL/min - 0.5 mL/min
(iii) Eluent: A: Ammonium formate solution (0.1 mmol/L) - formic acid
solution (0.1 v/v %) [1+1]
B: Acetonitrile formate solution (0.1 v/v %)
(iv) Gradient: 0 min (50 % B) → 15 min (95 % B) → 20 min (98% B) → 30 min
(50 % B)
(v) Temperature of column bath: 40 ºC
(vi) Injection volume: 5 µL
2) Mass Spectrometer:
(i) Ionization method: Electro Spray Ionization (ESI) method
(ii) Mode: Positive
(iii) Capillary voltage: 3.0 kV
(iv) Ion source temperature: 120 ºC
(v) Desolvation temperature: 400 ºC
(vi) Cone voltage: Shown in table 1
(vii) Collision energy: Shown in table 1
(viii) Monitor ion: Shown in table 1

Table 1 Monitoring ion conditions, etc. of respective agrichemicals

Precursor Product ion Product ion Collision
Cone voltage
Agrichemicals ion (determination) (validation) energy
(V)
(m/z ) (m/z ) (m/z ) (eV)
Abamectin B1a 891 305 567 20 25
Ivermectin B1a 893 307 551 25 25
Eprinomectin B1a 915 186 298 20 20
Rotenone 395 213 192 35 25
Piperonylbutoxide 356 177 147 20 15
PyrethrinⅠ 329 161 133 20 10
PyrethrinⅡ 373 161 133 20 10

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 5 μL of respective mixture standard solutions for calibration curve preparation
into the LC-MS/MS, record the chromatogram of ion (m/z) for determination and ion
(m/z) for validation of materials subjected to measurement and obtain respective peak
areas or heights.
2) Calculate the peak area ratio or height ratio of ion (m/z) for determination and ion
(m/z) for validation of materials subjected to measurement.
3) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the concentration of materials subjected
to measurement and the peak area or height of ion (m/z) for determination of
respective mixture standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation.
Prepare a calibration curve when the sample is measured.

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 5 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 2) - 3) (12).
2) Obtain the content of materials subjected to measurement from the calibration curve
of the peak area or height to calculate materials subjected to measurement in the
analytical sample.

565
 Note (12) Confirm that the ratio against the peak area ratio or height ratio of the standard
solution is within the range of about ± 30 %. In addition, the peak area ratio or
height ratio depends on the concentration.

(5.5) Calculation
Calculate the respective concentration of agricultural chemicals in the analytical sample
by the following formula.
Respective concentration of agricultural chemicals in the analytical sample (µg/kg)
= (A × B × 10) /C

A: Concentration (ng/mL) of respective materials subjected to measurement in

the final sample solution obtained from the calibration curve
B: Dilution factor in the case that the final sample solution is further diluted
because it exceeds the upper limit of the calibration curve.
C: Specific gravity of the analytical sample (density) (g/mL)

Comment 3 A recovery testing was conducted using fluid home garden-use mixed
fertilizer (3 kinds) and fluid mixed fertilizer (2 kinds), as a result, the mean
recovery at additive level of 4000 µg/kg and 400 µg/kg (However, 4000
µg/kg and 400 µg/kg of pyrethrin contain total of pyrethrin I/II) were
77.0 % - 107.9 % and 85.6 % - 107.9 % respectively.
In addition, the results and analysis results of a collaborative study for test
method validation are shown in Table 2.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification for respective
agrichemicals of the test method is about 10 µg/kg.

566
 Table 2　 Analysis results of a collaborative study for the testing method validation of multicomponent analysis of
pesticide residue
2) Additive 3) 4)
Mean Recovery RSD r RSD R
Agrichemicals Sample name Number of amount
1)
laboratories （µg/kg） （µg/kg） （%） （%） （%）
Abamectin Home garden-use mixed fertilizer1 8 286.8 333.3 86.1 13.3 14.4
B1a Home garden-use mixed fertilizer2 8 358.9 416.7 86.1 13.4 14.8
Home garden-use mixed fertilizer3 8 425.8 500.0 85.2 8.6 11.6
Fluid mixed fertilizer1 8 288.6 333.3 86.6 7.1 8.5
Fluid mixed fertilizer2 8 405.5 500.0 81.1 7.1 7.2
Ivermectin Home garden-use mixed fertilizer1 8 298.9 333.3 89.7 14.9 15.0
B1A Home garden-use mixed fertilizer2 8 382.5 416.7 91.8 14.1 19.3
Home garden-use mixed fertilizer3 8 431.1 500.0 86.2 9.8 10.9
Fluid mixed fertilizer1 8 298.8 333.3 89.6 10.1 12.8
Fluid mixed fertilizer2 8 405.2 500.0 81.0 3.8 5.8
Eprinomectin Home garden-use mixed fertilizer1 8 293.5 333.3 88.1 7.0 10.4
B1a Home garden-use mixed fertilizer2 8 361.9 416.7 86.9 9.2 14.3
Home garden-use mixed fertilizer3 8 425.3 500.0 85.1 7.0 10.0
Fluid mixed fertilizer1 8 277.3 333.3 83.2 9.0 12.0
Fluid mixed fertilizer2 8 398.2 500.0 79.6 7.5 11.6
Rotenone Home garden-use mixed fertilizer1 8 276.8 333.3 83.1 5.7 7.8
Home garden-use mixed fertilizer2 8 353.5 416.7 84.8 9.8 12.5
Home garden-use mixed fertilizer3 8 426.6 500.0 85.3 6.6 8.5
Fluid mixed fertilizer1 8 263.5 333.3 79.1 11.0 12.3
Fluid mixed fertilizer2 8 385.2 500.0 77.0 5.7 12.1
Piperonyl Home garden-use mixed fertilizer1 8 318.2 333.3 95.5 8.1 13.2
butoxide Home garden-use mixed fertilizer2 8 395.6 416.7 94.9 8.4 13.6
Home garden-use mixed fertilizer3 8 450.3 500.0 90.1 4.6 9.3
Fluid mixed fertilizer1 8 299.7 333.3 89.9 7.4 11.0
Fluid mixed fertilizer2 8 435.8 500.0 87.2 5.8 7.4
Pyrethrin I Home garden-use mixed fertilizer1 8 160.7 186.0 86.4 9.3 11.9
Home garden-use mixed fertilizer2 8 202.2 232.5 87.0 12.6 12.8
Home garden-use mixed fertilizer3 8 228.6 279.0 81.9 5.4 8.8
Fluid mixed fertilizer1 8 158.2 186.0 85.1 6.8 10.4
Fluid mixed fertilizer2 8 223.1 279.0 80.0 8.5 9.1
Pyrethrin II Home garden-use mixed fertilizer1 8 131.1 147.3 89.0 6.5 9.7
Home garden-use mixed fertilizer2 8 163.2 184.2 88.6 10.8 13.6
Home garden-use mixed fertilizer3 8 182.0 221.0 82.4 5.4 8.9
Fluid mixed fertilizer1 8 126.2 147.3 85.7 7.8 11.4
Fluid mixed fertilizer2 8 180.2 221.0 81.5 6.3 8.3
1) Number of laboratories used in analysis
2) Total mean (n = number of laboratories × number of repeated tests (2))
3) Repeatability (relative standard deviation)
4) Reproducibility (relative standard deviation)

567
Reference
1) Toshiharu YAGI, Masayuki YAMANISHI, Yuji SHIRAI: Simultaneous Determination
of Agricultural chemicals in Fluid Fertilizer by Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass
Spectrometry, Research Report of Fertilizer,Vol.4, p. 36 - 48 (2011)
2) Toshiharu YAGI, Masayuki YAMANISHI, Yuji SHIRAI and Masato SHIBATA:
Simultaneous Determination of Six Kind of Agricultural Chemicals in Fluid Fertilizer
by Liquid Chromatograph-Tandem Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS/MS): A Collaborative
Study, Research Report of Fertilizer, Vol.5, p. 48 - 59 (2012)

(6) Flow sheet for simultaneous analysis of 6 kinds of agrichemicals: The flow sheet for
simultaneous analysis of 6 kinds of agrichemicals in fertilizer is shown below.

