ISO Standard Norms and Instruments for UV/Vis Spectroscopy

UV/Vis Spectrophotometric Method Ensuring Consistency and Accuracy

ISO standards in UV/Vis spectroscopy are a set of guidelines and recommendations established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to ensure consistency and accuracy in UV/Vis spectroscopy measurements.

These standards cover areas such as instrument calibration, wavelength accuracy, and spectral bandwidth, among others, and are designed to improve the quality of UV/Vis measurements and the comparability of results obtained by different laboratories.


ISO- Standard Norms and Compatible Instruments for UV/Vis Spectroscopy

ISO 315-1984 (E). Nickel in Manganese Ores and Concentrates

This International Standard specifies two methods for determining the nickel content in manganese ores and concentrates, with Method A being spectrometric and Method B utilizing flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

ISO 317:1984. Arsenic in Manganese Ores and Concentrates

This International Standard specifies a spectrometric method for determining the arsenic content in manganese ores and concentrates, applicable to products with arsenic content ranging from 0.001% to 0.2% (m/m).

ISO 619:1981. Chromium in Manganese Ores

This International Standard specifies a spectrometric method for the determination of chromium in manganes ore. Method I is applicable to manganese ores having chromium contents less than 0.1 % (m/m) and method II is applicable to manganese ores having chromium contents greater than 0.1 % (m/m).

ISO 622:2025. Phosphorus in Solid Mineral Fuels

This International Standard specifies a reduced molybdophosphate photometric method for the determination of the total phosphorus content of hard coal, lignites, and coke.

ISO 714:1975. Iron in Zinc

This International Standard specifies a spectrometric method for the determination of iron in Zinc defined in ISO/R 752, provided that the copper content does not exceed 0,01 %. It is suitable for the determination of iron contents between 0.001 and 0.1 %.

ISO 792:1973. Iron in Magnesium and Magnesium Alloys

This International Standard specifies a photometric method for determination of iron in magnesium and magnesium alloys. The method is applicable to the determination of iron content between 0.002 and 0.05 %.

ISO 793:1973. Iron in Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys

This International Standard specifies a photometric method for determination of iron in aluminium and aluminium alloys using orthophenanthroline. The method is applicable to the determination of iron content between 0.05 and 2.50 %.

ISO 794:1976. Copper in Magnesium and Magnesium Alloys

This International Standard specifies an oxalyldihydrazide photometric method for the determination of copper content in magnesium and magnesium alloys. (0.002 and 0.4 % (m/m)).

ISO 795:1976. Copper in Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys

This International Standard specifies an oxalyldihydrazide photometric method for the determination of copper content in aluminium and aluminium alloys. The method is applicable to the determination of copper content between 0.002 and 0.8 % (m/m).

ISO 808:1973. Silicon in Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys

This International Standard specifies a photometric method for the determination of silicon in aluminium and aluminium alloys.The method is applicable to the determination of silicon content between 0.02 and 0.4 %.


ISO 809:1973. Manganese in Magnesium and Magnesium Alloys (0.01 and 0.8 %)

This International Standard specifies a photometric method for the determination of manganese in magnesium and magnesium alloys which do not contain zirconium, rare earths, or thorium. The method is applicable to the determination of manganese content between 0.01 and 0.8 %.

ISO 810:1973. Manganese in Magnesium and Magnesium Alloys (<0.01 %)

This International Standard specifies a photometric method for the determination of manganese in magnesium and magnesium alloys which do not contain zirconium, rare earths, or thorium. The method is applicable to the determination of manganese content less than 0.01 %.

ISO 886:1973. Manganese Content in Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys (0.005 and 1.5 %)

This International Standard specifies a photometric method for the determination of manganese in aluminium and aluminium alloys. (0.005 and 1.5 %).

ISO 1118:1978. Titanium in Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys (0.005 and 0.3 % (m/m))

This International Standard specifies a general method for the spectrophotometric determination of titanium in aluminium and aluminium alloys. The method is applicable to products having titanium contents between 0.005 and 0.3 % (m/m).

ISO 1178:1976. Soluble Zirconium in Magnesium Alloys

This International Standard specifies an alizarin sulphonate photometric method for the determination of soluble zirconium in magnesium alloys containing zirconium as an alloying element. The method is applicable to alloys having zirconium contents between 0.1 and 1.0 %(m/m).

ISO 1388-7:1981 Part 7. Methanol Content in Ethanol

This part of ISO 1388 specifies a photometric method for the determination of the methanol content of ethanol for industrial use. The method is applicable to products having methanol contents between 0.01 and 0.20 % (V/ V).

