PDFWAC 16-200-7062

What method must I use to analyze the total metals contained in my commercial fertilizer?

(1) You must prepare your sample of commercial fertilizer using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") sample preparation method 3050B (except when preparing a sample for analysis of mercury*). You must analyze your commercial fertilizer for the total concentration of each of the following nine metals in each commercial fertilizer using one or more of the EPA analysis methods listed in Table 1. All methods are described in EPA's SW-846, Third Edition.
Table 1. Acceptable Sample Preparation and Analysis Methods for Total Metals
Metal
Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP)
Atomic Absorption
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP/MS)
Arsenic (As)
6010, 6010A, 6010B
7060A, 7061A
6020
Cadmium (Cd)
6010, 6010A, 6010B
7131A
6020
Cobalt (Co)
6010, 6010A, 6010B
7201
6020
Lead (Pb)
6010, 6010A, 6010B
7420, 7421
6020
Molybdenum (Mo)
6010, 6010A, 6010B
7480
6020
Nickel (Ni)
6010, 6010A, 6010B
7520, 7521
6020
Selenium (Se)
6010, 6010A, 6010B
7740, 7741A
6020
Zinc (Zn)
6010, 6010A, 6010B
7951
6020
Mercury (Hg)
 
7470A*, 7471A*
 
 
 
 
 
Sample Preparation
3050B
3050B
3050B
Copies of SW-846 Third Edition and all associated updates are available from: The Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Washington, DC 20402, (202) 512-1800, and from the Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Center, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4650 or 800-553-NTIS.
*Since sample preparation method 3050B cannot provide for an analysis of mercury, when you prepare a sample for analysis of mercury you must use the sample preparation method established for analysis method 7470A when using method 7470A to analyze your sample and the sample preparation method established for analysis method 7471A when using method 7471A to analyze your product.
(2) Other sample preparation and analysis methods for total concentration of each metal in each commercial fertilizer may be used only under the following conditions:
(a) You must submit a request to the department, in writing, detailing the sample preparation and analysis methods, minimum detection limits and quality assurance, quality control documentation and a side-by-side comparison of the analysis results from the alternative method to one of the approved methods' analysis results of the same material; and
(b) The department, after reviewing the request, may approve the sample preparation or analysis method only if the capability of the method meets or exceeds the sensitivity and accuracy of the applicable method listed in the Table 1.
(3) Any commercial fertilizer product registered prior to the enactment of these provisions using any sample preparation or analysis method not authorized by subsection (1) or (2) must be registered in accordance with subsection (1) or (2) in the next annual commercial fertilizer registration cycle.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.54 RCW. WSR 99-02-035, § 16-200-7062, filed 12/30/98, effective 1/30/99.]