5.00 mL analytical sample 10-mL volumetric flask

← About 3 mL of acetonitrile
← Water (up to the marked line)
Ultra sonication 5 minutes

Aliquot (5 mL)

Keep the extract for 5 minutes

Cleanup (1)
in the cartridge column (1)
← About 5 mL of ethyl acetate ×4 times
　　[elute, 100-mL round-bottom flask ]
Vacuum
40 ºC
concentration
← Dissolve with about 2 mL of acetonitrile-toluene(3+1)
Cartridge column (2)
Cleanup (2) (wash with about 5 mL of acetonitrile-toluene (3+1)
× 2 times in advance)
　[100-mL round-bottom flask]
← Wash the vessel 5 times with about 5 mL of acetonitrile-toluene (3+1)
　[overflow, the same vessel]
Vacuum
40 ºC
concentration
← 5 mL of methanol
Dilution Dilute the solution 5 times

Measurement LC-MS/MS

Figure Flow sheet for simultaneous analysis of 6 kinds of agrichemicals in fertilizers

568
 Reference Selected Reaction Monitoring chromatograms of mixture standard solution
for calibration curve preparation and sample solution (fluid home
garden-use mixed fertilizer) are shown below.

Peak No.
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
Intensity / arb.units

5
5
6
6
7
7
0 Retention Time / min 20 0 Retention Time / min 20

Peak No.1: AbamectinB1a

No.2: IvermectinB1a
No.3: Eprinomectin B1a
No.4: Rotenone
No.5: Piperonylbutoxide
No.6: Pyrethrin I
No.7: Pyrethrin II

1) Mixture standard solution 2) Sample solution

Reference diagram Selected Reaction Monitoring chromatograms of

respective agricultural chemicals

1) Mixture standard solution (the equivalents of 2500 pg of respective agricultural

chemicals)
(For pyrethrin, the equivalents of 2500 pg of the total of pyrethrin I/II)
2) Sample solution (fluid home garden-use mixed fertilizer, additive of the equivalents of
400 µg/ kg in the sample)
(For pyrethrin, the equivalents of 400 µg/kg of the total of pyrethrin I/II)

Measurement conditions of LC-MS/MS

Column: ACQUITY UPLC HSS C18 (2.1-mm inner diameter, 100-mm long,
1.8-µm particle diameter)
Flow rate: 0.2 mL/min
Other conditions are according to the examples of the measurement conditions of
(5.4) a) LC-MS/MS.

569
8.4 Sodium
8.4.a Flame atomic absorption spectrometry
(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fertilizers containing organic matters.
Pretreat an analytical sample with incineration and hydrochloric acid, spray into an
acetylene-air flame, and measure the atomic absorption with sodium at a wavelength of 589.0
nm to obtain sodium (Na) in an analytical sample. In addition, the performance of this testing
method is shown in Comment 3.

(2) Reagents: Reagents are as shown below:

a) Hydrochloric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 8180 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
b) Sodium standard solution (Na 1 mg/mL) (1): Heat sodium chloride specified in JIS K
8150 at 600 ºC ± 10 ºC for about 1 hour, let it stand to cool in a desiccator, and weigh
2.542 g to a weighing dish. Dissolve in a small amount of water, transfer to a 1,000-mL
volumetric flask, and add water up to the marked line.
c) Sodium standard solution (Na 0.1 mg/mL): Transfer 20 mL of sodium standard
solution (Na 1 mg/mL) to a 200-mL volumetric flask, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23)
up to the marked line.
d) Sodium standard solutions (Na 1 µg/mL - 10 µg/mL) for the calibration curve
preparation (2): Transfer 2.5 mL - 25 mL of sodium standard solution (Na 0.1 mg/mL)
to 250-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step, and add hydrochloric acid (1+23) up to the
marked line (2).
e) Blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation: Hydrochloric acid (1+23)
used in the procedures in d) (3).

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) When using a device model which cannot degrade the sensitivity of the devidce
by tilting the burner head, conduct the model appropriate dilution. (For
example, 0.1 µg/mL – 4 µg/mL)
(3) When preserving, use a container, which can be sealed tightly, made of material
such as polypropylene, PTFE, etc. that sodium hardly elutes

Comment 1 Instead of the sodium standard solution in (2) b), a sodium standard solution
(Na 0.1 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL）for Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
traceable to National Metrology can also be used.

(3) Instruments: Instruments are as shown below:

a) Flame atomic absorption spectrometer: An atomic absorption spectrometer specified
in JIS K 0121.
1) Light source: A sodium hollow cathode lamp
2) Gas: Gas for heating by flame
(i) Fuel gas: acetylene
(ii) Auxiliary gas: Air sufficiently free of dust and moisture.
b) Electric furnace: An electric furnace that can be adjusted to 550 ºC ± 5 ºC.
c) Hot plate or sand bath: A hot plate whose surface temperature can be adjusted up to
250 ºC. Adjust the amounts of gas and silica sand of a sand bath so that the sand bath
temperature can be set to 250 ºC.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as follows:
570
 a) Weigh 5.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.
b) Put the tall beaker in an electric furnace, and heat gently to char(4).
c) Ignite at 550 ºC ± 5 ºC to incinerate.
d) After standing to cool, moisten the residue with a small amount of water, add about 10
mL of hydrochloric acid gradually and further add water to make about 20 mL.
e) Cover the tall beaker with a watch glass, and heat on a hot plate or a sand bath to boil
for about 5 minutes.
f) After standing to cool, transfer the solution to a 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask with
water
g) Add water up to the marked line.
h) Filter with Type 3 filter paper to make the sample solution.

Note (4) Example of the charring procedure: Heat at about 250 ºC until smoke is no
longer formed.

Comment 2 The procedures in (4.1) are the same as in (4.1.2) in 4.2.1.a.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0121 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of the atomic
absorption spectrometer used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer: Set up the
measurement conditions for the atomic absorption spectrometer considering the
following:
Analytical line wavelength: 589.0 nm or 589.6 nm
b) Calibration curve preparation
1) Spray the sodium standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation and the
blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation into a flame, and read the
indicated value at a wavelength of 589.0 nm or 589.6 nm.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the sodium concentration and the
indicated value of the sodium standard solutions for the calibration curve
preparation and the blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation.
c) Sample measurement
1) Transfer a predetermined amount of the sample solution (the equivalents of 0.1 mg
– 1 mg as Na) (5) to a 100-mL volumetric flask.
2) Add hydrochloric acid (1+23) to the marked line.
3) Subject to the same procedure as in b) 1) to read the indicated value.
4) Subject the blank test solution to the same procedure as in 1) - 2) and b) 1) to read
the indicated value, and correct the indicated value obtained for the sample
solution.
5) Obtain the sodium content from the calibration curve, and calculate the sodium
(Na) in the analytical sample.

Note (5) Sample a predetermined amount of sample solution according to the device
model in Note (2).

Comment 4 Additive recovery testing with triplicates measurement was conducted using
fish caked powder, fish waste processed fertilizers, rape seed meal and its
powder, composted sludge fertilizers and compost, as a result, the mean
recovery rate at the additive concentration in the range of 1 % (mass
fraction) – 10 % (mass fraction) was 97.0 % - 103 %.

571
 The results of the repeatability tests on different days using fish caked
powder (sample to which sodium chloride is added) and compost to evaluate
precision were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance. Table 1 shows the
calculation results of intermediate precision and repeatability.
Additionally, the minimum limit of quantification of the method is about
0.02 % (mass fraction).