ISO 1388-3:1981 Part 3. Carbonyl Compounds Content in Ethanol

This part of ISO 1388 specifies a photometric method for estimation of the content of carbonyl compounds present in small amounts in ethanol for industrial use. The method is applicable to products having carbonyl compounds contents, expressed as acetaldehyde, between 0.000 25 and 0.01 % (m/m).

ISO 1620:1976. Silica Content of Cryolite

This International Standard specifies a reduced molybdosilicate spectrophotometric method for the determination of the silica content of natural and artificial cryolite and of natural and synthetic materials having a molar ratio (NaF/AIF3) between 3 and 1.7, approximately.

ISO 1657:1986. Iron Content in Raw Rubber, and Rubber Latex

This International Standard specifies a 1 ,10-phenanthroline photometric method for the determination of 5 to 1000 mg/kg of iron in uncompounded natural rubber, uncompounded synthetic rubbers which do not contain chlorine, and the corresponding uncompounded latices.

ISO 1694:1976. Iron Content of Natural and Artificial Cryolite

This International Standard specifies a 1 ,10-phenanthroline photometric method for the determination of the iron content of natural and artificial cryolite and of natural and synthetic materials having a molar ratio (NaF/AlF3) between 3 and 1.7, approximately.

ISO 1975:1973. Silicon in Magnesium and Magnesium Alloys

This International Standard specifies a spectrophotometric method using the reduced silicomolybdic complex for the determination of silicon in magnesium and magnesium alloys. This method is applicable to the determination of silicon content between 0.01 and 0.6 %.

ISO 1812:1976. Iron in Copper Alloys

This International Standard specifies a 1 ,10-phenanthroline spectrophotometric method for the determination of the iron content of copper alloys. The method is applicable to the determination of iron contents up to 0.4 % (m/m) in any of the copper alloys listed in ISO publications.

ISO 2353:1972. Manganese in Magnesium Alloys

This International Standard specifies a photometric method for the determination of manganese in magnesium alloys containing zirconium, and/or rare earths, and/or thorium, and/or siIver.

ISO 2354:1976. Insoluble Zirconium in Magnesium Alloys

This International Standard specifies an alizarin sulphonate photometric method for the determination of insoluble zirconium in magnesium alloys containing zirconium as an alloying element. The method is applicable to alloys having insoluble zirconium contents between 0.02 and 0.3 % (m/m).

ISO 2460:1973. Iron Content of Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate

This International Standard specifies a 1 ,10-phenanthroline photometric method for the determination of the iron content of sodium hydrogen carbonate for industrial use.

ISO 2598-2:1992 Part 2. Silicon in Iron Ores

ISO 2598 specifies a reduced molybdosilicate spectrophotometric method for the determination of the silicon content of iron ore.


ISO 2828:1973. Fluorine in Aluminium Oxide

This International Standard specifies a spectrophotometric method, using alizarin complexone and lanthanum chloride, for the determination of the fluorine content of aluminium oxide primarily used for the production of aluminium. (> 0.003 %.)


ISO 2829:1973. Phosphorus Content of Aluminium Oxide

This international standard specifies a spectrophotometric method using reduced ammonium phosphomolybdate for the determination of the phosphorous content of aluminium oxide primarily used for the production of aluminium.

ISO 2865:1973. Boron in Aluminium Oxide

This International Standard specifies a curcumin spectrophotometric method for the determination of the boron content of aluminium oxide primarily used for the production of aluminium.

ISO 2881:1992. Nicotine in Tobacco

This International Standard specifies a reference method for the spectrometric determination of alkaloids, expressed as nicotine, in tobacco.

ISO 2913:1975. Cystine Plus Cysteine in Hydrolysates in Wool

This International Standard specifies a method for the colorimetric determination of cystine plus cysteine in wool hydrolysates. The method is applicable to all-wool textiles in any form, namely loose fibre, sliver, roving, yarn, or cloth.

ISO 2962:2010. Total Phosphorus Content of Cheese and Processed Cheese Products

This International Standard specifies a molecular absorption spectrometric method for the determination of the total phosphorus content of cheese. The method is applicable to all kinds of cheese and to processed cheese products.

ISO 2992:1974. Iron in Ammonium Sulphate

This International Standard specifies a 2,2’-bipyridyl photometric method for the determination of the iron content of ammonium sulphate for industrial use. The method is applicable to iron contents equal to or greater than 0.0001% (m/m).


ISO 3220:1975. Arsenic in Copper and Copper Alloys

This International Standard specifies a photometric method for the determination of arsenic in copper and copper alloys. The method is applicable for the determination of arsenic as an alloying element or as an impurity in copper and all types of copper alloys listed in ISO Recommendations or International Standards.


