ISO 17294-1:2004 specifies the principles of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and provides general directions for the use of this technique for determining elements in water. Generally, the measurement is carried out in water, but gases, vapours or fine particulate matter may be introduced too. ISO 17294 applies to the use of ICP-MS for water analysis.
The ultimate determinations of the elements are described in the separate parts of ISO 17294, one for each series of elements and matrix. The other parts of ISO 17294 refer the reader to the guidelines presented in ISO 17294-1:2004 for the basic principles of the method and for configuration of the instrument.