Table 1 Analysis results of the repeatability tests on different days

Name of Test days of Repeatability Intermediate precision
2) 4) 5) 6) 7)
sample repeatability Average sr RSD r s I(T) RSD I(T)
1) 3) 3) 3)
T (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Fish cakes powder 5 9.08 0.06 0.6 0.09 1.0
Compost 5 0.0973 0.0019 2.0 0.0037 3.8
1）　The number of test days conducting a duplicate test 6）　Intermediate standard deviation
2）　Average （the number of test days（T ） 7）　Intermediate relative standard deviation
×the number of duplicate testing（2））
3）　Mass fraction
4）　Repeatability standard deviation
5）　Repeatability relative standard deviation
References
1) Kimie KATO, Masaki CHIDA and Toshifumi FUJITA: V Method Validation for
Determination of Sodium in Fertilizer by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, Research
Report of Fertilizer, Vol. 8, p. 61 – 69 (2015)

(5) Flow sheet for sodium testing method: The flow sheet for total sodium testing method
in fertilizers is shown below:

5.00 g analytical sample Weigh into a 200-mL - 300-mL tall beaker.

Charring Heat gently

Incineration 550 ºC ± 5 ºC, no less than 4 hours

Standing to cool Room temperature

← A small amount of water, moisten the residue
← About 10 mL of hydrochloric acid
← Water (up to about 20 mL)
Heating Cover with a watch glass, and boil for 5 minutes.
Standing to cool Room temperature
Transfer 250-mL - 500-mL volumetric flask, water
← Water (up to the marked line)
Filtration Type 3 filter paper

Aliquot
100-mL volumetric flask, water
(predetermined amount)
←Hydrochloric acid (1+23) (up to the marked line)
Measurement Atomic absorption spectrometer
(589.0 nm or 589.6 nm)

Figure Flow sheet for sodium in fertilizers

572
8.5 Guanylurea nitrogen

8.5.a High Performance Liquid Chromatography

(1) Summary
The test method is applicable to fertilizers.
Add water to an analytical sample to extract guanylurea, introduce it to a High Performance
Chromatograph (HPLC) to isolate it with a weak acid ion-exchange column, and then
measure at wavelength 190 nm to obtain guanylurea nitrogen (Gy-N) in an analytical sample.
Biuret nitrogen (B-N), dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N), urea nitrogen (U-N) and guanidine
nitrogen (Gu-N) can be simultaneously quantified by using this method. (Refer to Comment
5).

(2) Reagents: Reagents and water are as shown below:

a) Water: Water of A3 specified in JIS K 0557.
b) Potassium dihydrogenphosphate: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 9007
or a reagent of equivalent quality.
c) Phosphoric acid: A JIS Guaranteed Reagent specified in JIS K 9005 or a reagent of
equivalent quality.
d) Guanylurea nitrogen standard solution (Gy-N 2 mg/mL) (1): Put 0.540 g of
guanylurea sulfate [C4H12N8O2･H2SO4] (2) in a weighing dish and measure the mass to the
order of 0.1 mg. Add a small amount of water to dissolve, transfer to a
100-mLvolumetric flask and add water up to the marked line.
e) Guanylurea nitrogen standard solution (Gy-N 200 µg/mL): Put 10 mL of guanylurea
nitrogen standard solution (Gy-N 2 mg/mL) to a 100-mL volumetric flask and add water
up to the marked line.
f) Guanylurea nitrogen standard solution (Gy-N 50 µg/mL - 100 µg/mL): Put 25 mL –
50 mL of guanylurea nitrogen standard solution (Gy-N 200 µg/mL) to 100-mL
volumetric flasks and add water up to the marked line.
g) Guanylurea nitrogen standard solution for the calibration curve preparation
(Gy-N 1 μg/mL - 50 μg/mL): At the time of usage, put 1 mL - 50 mL of guanylurea
nitrogen standard solution (Gy-N 100 µg/mL) to 100-mL volumetric flasks step-by-step
and add water up to the marked line.

Note (1) This is an example of preparation; prepare an amount as appropriate.

(2) A reagent of no less than 98 % (mass fraction) in purity as guanylurea sulfate is
commercially sold.

Comment 1 Guanylurea sulfate is commercially sold by Kanto Chemical Co., Inc. and
Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

(3) Apparatus and instruments: Apparatus and instruments are as shown below:
a) High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC): HPLC specified in JIS K 0124
that satisfies following requirements.
1) Column: A 7.5-mm inner diameter 100-mm long stainless steel column tube filled
with weak acid ion-exchange resin.
2) Column bath: A column bath whose temperature can be adjusted to 30 ºC - 45 ºC.
3) Detector: An absorptiometric detector that can measure at wavelength around 190
nm.
b) Magnetic stirrer
c) High speed centrifugal separator: A centrifugal separator that can work at 8000 × g –
10000 × g.
573
 Comment 2 A column is sold under the production name Asahipak ES-502C 7C.

(4) Test procedures

(4.1) Extraction: Conduct extraction as shown below.
(4.1.1) Powdery test sample
a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it into a 200-mL ground-in stopper
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of water and stir it with a magnetic stirrer for about 10 minutes.
c) After allowing to stand still, transfer a supernatant solution (3) to a 1.5-mL ground-in
stopper centrifugal precipitate tube (4).
d) Centrifuge at 8000 × g – 10000 × g centrifugal forces for about five minutes (5) to make
supernatant as the sample solution.

Note (3) If there is a possibility that the guanyourea nitrogen (Gy-N) concentration in the
sample solution will exceed the maximum limit of the calibration curve, dilute a
predetermined amount of supernatant with water.
(4) The ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube should be made of
polypropylene, etc. to not affect the measurement.
(5) 7.2-cm – 8.9-cm of rotor radius and 10000 rpm of revolutions makes about 8100
× g – 10000 × g centrifugal forces.

(4.1.2) Fluid test sample

a) Weigh 1.00 g of an analytical sample, and put it in a 100-mL volumetric flask.
b) Add about 50 mL of water and shake to mix.
c) Add water up to the marked line (6) and transfer to a 1.5-mL ground-in stopper
centrifugal precipitate tube (4).
d) Centrifuge at 8000 × g – 10000 × g centrifugal forces for about five minutes (5) to make
supernatant as the sample solution.

Comment 3 Instead of procedures in (4.1.1) c) – d) or (4.1.2) c) - d), it is allowed to

filter with a membrane filter (aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made
of hydrophilic PTFE and the filtrate can be the sample solution.

(4.2) Measurement: Conduct measurement according to JIS K 0124 and as shown below.
Specific measurement procedures are according to the operation method of a High
Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) used in measurement.
a) Measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC):
Set up the measurement conditions for a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph
(HPLC) considering the following example:
1) Column: A weak acid ion-exchange resin column (7.5-mm inner diameter, 100-mm
long, 5-µm – 10-µm particle diameter)
2) Temperature of Column bath: 40 ºC
3) Eluent (1): Dissolve 3.92 g of potassium dihydrogenphosphate and 0.12 g of
phosphoric acid in water to make 1000 mL. Filter with a membrane filter (aperture
diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic PTFE.
4) Flow rate: 0.6 mL/min
5) Injection rate: 10 μL
6) Detector: An absorptiometric detector, measurement wavelength: 190 nm

574
 Comment 4 Eluent may be prepared as follows. Dissolve 19.6 g of potassium
dihydrogenphosphate and 0.584 g of phosphoric acid with water to make 500
mL and store in a refrigerator. At the time of usage, dilute a predetermined
volume of the solution by a factor of 10 and filter with a membrane filter
(aperture diameter: no more than 0.5-µm) made of hydrophilic PTFE.

b) Calibration curve preparation

1) Inject 10 µL of respective standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation to
an HPLC, record a chromatogram at wavelength 190 nm and obtain the peak area.
2) Prepare a curve for the relationship between the guanylurea nitrogen (Gy-N)
concentration and the peak area at wavelength 190 nm of the respective standard
solutions for the calibration curve preparation.

c) Sample measurement
1) Subject 10 µL of the sample solution to the same procedure as in b) 1).
2) Obtain the guanylurea nitrogen (Gy-N) content from the peak area using the
calibration curve to calculate guanylurea nitrogen (Gy-N) in the analytical sample.

Comment 5 This test method enables the simultaneous measurement of biuret nitrogen
(B-N), urea nitrogen (U-N), dicyandiamide nitrogen (Dd-N), guanidine urea
(Gu-N) and guanylurea nitrogen (Gy-N). In this case, refer to 5.10.a
Comment 5.