ISO 3255:1974. Aluminium in Magnesium and Magnesium Alloys

This International Standard specifies a photometric method using chromazurol S for the determination of aluminium in magnesium and certain magnesium alloys. The method is applicable to the determination of aluminium content between 0.01 and 0.20 %.

ISO 3360:1976. Fluorine in Phosphoric acid and Sodium Phosphates

This International Standard specifies an alizarin complexone and lanthanum nitrate photometric method for the determination of the fluorine content of phosphoric acid and sodium phosphates for industrial use (including foodstuffs).

ISO 3429:1976. Iron Content of Sodium Fluoride

This International Standard specifies a photometric method, using 1, 10-phenanthroline, for the determination of the iron content of sodium fluoride primarily used for the production of aluminium.


ISO 3430:1976. Silica Content of Sodium Fluoride

This International Standard specifies a spectrophotometric method, using the reduced molybdosilicate, for determining the silica content of sodium fluoride primarily used for the production of aluminium. The method is applicable to products of which the P2O5 content does not exceed 0.02 % (m/m).


ISO 3656:2011. Animal and Vegetable Fats and Oils —Ultraviolet Absorbance

This document specifies a method for the determination of the absorbance at ultraviolet wavelengths of animal and vegetable fats and oils. Milk and milk products (or fat obtained from milk and milk products) are excluded from the scope of this document.

ISO 3696:1987. Water for Analytical Laboratory

This International Standard specifies the requirements and corresponding test methods for three grades of water for laboratory use for the analysis of inorganic chemicals.

ISO 3705:1976. Arsenic Content of Sulphur

This International Standard specifies a silver diethyldithio-carbamate photometric method for the determination of the arsenic content of sulphur for industrial use. (equal to or greater than 0.5 mg/kg).

ISO 3856-1:1984 Part 1. Determination of Lead Content

This International Standard specifies a dithizone spectrophotometric method for the determination of lead. The methods are applicable to paints having “soluble” lead contents in the range of about 0.05 to 5 % (m/m).


ISO 3856-2:1984 Part 2. Determination of Antimony Content

This International Standard specifies a Rhodamine B spectrophotometric method for the determination of antimony. The methods are applicable to paints having “soluble” antimony contents in the range of about 0.05 to 5 % (m/m).


ISO 3856-5:1984 Part 5. Chromium (VI) Content of Paint (Liquid or powder)

This part of IS0 3856 describes a diphenylcarbazide spectrophotometric method for the determination of the “soluble” hexavalent chromium content of the hydrochloric acid extract of the pigment portion of the liquid paint or of the paint in powder form.


ISO 3946:1982. Total Phosphorus in Starches and Derived Products

This International Standard specifies a spectrophotometric method for the determination of the total phosphorus content of starch, including derivatives and by-products, in which the expected content, calculated as phosphorus (P), does not exceed 5 % (m/m).

ISO 3978:1976. Chromium in Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys

This International Standard specifies a spectrophotometric method using diphenylcarbazide, after extraction, for the determination of chromium in aluminium and aluminium alloys.

ISO 4293:1982. Phosphorus Content of Manganese Ores and Concentrates

This International Standard specifies an extraction of molybdovanadate photometric method for the determination of the phosphorus content of manganese ores and concentrates. The method is applicable to products having phosphorus contents from 0.02 to 0.5 % (m/m).


ISO 4221:1980. Sulphur Dioxide in Ambient Air

This International Standard specifies a thorin spectrophotometic method for the determination of the mass concentration of sulphur dioxide in ambient air.


ISO 4295:1988. Alminium Content of Manganese Ores and Concentrates

This International Standard specifies the method for the determination of the aluminium content of manganese ores and concentrates: a photometric method applicable to products having aluminium contents from 0.1 to 1.5 % (m/m).

ISO 6271:2015. Color of Clear Liquids by the Platinum Cobalt Color Scale

This International Standard specifies a spectrophotometric method for estimating the colour of clear liquids in terms of platinum-cobalt units (Pt-Co units). It is applicable to clear liquids having a colour characteristic similar to those of the platinum-cobalt color scale specified in Annex A.


ISO 6332:1988. Iron in Water and Waste Water

This International Standard specifies a 1,10-phenanthroline spectrometric method for the determination of iron in water and waste water.


ISO 6333:1986. Manganese in Water

This International Standard specifies a formaldoxime spectrometric method for the determination of total manganese (including dissolved, suspended, and organically bound manganese) in surface and drinking water. The method is applicable to the determination of manganese concentrations between 0.01 mg/l and 5 mg/l..