(5) Flow sheet for testing method: The flow sheet for guanylurea nitrogen in fertilizers is
shown below:

1.00 g
200-mL ground-in stopper Erlenmeyer flask
analytical sample (powdery)
← 100 mL of water
Extraction Stir to mix, 10 minites

Stand to cool

1.00 g
100-mL volumetric flask
analytical sample (fluid)
←About 50 mL of water
Extraction Shake to mix
← Water (up to the marked line)

Ground-in stopper centrifugal precipitate tube,

Centrifugal separation
8000 ×g - 10000 ×g , 5 minutes

Measurement Liquid Chromatograph

Figure Flow sheet for guanylurea nitrogen in fertilizers

575
Appendix: The procedure to validate characteristics of testing methods

(1) Purposes
This article explains the procedure to validate characteristics of testing methods which will be
listed in the Testing Methods of Fertilizers. In addition, when testing institutes conduct a test
which is not included in the Testing Methods of Fertilizers, a procedure to evaluate the
validity of the test method should conform to a method stipulated in this article.
Additionally, this article targets chemical testing methods. However, this article is not
applicable to the extraction method of the content of effective figures (acid- , alkaline- ,
citrate- and water-soluble) in a powdery sample or a solidified fertilizer.

Comment 1 The contents of effective figures (acid- , alkaline- , citrate- and water-soluble)
are stipulated in a notification of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries. In addition, the change of measurement conditions such as an
extraction temperature may affect an observed value in some cases. Therefore,
no changes will be implemented in the extraction method of the contents of
effective figures in a powdery fertilizer and a solidified fertilizer for the
present and the application of this article is limited to the change of a
measurement method (including refining of extract, etc.).

(2) Definition of terminology

The definition of terminology in this article is as shown below.
a) Selectivity: Capability to accurately measure components subjected to analysis under
the existence of materials which seem to exist in a sample.
b) Trueness: The degree of agreement between the mean obtained from multiple
measurement results and the true value (1).
c) Precision: The degree of agreement among the independent measurement results which
are repeatedly measured under the determined conditions.
d) Repeatability: The precision of the measurement results of analytical samples, which
are regarded to be all identical, obtained under condition (repeatability conditions) that
independent measurement results are measured in a short time, using the same method,
in the same laboratory, by the same operator and with the same instrument.
e) Intermediate precision: The precision of a measurement result of analytical samples,
which are regarded to be all identical, obtained under condition (intermediate
conditions) that independent measurement results are measured, using the same method,
in the same laboratory and in different factors (such as different time and a different
operator).
f) Reproducibility: The precision of a measurement result of analytical samples, which
are regarded to be all identical, obtained under condition (reproducibility conditions)
that independent measurement results are measured, using the same method, in different
laboratories, by different operators and with different instruments.
g) Minimum Limit of Quantification (LOQ): The quantifiable lowest volume or
minimum concentration of a component subjected to analysis which is contained in an
analytical sample.
h) Minimum Limit of Detection (LOD): The detectable lowest volume or minimum
concentration of a component subjected to analysis which is contained in an analytical
sample.
i) Reference material: A material which is uniform and stable enough for one or more
prescribed properties, and is made suitable for the purpose of use in a measurement
process.

576
 j) Certified reference material: A reference material, whose values of one or more
prescribed properties are characterized by a reasonable metrological procedure, having a
certificate of attestation on which the characteristics of prescribed properties and their
uncertainty and metrological traceability are stated.
k) Blank sample: An analytical sample not containing components subjected to analysis
(2)
.
i) Addition sample: An analytical sample the content of whose components subjected to
analysis is known, or an analytical sample to which reference materials are added (3) (4)
or compounded (3).
m) Natural contamination sample: A test sample prepared from fertilizers which
naturally contain the components subjected to analysis such as harmful components.
n) Distribution sample: An analytical sample prepared from fertilizers (5) which are
manufactured in a fertilizer production factory, etc.
o) Surrogate: A material which is added to an analytical sample in order to conduct a
pre-process operation, correct yields in respective steps of analysis operation and
confirm recovery, whose chemical structure is identical or similar to a target
component.
p) SN ratio: Intensity ratio of a signal (response value) S originated from the analysis
target and a signal (usually noise) N based on the other factors.

Note (1) In reality, the certified value of a certified reference material, the chemical
composition of a compound, the added content of a reference material, etc. and
others.
(2) Reagents, etc. containing a target matrix can be used in the case that there is no
distribution fertilizer used as a blank sample for a recovery test and the
confirmation of the minimum limit of quantification, etc.
(3) Mix a component subjected to analysis with a mortar, etc. to sufficient
uniformity
(4) In the case of adding a standard solution, vaporize the solvent sufficiently
conducting measures such as letting it stand for one night.
(5) A fertilizer containing components subjected to analysis whose formation or
form changed due to a chemical or physical process (a granulation process, etc.).

References
1) JIS K 0211: Technical terms for analytical chemistry (General part) (2013)
2) JIS K 0214: Technical terms for analytical chemistry (Chromatography part) (2013)
3) JIS Q 0035: Reference materials−General and statistical principles for certification
(2008)
4) JIS Z 8101-2: Statistics−Vocabulary and symbols−Part 2: Statistical quality control
terms (1999)
5) JIS Z 8402-1: Accuracy (trueness and precision) of measurement methods and results -
Part 1: General principles and definitions (1999)
6） ALINORM 09/32/23 Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme: Repot of the
Thirtieth Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling,
Codex Alimentarius Commission Thirty-second Session (2009)
7） ICH Harmonised Tripartite Guideline, Validation of Analytical Procedures: Text and
Methodology Q2(R1), International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical
Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) (2005)

(3) Validation method

577
Test necessary items of (3.1) to (3.8) in a planned manner and estimate performance
parameters from the obtained results.
Confirm whether the estimated values of performance parameters are suitable to target values
(performance norm) respectively, and evaluate that the test method is validated if they are all
suitable.

(3.1) Scope of application

As a result of a validation test in a single laboratory and a collaborative study, if the result
is suitable up to reproducibility, the test method is evaluated as a validated test method as far
as the kind of a fertilizer used in the test and the range of concentration are concerned.
Therefore a laboratory where the said test is conducted can use the performance
(reproducibility, etc.) as a validated method through implementing internal quality control,
etc.
As a result of a validation test in a single laboratory, if the result is suitable to trueness,
repeatability and intermediate precision, etc., the test method is evaluated as a validated test
method as far as the laboratory where the test was conducted and as far as the kind of a
fertilizer used in the test and the range of concentration are concerned. Therefore another
laboratory which wants to introduce the test method is required to carry out the validation
anew in an individual laboratory with the above test method.

(3.2) Selectivity
(3.2.1) Case of Chromatography
Conduct a procedure for a blank sample and confirm that there is no peak (interference peak)
which affects the measurement of components subjected to analysis (6). In addition, in the case
of the simultaneous measurement of multi components, confirm that adjacent peaks are
sufficiently separated (6).

Note (6) Resolution (R) should be 1.0 or more at minimum though 1.5 or more is
preferable.

Comment 2 Resolution (R) is used as a separation indicator of peaks. If Resolution (R) is

1.5 or more, the adjacent two peaks are sufficiently separated and they do
not affect a measurement, whether a peak height or a peak area is used. If
Resolution (R) is 1.0 or more, a measurement using a peak height is not a
problem though the adjacent two peaks may overlap to some degree.
Resolution (R) can be obtained using a peak width by the formula (1a). In
addition, if the peak is a normal distribution, it can be obtained using a peak
width at half height by the formula (1b). With the data processing device of
a chromatograph, the formula (1b) is often used to obtain Resolution (R).

2 − t1
Resolution ( ) = ··· (1a)
1 (
× W1 + W2 )
2

1.18 × ( − )
Resolution( ) = ··· (1b)
,
+ ,

: Retention time of Peak 1 : Retention time of Peak 2

: Peak width of Peak 1 : Peak width of Peak 2

578
 ,
: Peak width at half height of Peak 1

,
: Peak width at half height of Peak 2

(3.2.2) Case of a method other than Chromatography (7)

Conduct a procedure for a blank sample and confirm that there is no response which
originates from other components than a component subjected to analysis and can be a factor
of positive error of a quantification value (8).

Note (7) A test method such as Molecular absorption spectrometry, Atomic absorption
spectrometry or Titration analysis which does not isolate with a measurement
instrument.
(8) Absorbance, titer, etc.

References
1) AOAC Official Methods of Analysis Appendix K: Guidelines for Dietary Supplements
and Botanicals, AOAC INTERNATIONAL (2012)
2) JIS K 0114: General rules for gas chromatography (2012)
3) JIS K 0124: General rules for high performance liquid chromatography (2011)
4) The notification by the Director of Evaluation and Licensing Division, Pharmaceutical
and Food Safety Bureau, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: “Guideline on
Bioanalytical Method Validation in Pharmaceutical Development”, July 11, 2013,
Yaku-shoku-Sinsa-Hatsu-0711 No.1 (2013)

(3.3) Calibration curve

Measure respective standard solutions for the calibration curve preparation of the
concentration or the content (9) of level 6 to 8 a few times (10) to make a figure plotting the
obtained signals (11) as a function of the concentration or the content of a component subjected
to analysis and evaluate its linearity visually using the figure.
If linearity is recognized, calculate the inclination (b) and the intercept (a) of a calibration
curve, its confidence interval and the coefficient of determination (r2) using a statistical
method such as the calculation of a regression equation by the least square method. Moreover
make the plot of residuals (12) in respective levels.

Note (9) The blank test solution for the calibration curve preparation can be included.
(10) In order to avoid nonlinear confusion due to the variation of sensitivity, etc.,
conduct measurements randomly for each replicate determination.
(11) Absorbance, fluorescence intensity, peak height, peak area, etc.
(12) The difference between a signal obtained by measurement and a signal
estimated using a regression equation.

Comment 3 It is recommended that the 95% confidence interval of an intercept (a)

includes the origin (0).
Comment 4 Though it is usable if the coefficient of determination (r2) is 0.99 or more, it
is recommended that the coefficient of determination (r2) is 0.999 or more
for a precise analysis. If it is less than 0.99, use the equation of a higher
order or study the conversion of a numerical value.
Comment 5 The mean of residuals is 0 and the residuals indicate a random pattern.

References
579
 1) AOAC Official Methods of Analysis Appendix K: Guidelines for Dietary Supplements
and Botanicals, AOAC INTERNATIONAL (2012)
2) Thompson, M., Ellison, S.L.R, Wood, R., Harmonized guidelines for single-laboratory
validation of methods of analysis, Pure & Appl. Chem. 74 (5), 835–855 (2002)
3) CLSI EP9 A2 Ed. 2, Method Comparison and Bias Estimation Using Patient Samples,
Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (2002)

(3.4) Trueness
As the estimation method of trueness, the methods are recommended in the following order.
(1) Use of a certified reference material (3.4.1), (2) Comparison with an observed value by a
validated method (3.4.2) and (3) Recovery test (3.4.3).
In addition, if a surrogate is used, it is recommended that a recovery is about 40% or more.

(3.4.1) Use of a certified reference material

With regard to a component which has matrixes similar to a fertilizer subjected to test and can
use a certified reference material containing components subjected to measurement of the
concentration in a measurement level, conduct repeatability testing using 3 or more analytical
samples (n) according to the test method of the certified reference material. As a result, the
mean of the observed values should be within the warning level to the certified value
(characteristic value) or the absolute value of the difference between the mean of the observed
values and the certified value (characteristic value) should not exceed 2 times of the standard
uncertainty composed of respective uncertainties of the mean of the observed values and the
certified value (13).

Comment 6 A warning limit is given using the formula (2) which is obtained from a
collaborative study for the characterization of a certified reference material.

A warning limit for a certified value (μ)

= ±2× ( − )+ = ±2× + ··· (2)

µ: Certified value
s : Reproducibility standard deviation in a collaborative study
s : Repeatability standard deviation in a collaborative study (14)
n: The number of analytical samples to repeatability test
s : Pure between-laboratory standard deviation in a collaborative study

Note (13) The evaluation procedure of the difference between a measurement result and a
certified value (characteristic value) is shown in Reference 1 Procedure to
compare an observed value and a certified value.
(14) It may be expressed as within-laboratory standard deviation ( ) in some cases.

(3.4.2) Use of another validated test method

For a component for which a certified reference material is not usable but another validated
test method (hereinafter referred to as “a standard test method”) is applicable, confirm that the
condition a) or b) is satisfied.

a) In case 12 or more samples are available: Conduct respective tests of 12 or more test
samples composed of addition samples, natural contamination samples or distribution
580
 samples according to a new test method and a standard test method, create the correlation
chart of observed values with two methods for each sample and calculate the inclination
(b) and the intercept (a) of a regression line, and a correlation coefficient (r). Further
confirm a prediction interval.
However, in case that the width between the minimum and the maximum observed value
is small, conduct the paired samples t-test to confirm that a significant difference is not
observed.

Comment 7 It is recommended that the 95% confidence interval of an inclination (b)

includes 1, the 95% confidence interval of an intercept (a) includes the origin
(0) and the correlation coefficient (r) is no less than 0.99.

b) In case fewer samples are available: With regard to 3 or more test samples of
different concentration, conduct respective repeatability addition tests using 4 analytical
samples according to the new test method and a standard test method, confirm the
homoscedasticity of the results of 2 groups and conduct a t-test for each concentration to
confirm that significant difference is not observed under the two-sided significant level of
5%.

(3.4.3) In case neither certified reference material nor other validated test methods are
usable
For 3 or more test samples of different concentration, conduct respective repeatability tests
using 3 analytical samples and evaluate by obtaining the recovery using the mean of the
observed values. The criteria of the trueness are shown in Separate sheet: The target of
trueness and the criteria of precision in respective concentration levels.

References
1) AOAC Official Methods of Analysis Appendix K: Guidelines for Dietary Supplements
and Botanicals, AOAC INTERNATIONAL (2012)
2) Thompson, M., Ellison, S.L.R, Wood, R.,: Harmonized guidelines for single-laboratory
validation of methods of analysis, Pure & Appl. Chem. 74 (5), 835–855 (2002)
3) Linsinger, T.,: Comparison of a measurement result with the certified value, European
Reference Materials' application note 1, European Commission - Joint Research Centre
Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) (2010)
4) Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme: Procedural manual Twenty-second
edition, Codex Almentarius Commission (2013)
5) ICH Harmonised Tripartite Guideline: Validation of Analytical Procedures: Text and
Methodology Q2(R1), International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical
Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) (2005)

(3.5) Precision
Evaluate reproducibility and repeatability by a collaborative study (3.5.1). Or evaluate an
intermediate precision and repeatability by a repeatability test (3.5.2).

(3.5.1) Reproducibility and repeatability by a collaborative study

The number of laboratories to obtain effective data should be 8 or more (15). Conduct
undisclosed duplicate collaborative studies for 5 or more kinds of samples with different
concentration. Obtain reproducibility and repeatability from the observed values (16) to
evaluate.
Criteria to evaluate these precisions are shown in Separate sheet: The target of trueness
and the criteria of precision in respective concentration levels.
581
 Note (15) In case the number of laboratories which have required facility/instruments is
limited, this should be 5 or more.
(16) The calculation method is shown in Reference 2: Calculation of
reproducibility or intermediate precision and repeatability

(3.5.2) Intermediate precision and repeatability by a repeatability test in a single

laboratory on different days
Conduct a duplicate test (17) per test day for 5 to 7 days using two analytical samples of
different concentration which is included in a normal range (18). Obtain intermediate precision
and repeatability from the observed values (19) to evaluate.
Criteria to evaluate these precisions are shown in Separate sheet: The target of trueness
and the criteria of precision in respective concentration levels.