ISO 6439:1990. Phenol Index in Drinking Water, Surface Water and Waste Water

This International Standard specifies methods for determining the phenol index in drinking water, surface water and waste water.


ISO 6491-1998. Total Phosphorus Content in Animal Feeds

This International Standard specifies a spectrophotometric method for the determination of the total phosphorus content of animal feeding stuffs.

ISO 6636/3-1983. Zinc Content of Fruit and Vegetable Products

This part of ISO 6636 specifies a dithizone spectrometric method for the determination of the zinc content of fruit and vegetable products.

ISO 6703-3:1984. Cyanogen Chloride Concentrations

This International Standard is applicable for the determination of cyanogen chloride concentrations in the range 0.02 to 15 mg/l.

ISO 6732:2010. Iron Content of Milk and Milk Products

This International Standard specifies a spectrometric reference method for the determination of the iron content of milk and milk products.

ISO 6777:1984. Nitrite in Potable, Raw, and Waste Water

This International Standard specifies a molecular absorption spectrometric method for the determination of nitrite in potable, raw, and waste water.


ISO 6878-2004. Phosphorus in Water

This International Standard specifies methods for the spectrometric determination of phosphorus using ammonium molybdate.


ISO 7150-1:1984. Ammonium in Water

This part of ISO 7150 specifies a manual spectrometric method for the determination of ammonium in water.


ISO 7393-2:2017. Free and Total Chlorine in Water

This document specifies a method for the determination of free chlorine and total chlorine in water, readily applicable to lab- and field-testing.


ISO 7543-1:1994. Total Capsaicinoid Content in Chilies and Chili Oleoresins

This part of ISO 7543 specifies a method for the determination, by a spectrometric method, of the total capsaicinoid content of whole or powdered chilies (usually Capiscum frutescens L.) and their oleoresins.

ISO 7780:1998. Manganese Content of Rubber and Rubber Latices

This International Standard specifies photometric methods for the determination of manganese, after oxidation with sodium periodate, in rubbers and rubber latices. Both methods contain provisions for the analysis of chlorine-containing rubber.

ISO 7887:2011. Water Quality — Examination and Determination of Color

This International Standard specifies four different methods, designated A to D, for the examination of color. Method B and C involve the determination of the true colour of a water sample using an optical apparatus.


ISO 7890-3:1998. Nitrate in Water

This part of ISO 7890 specifies a method for the determination of nitrate ion in water using a UVVIS spectrophotometer.

ISO 8112:2023. Color of 50 % Aqueous Caprolactam Solution

This document specifies a spectrometric method for determining the color, expressed in Hazen units, of a 50 % aqueous caprolactam solution as a measure of colored impurities content of the sample.

ISO 8660:2002. Permanganate Absorption Number of Caprolactam

This International Standard specifies a spectrometric method for the determination of the permanganate absorption number of caprolactam for industrial use. The permanganate absorption number is a measure of the oxidizable impurities in caprolactam, determined in a buffered neutral aqueous medium under fixed conditions.

ISO 9390:1990. Borate in Water

This International Standard specifies a spectrometric method for the determination of borate in water. The method is applicable to the determination of borate in concentrations between 0.01 mg and 1 mg of boron per litre.

ISO 9648:1988. Tannin Content in Sorghum

This International Standard specifies a universal method for the determination of tannin content in sorghum grains using a UVVIS spectrophotometer.

ISO 9874:2006. Total Phosphorus Content of Milk

This International Standard specifies a molecular absorption spectrometric method for the determination of the total phosphorus content of milk.

ISO 9941:2005. Tin Content in Milk

This Technical Specification (Reviewed Method for IDF) specifies a spectrometric method for the determination of the tin content in canned evaporated milk. The limit of determination of the method is 5 mg/kg.

ISO 10260:1992. Chlorophyll Concentration

This International Standard specifies a method for the determination of chlorophyll-a concentration using a UVVIS spectrophotometer.

IOS 10280:2025. Steel and iron - Determination of titanium content - Diantipyrylmethane spectrophotometric method

This International Standard specifies a diantipyrylmethane spectrophotometric method for the determination of titanium in steel and iron. The method is applicable to titanium contents between 0.002 % (m/m) and 0.80 % (m/m).

ISO 10530:1992. Dissolved Sulfide in Water

This International Standard specifies a photometric method for the determination of dissolved sulfide in water. The method is applicable to the determination of dissolved sulfide in a mass concentration range from 0.04 mg/l to 1.5 mg/L.

ISO 10540-1:2003. Phosphorus Content of Animal and Vegetable Oils and Fats

This part of ISO 10540 specifies a colorimetric method for the determination of the phosphorus content of animal and vegetable oils and fats. This method is not suitable for determining the phosphorus content of commercial lecithin as this requires an ashing temperature of 800 °C.