Note (17) The data of internal quality control can be used.

(18) It is not necessary for the same tester to conduct a test through 5 to 7 days.
(19) The calculation method is shown in Reference 2: Calculation of
reproducibility or intermediate precision and repeatability

References
1) AOAC Official Methods of Analysis Appendix K: Guidelines for Dietary Supplements
and Botanicals, AOAC INTERNATIONAL (2012)
2) Thompson, M., Ellison, S.L.R, Wood, R.,: Harmonized guidelines for single-laboratory
validation of methods of analysis, Pure & Appl. Chem. 74 (5), p. 835-855 (2002)
3) AOAC Official Methods of Analysis Appendix D: Guidelines for Collaborative Study
Procedures To Validate Characteristics of a Method of Analysis, AOAC
INTERNATIONAL (2005)
4) Horwitz，W.: Protocol for the Design，Conduct and Interpretation of
Method-Performance Studies，Pure & Appl. Chem.，67 (2), p. 331-343 (1995)

(3.6) Minimum Limit of Quantification (LOQ)

Estimate Minimum Limit of Quantification according to (3.6.1) to (3.6.3). Prepare test
samples which include the concentration estimated to be near the Minimum Limit of
Quantification step by step as necessary. And conduct respective repeatability tests using 3
analytical samples and define the concentration of a prepared test sample as the Minimum
Limit of Quantification, where the mean of the obtained values using the prepared test sample
is suitable to the target value of trueness.

Comment 8 In case permissible content and equivalent level is 1.0 mg/kg or more, the
Minimum Limit of Quantification (LOQ) of harmful components and
restricted components, etc. should be no more than 1/5 of the permissible
content and equivalent level. In case permissible content and equivalent level
is no more than 1.0 mg/kg, the Minimum Limit of Quantification (LOQ)
should be no more than 2/5 of the permissible content. Moreover, it is
recommended that the Minimum Limit of Quantification of main
components/major components and material components should be no more
than 1/5 of minimum volume to be contained and the minimum content of a
distribution fertilizer. In addition, in case the Minimum Limit of
Quantification exceeds 1/5 of these minimum volumes, conduct the above
582
 mentioned repeatability test, confirm the Minimum Limit of Quantification
and state clearly the fact in the applicable range of a test method.
Comment 9 There are some methods to estimate Minimum Limit of Quantification. The
methods differ depending on whether they are based on an instrument
analysis or not and depending on instruments used. A method different from
the methods shown in (3.6.1) to (3.6.3) is allowed. However, the definition of
a method and Minimum Limit of Quantification by the method should be
clearly stated.

(3.6.1) Estimation method by a repeatability test

With regard to a test sample with concentration near Minimum Limit of Quantification,
conduct a repeatability test using 7 to 10 analytical samples, obtain repeatability standard
deviation and estimate Minimum Limit of Quantification in an analytical sample by the
formula (3).

Estimated value of Minimum Limit of Quantification (LOQ)

= 10 × ··· (3)

: Repeatability standard deviation

(3.6.2) Estimation method using a calibration curve

In case a calibration curve is linear, estimate Minimum Limit of Quantification (LOQ) in an
analytical sample by the formula (4) using the standard deviation of the residuals of a
calibration curve or estimated signals in concentration 0 and the inclination of a calibration
curve.

Estimated value of Limit of Quantitation (LOQ)

10 ×
= ··· (4)

: The standard deviation of residuals. Or the standard deviation of signasls

in concentration 0, which are estimated from a regression line

: The inclination of a calibration curve

(3.6.3) Estimation method using an SN ratio

In a test method such as Chromatography, etc. which has a baseline noise, calculate from a
concentration in an analytical solution whose SN ratio is 10 to 1 at the peak and estimate
Minimum Limit of Quantification (LOQ) in an analytical sample.

References
1) ICH Harmonised Tripartite Guideline, Validation of Analytical Procedures: Text and
Methodology Q2(R1), International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical
Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) (2005)
2）The notification by the Director of Evaluation and Licensing Division, Pharmaceutical
and Food Safety Bureau, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: The text

583
 (operation method) on Bioanalytical Method Validation”, October 28, 1997, Iyaku-Shin
No.338 (1997)

(3.7) Minimum Limit of Detection (LOD)

Estimate Minimum Limit of Detection according to (3.7.1) to (3.7.3).

Comment 10 There are some methods to estimate Minimum Limit of Detection. The
methods differ depending on whether they are based on an instrument
analysis or not and depending on instruments used. A method different from
the methods shown in (3.7.1) to (3.7.3) is allowed. However, the definition
of the method and Minimum Limit of Detection by the method should be
clearly stated.

(3.7.1) Estimation method by a repeatability test

With regard to a test sample or a blank sample with concentration near Minimum Limit of
Quantification, conduct repeatability tests using 7 to 10 analytical samples, obtain
repeatability standard deviation and estimate Minimum Limit of Detection in an analytical
sample by the formula (5).

Estimated value of Minimum Limit of of Detection (LOD)in an analytical sample

= 2 × ( − 1, 0.05) × ··· (5)

: Repeatability standard deviation

( − 1, 0.05): The Student value of Significance Level 5% (one side) (20)
: The number of analytical samples in a repeatability test

Note (20) In case of a repeatability test using 7 analytical samples, the value is 1.94. In
case of using 10 analytical samples, the value is 1.83.

(3.7.2) Estimation method using a calibration curve

In case a calibration curve is linear, estimate Minimum Limit of Detection (LOD) in an
analytical sample by the formula (6) using the standard deviation of the residuals of a
calibration curve or estimated signals in concentration 0 and the inclination of a calibration
curve.

Estimated value of Limit of of Detection (LOD)

2 × (n − 2, 0.05) ×
= ··· (6)

: The standard deviation of residuals. Or the standard deviation of signasls

in concentration 0, which are estimated from a regression line
: The inclination of a calibration curve
(n − 2, 0.05): The Student value of Significance Level 5% (one side)
: The number of a measurement point on a calibration curve

(3.7.3) Estimation method using an SN ratio

In a test method such as Chromatography, etc. which has a baseline noise, calculate from a
concentration in an analytical solution whose SN ratio is 3 to 1 at the peak and estimate
Minimum Limit of Detection (LOD) in an analytical sample.

584
References
1) ICH Harmonised Tripartite Guideline, Validation of Analytical Procedures: Text and
Methodology Q2(R1), International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical
Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) (2005)
2）The notification by the Director of Evaluation and Licensing Division, Pharmaceutical
and Food Safety Bureau, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: The text
(operation method) on Bioanalytical Method Validation”, October 28, 1997, Iyaku-Shin
No.338 (1997)

(3.8) Robustness
Robustness should be studied when an analysis method is developed, and the estimation
method depends on the type of analysis method to be developed. Robustness expresses the
reliability of an analysis method when its analysis conditions are intentionally changed. If an
observed value tends to be easily affected by the variation of an analysis condition, it is
necessary to consider a method to control an analysis condition appropriately or to state the
fact as a precaution in a testing method. The evaluation of robustness enables the
establishment of a series of parameters such as Resolution related to system conformance.
Similarly, the confirmation of these parameters ensures that the validation of an analysis
method is maintained in a daily analysis.
Typical variation factors are as follows.

(3.8.1) Common variation factors: Typical variation factors common to various kinds of
test methods are as follows.
a) Extraction time, extraction temperature
b) Stability of a test solution in respective steps
c) Reagent’s grade

(3.8.2) Variation factors in Chromatography, etc.: Typical variation factors of

measurements by Chromatography or refining by solid phase extraction are as follows.
a) Change of a column or a cartridge (A different lot or a different brand)
b) Influence by the variation of pH and composition of an eluent or a wash
c) Temperature
d) Flow rate
e) Influence of a matrix and effect of dilution

References
1) ICH Harmonised Tripartite Guideline, Validation of Analytical Procedures: Text and
Methodology Q2(R1), International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical
Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) (2005)
2）The notification by the Director of Evaluation and Licensing Division, Pharmaceutical
and Food Safety Bureau, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: The text
(operation method) on Bioanalytical Method Validation ”, October 28, 1997, Iyaku-Shin
No.338 (1997)
3) Thompson, M., Ellison, S.L.R, Wood, R.: Harmonized guidelines for single-laboratory
validation of methods of analysis, Pure & Appl. Chem. 74 (5), 835–855 (2002)

585
Reference 1: Procedure to compare an observed value and a certified value

Obtain the total mean (m) of the replication test results and the certified value (μ), and the
absolute value ( ) of the difference of the two values by the formula (R1.1). Next, obtain
the standard uncertainty ( ) of the certified value of a certified reference material by the
formula (R1.2), and obtain the standard uncertainty ( ) of the total mean by the formula
(R1.3). Calculate the combined standard uncertainty ( (∆ ) ) of by the formula (R1.4)
using the obtained and . Further, calculate an expanded uncertainty ( ∆ ) by the
formula (R1.5) using the coverage factor (k = 2).
Compare and ∆ to confirm that the criterion (the formula (R1.6)) is satisfied, that is,
is no more than ∆ .

The absolute value ( ) of the difference of the total mean of repeatability test results
and a certified value = | − | ··· (R1.1)

%
The standard uncertainty ( ) of the certified value = ··· (R1.2)

The standard uncertainty of the measurement of a total mean = ··· (R1.3)

√

The combined standard uncertainty (∆ ) of Δ = + ··· (R1.4)

The expanded uncertainty ∆ of = (∆ ) × (∆ ) = 2× (∆ ) ··· (R1.5)

Criterion ≦ ∆ ··· (R1.6)

： The total mean of observed values

µ： A certified value
% ： The expanded uncertainty of a certified value
： The coverage factor of an expanded uncertainty of a standard reference material
： Repeatability standard deviation
： The number of repeatability test samples
(∆ ) ： The coverage factor of an expanded uncertainty of ( (∆ ) = 2)

586
Reference 2: Calculation of reproducibility or intermediate precision and repeatability

(1) Structure of an observed value

An observed value (xij) in Table 1, as is shown in the formula (R2.1), consists of a true value
(μ), a variation (β) by a factor and a variation (e) by an accidental error under repeatability
conditions (hereinafter referred to as “an accidental error”). When p laboratories conduct a
collaborative study in which respective laboratories conduct repeatability tests using n
samples, the formula (R2.2) is introduced on the assumption that the distribution of β is
equivalent to N (0, ) which depends on a pure between-laboratory variation and the
distribution of e is equivalent to N (0, ) which depends on an accidental error. In addition,
when the same laboratory conducts replicate tests for p days using n samples on respective
test days, the formula (R2.3) is introduced on the assumption that the distribution of β is
equivalent to N (0, ( ) ) which depends on test days variation (factor T) and the distribution
of e is equivalent to N (0, ) which depends on an accidental error.

Ovserved value = + ＋ ··· (R2.1)

Observed value = ＋ 0, ＋ 0, ··· (R2.2)
Observed value = ＋ 0, ( ) ＋ 0, ··· (R2.3)

: True value
: Variation of a factor ：Accidental error
0, : Normal distribution of with the mean 0 and standard deviation
0, : Normal distrubution of with the mean 0 and standard deviation
: Pure between − laboratory variance : Repeatability variance
0, ( ) : Normal distribution of with the mean 0 and standard deviation ( )

( ) : Test days variance

Table 1 Test results of collaborative studies or repeatability tests on different days

Laboratory
Analytical sample number
or test day
(Factor) 1 2 3 ･･･ j ･･･ n
1 x11 x12 x13 ･･･ x1j ･･･ x1n
2 x21 X22 x23 ･･･ x 2j ･･･ x2n
3 x31 X32 x33 ･･･ x3j ･･･ x3n
･･･ ･･･ ･･･ ･･･ ･･･ ･･･ ･･･ ･･･
i xi1 Xi2 xi3 ･･･ x ij ･･･ xin
･･･ ･･･ ･･･ ･･･ ･･･ ･･･ ･･･ ･･･
p xp1 Xp2 xp3 ･･･ x pj ･･･ xpn

(2) Calculation procedure of reproducibility and repeatability of the results of a

collaborative study
(2.1) Estimation of true value and variance
In an actual statistical analysis, a true value ( ), a true and pure between-laboratory variance
( ) and a true repeatability variance ( ) are unknown. Therefore they are replaced with
estimated values obtained from the results of a collaborative study and are expressed as a
mean (m), a pure between-laboratory variance ( ) and a repeatability variance ( )
respectively.

587
(2.2) One-way analysis of variance
Exclude ineffective observed values which have clearly objective reasons such as deviation
from a protocol and malfunction of instruments from the report values by laboratories which
participated in a collaborative study. Further exclude outliers by conducting Cochran’s test
and Grubb’s test. And conduct one-way analysis of variance for the remaining results to
obtain the unbiased variance (V) of respective variation factors in Table 2.

Table 2 Table of one-way analysis of variance

Variation factor Sum of Degree of Unbiased variance Expectation of variance
squares freedom ( ) ( )
Between-laboratory −1 + ×
(L)
Accidental error (e) × ( − 1)

Comment 1 It is possible to conduct one-way analysis of variance easily using a

statistical program or a tool of a spreadsheet program. In this case, it should
be noted that different terminologies may be used (Between-laboratory (L)
→ Between-group, Accidental error (e) → Within-group, Unbiased variance
→ Mean square, etc.).
Comment 2 Unbiased variance (V) is calculated by (Sum of squares)/ (Degree of
freedom).

(2.3) The calculation of reproducibility and repeatability

The relation of the expectation of variance E (V) of respective factors in Table 2 holds true.
Therefore calculate repeatability variance (sr2) and pure between-laboratory variance ( ) by
the formula (R2.4) and (R2.5), and further calculate reproducibility variance (sR2) by the
formula (R2.6) (1) (2).

Repeatability variance ( )= ··· (R2.4)

−
Pure between − laboratory variance ( )= ··· (R2.5)
Reproducibility variance ( )= ＋ ··· (R2.6)

: The unbiased variance of a variation factor (accidental error ( ))

in the table of one − way analysis of variance (Table 2)
: The unbiased variance of a variation factor (between − laboratories ( ))
in the table of one − way analysis of variance (Table 2)

Calculate a repeatability standard deviation ( ) and a reproducibility standard deviation ( )

by the formula (R2.7) and (R2.8) using the obtained repeatability variance and reproducibility
variance, and further calculate a repeatability relative standard deviation (RSDr) and a
reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSDR) by the formula (R2.9) and (R2.10) (2) (3).

Repeatability standard deviation ( ) = ··· (R2.7)

Reproducibility standard deviation ( ) = ··· (R2.8)

Repeatability relative standard deviation( , %) = × 100 ··· (R2.9)

Reproducibility relative standard deviation( , %) = × 100 ··· (R2.10)

588
 : the total mean ( )of the effective data of collaborative study results

Note (1) In case < , assume = (that is, the pure between-laboratory variance
( ) = 0 in the formula (R2.5)) and let the formula (R2.6) form ＝ .
(2) The rounding of a numerical value is not executed in the middle of the
calculation.
(3) The mean and the standard deviation are expressed rounding to the digit of the
observed value. The relative standard deviation is expressed rounding to the first
decimal place.

(3) Calculation procedure of intermediate precision and repeatability by the replicate

test results on different days.
(3.1) Estimation of a true value and a variance
In an actual statistical analysis, a true value ( ), a true test days variance (σ(T)2) and a true
repeatability variance ( ) are unknown. Therefore they are replaced with estimated values
obtained from the replicate test results on different days and are expressed as a mean (m), test
days variance (s(T)2) and repeatability variance ( ) respectively.

(3.2) One-way analysis of variance

Conduct one-way analysis of variance for the replicate test results on different days to obtain
the unbiased variance (V) of respective variation factors in Table 3.

Table 3 Table of one-way analysis of variance

Variation factor Sum of Degree of Unbiased variance Expectation of variance
squares freedom ( ) ( )
Test days (T) −1 + × ( )
Accidental error (e) × ( − 1)

Comment 3 It is possible to conduct one-way analysis of variance easily using a

statistical program or a tool of a spreadsheet program. In this case, it should
be noted that different terminologies may be used (Test days (T) →
between-group, Accidental error (e) → within-group, Unbiased variance →
Mean square, etc.).
Comment 4 Unbiased variance (V) is calculated by (Sum of squares)/ (Degree of
freedom).

(3.3) The calculation of intermediate precision and repeatability

The relation of the expectation of variance E (V) of respective factors in Table 3 holds true.
Therefore calculate repeatability variance (sr2) and test days variance ( ( ) 2) by the formula
(R2.11) and (R2.12), and further calculate intermediate variance ( ( ) ) by the formula
(R2.13) (2) (4).

Repeatability variance ( )= ·· (R2.11)

−
Test days variance ( ) = ·· (R2.12)
Intermediate Variance ( ) = ( ) ＋ ·· (R2.13)

: The unbiased variance of a variation factor (accidental error ( ))

in the table of one − way analysis of variance (Table 3)
: The unbiased variance of a variation factor (test days ( ))
in the table of one − way analysis of variance (Table 3)
589
Calculate a repeatability standard deviation ( ) and an intermediate standard deviation ( ( ) )
by the formula (R2.14) and (R2.15) using the obtained estimated values of repeatability
variance and intermediate variance, and further calculate a repeatability relative standard
deviation (RSDr) and an intermediate relative standard deviation (RSDI(T)) by the formula
(R2.16) and (R2.17) (2) (3).

Repeatability standard deviation ( ) = ··· (R2.14)

Internediate standard deviation ( ) = ( ) ··· (R2.15)

Repeatability relative standard deviation( , %) = × 100 ··· (R2.16)

Internediate relative standard deviation ( ), % = × 100 ··· (R2.17)

: Total mean of the replicate test results on different days

Note (4) In case < , assume = (that is, the test days variance ( ( ) ) in the
formula (R2.12) = 0) and let the formula (R2.13) form ( ) ＝ .

(4) Examples of the calculation of intermediate precision and repeatability by the

replicate test results on different days.
An example of repeatability test results on different days of citric acid-soluble phosphoric
acid using sample 1 and sample 2 containing phosphite is shown in Table 4. Conduct one-way
analysis of variance for the test results of respective samples to obtain the unbiased variance
(V) of respective variation factors (Table 5).
Examples of the calculation of intermediate precision and repeatability for the sample 1 and
sample 2 using the formula (R2.11) to the formula (R2.17) are shown in Table 6-1 and 6-2. In
addition, the results of respective standard deviation are expressed rounding to the digit of the
observed value and the results of the respective relative standard deviations are expressed
rounding to the first decimal place.

Table 4 Example of repeatability test results on different days (mass fraction (%))
Test day (factor) Total
Sample 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 mean
No ( )1)
51.20 52.15 51.00 51.35 51.35 51.38 51.28
Sample 1 51.38
51.45 51.85 51.09 51.28 51.10 51.38 51.43
5.18 4.90 5.01 5.15 5.14 5.13 5.21
Sample 2 5.10
5.00 5.12 5.06 5.14 5.07 5.11 5.18
1) The mean is expressed rounding to the digit of the observed value.

Table 5 Table of one-way analysis of variance

Sample Variation factor Sum Degree Unbiased varianceExpectation of variance
No of of ( ) ( )
squares freedom
Test days (T) 1.0570 6 0.17616 σ + 2 × σ( )
Sample 1
Accidental error (e) 0.1253 7 0.01789 σ
Test days (T) 0.0478 6 0.00797 +2× ( )
Sample 2
Accidental error (e) 0.0448 7 0.00640

590
Table 6-1 Calculation of intermediate precision and repeatability using the sample 1 replicate test
results on different days1）
Variation factor Unit Formula Calculation Result
Repeatability variance
= = 0.01789 0.01789
( )
Repeatability standard Mass fraction
＝ = √0.01789 0.13
deviation( )2） (%)
Repeatability relative
0.1338
standard deviation % ＝ × 100 ＝ × 100 0.3
( )3） 51.38
− 0.17616 − 0.01789
Test days variance ( ) ＝ ＝ 0.07914
2
Intermediate variance
＝ ( ) ＋ ＝0.07914＋0.01789 0.09703
( )
Intermediate standard Mass fraction
＝ ＝√0.09703 0.31
deviation ( ) 2） (%) ( )

Intermediate relative
( ) 0.3115
standard deviation % ＝ × 100 ＝ × 100 0.6
3） 51.38
( )
1) The rounding of a numerical value is not executed in the middle of the calculation.
2) The standard deviation is expressed rounding to the digit of the observed value.
3) The relative standard deviation is expressed rounding to the first decimal place.

Table 6-2 Calculation of intermediate precision and repeatability using the sample 2 replicate test
results on different days1）
Variation factor Unit Formula Calculation Result
Repeatability variance
= = 0.00640 0.00640
( )
Repeatability standard Mass fraction
＝ = √0.00640 0.08
deviation( )2） (%)
Repeatability relative
0.0800
standard deviation % ＝ × 100 ＝ × 100 1.6
( )3） 5.10
− 0.00797 − 0.00640
Test days variance ( ) ＝ ＝ 0.00078
2
Intermediate variance
＝ ( ) ＋ ＝0.00078＋0.00640 0.00718
( )
Intermediate standard Mass fraction
＝ ＝√0.00718 0.08
deviation ( ) 2） (%) ( )

Intermediate relative
( ) 0.0848
standard deviation % ＝ × 100 ＝ × 100 1.7
3） 5.10
( )
Footnote: Refer to Table 6-1

591
 Separate sheet: The target of trueness and the criteria of precision in respective
concentration levels

The target of trueness (recovery) and the criteria of precision in respective concentration
levels to evaluate Chromatography (1) and test methods other than Chromatography are shown
in Table 1 and Table 2.
The target of trueness is generally within the recovery of Table 1. As for precision, although
the criteria are recommended to be within the respective relative standard deviations of Table
2, the permissible level may exceed them by a factor of 1.5.

Note (1) Gas chromatography, Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, High

Performance Liquid Chromatography, High Performance Liquid
Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Ion Chromatography, etc.

Table 1 The target of trueness in respective concentration levels

Chromatography Test methods other than
Chromatography
Concentration level Recovery (%) Recovery (%)
≧25 % (mass fraction) 90～108 98～102
≧10 % (mass fraction) 90～108 97～103
≧1 % (mass fraction) 85～110 96～104
≧0.1 % (mass fraction) 85～110 94～106
≧100 mg/kg 80～115 92～108
≧10 mg/kg 70～120 90～110
≧1 mg/kg 70～120 85～115
≧100 μg/kg 70～120 85～115
≧10 μg/kg 70～120 80～120
<10 μg/kg 60～125 75～125

Table 2 Criteria of precision 1) in respective concentration levels

Chromatography Other than Chromatography
Reproducibility Intermediate Repeatability Reproducibility Intermediate Repeatability
relative relative relative relative relative relative
Concentration level
standard standard standard standard standard standard
deviation (%) deviation (%) deviation (%) deviation (%) deviation (%) deviation (%)
≧25 % (mass fraction) 8 6.5 4 2.5 2 1
≧10 % (mass fraction) 8 6.5 4 3 2.5 1.5
≧1 % (mass fraction) 8 6.5 4 4 3.5 2
≧0.1 % (mass fraction) 8 6.5 4 6 4.5 3
≧100 mg/kg 8 6.5 4 8 6.5 4
≧10 mg/kg 11 9 6 11 9 6
≧1 mg/kg 16 13 8 16 13 8
≧100 μg/kg 22 18 11 22 18 11
≧10 μg/kg 22 18 11 22 18 11
<10 μg/kg 22 18 11 22 18 11
1) Though the precision is recommended to be within the respective relative standard
deviations, the permissible level is up to 1.5 times as much as them.

592