ISO 10566:1994(E). Aluminium in Water

This International Standard is applicable to the analysis of potable waters, ground waters, and lightly polluted surface and sea waters for aluminum content using a UVVIS spectrophotometer.

ISO 10714:2024. Steel and iron - Determination of Phosphorus Content

This document specifies a spectrophotometric method for the determination of phosphorus in steel and iron. The method is applicable to phosphorus contents between 0.001 0 % (mass fraction) and 1.0 % (mass fraction).

ISO 11263:1994. Phosphorus in Soil

This International Standard specifies an extraction method and analytical conditions to determine the content of soil phosphorus soluble in sodium hydrogen carbonate solution using a UVVIS spectrophotometer.

ISO 11400:1992. Phosphorus Content of Nickel, Ferronickel, and Nickel Alloys

This International Standard specifies a molecular absorption spectrometric method for the determination of the phosphorus content in nickel, ferronickel, and nickel base alloys in the range of 0.0005 % (m/m) to 0.05 % (m/m).

ISO 11905:1997. Nitrogen in Water

This part of ISO 11905 specifies a method for the determination of nitrogen present in water, in the form of free ammonia, ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, and organic nitrogen compounds capable of conversion to nitrate under the oxidative conditions described.

ISO 12080-1:2009. Vitamin A in Milk

This part of ISO 12080/IDF 142 specifies a colorimetric method for the determination of vitamin A in dried skimmed milk containing at least 10 IU (International Units) of vitamin A per gram.


ISO 12788:2022. Total Glucosinolates in Rapeseeds (Colza)

This document specifies a method for the determination of the content of the total glucosinolates in rapeseeds (colza) using visible spectrometry to determine the glucose released from glucosinolates by hydrolysis.

ISO 13759:1996. Alkyl Nitrate in Diesel Fuel

This International Standard specifies a procedure for the determination of alkyl nitrate in diesel fuel in the concentration range 0.03 % (V/V) to 0.30 % (V/V) (volume fraction 0.03 % to 0.30 %).

ISO 14502-1:2005 Part-1. Total Polyphenol Content of Leaf Tea and Instant Tea

This part of ISO 14502 specifies a method for the determination of the total polyphenol content of leaf tea and instant tea by a colorimetric assay using the Folin-Ciocalteu phenol reagent. It is applicable to both green and black tea products.

ISO 14673-1:2004. Nitrate and Nitrite Contents of Milk and Milk Products

This part of ISO 14673/IDF 189 specifies a method for the determination of the nitrate and nitrite contents of milk and milk products by cadmium reduction and spectrometry.


ISO 17075-1:2017 Part 1. Chromium (VI) in Leather

This International Standard specifies a method for determining the chromium (VI) in solutions leached from leather under defined conditions. The method described is suitable to quantify the chromium (VI) content in leathers down to 3 mg/kg.

ISO 17193:2011. Lactoperoxidase Activity in Milk

This Technical Specification specifies a photometric method for the determination of the lactoperoxidase activity in milk in amounts exceeding 50 U/l

ISO 17932:2011. Palm Oil: DOBI and Carotene Content

This International Standard specifies a method for the determination of the deterioration of bleachability index (DOBI) of crude palm oil and the carotene content of crude or bleached palm oil and their fractions by a spectrophotometric examination in the ultraviolet and visible range of the spectrum.

ISO/CD 18724:2025. Chromium (VI) in Drinking Water

This International Standard specifies a method for the determination of chromium (VI) in drinking water in mass concentrations between 2 µg/l and 50 µg/l.

ISO 20541:2008. Nitrate Content of Milk and Milk Products

This International Standard specifies a method for the determination of the nitrate content of milk and milk products by molecular-absorption spectrometry after Griess reaction (preceded by enzymatic reduction).

11664-1:2019. CIE standard colorimetric observers

This International Standard specifies colour-matching functions for use in colorimetry. Two sets of colour-matching functions are specified.

11664-2:2022. CIE standard illuminants

This International Standard specifies two illuminants for use in colorimetry.

11664-3:2019 Part 3. CIE tristimulus values

This document specifies methods of calculating the tristimulus values of colour stimuli for which the spectral distributions are provided. These colour stimuli can be produced by self-luminous light sources or by reflecting or transmitting objects.

11664-4:2019. CIE 1976 L*a*b* Colour space

This document specifies a method of calculating the coordinates of the CIE 1976 L*a*b* colour space, including correlates of lightness, chroma and hue. It includes two methods for calculating Euclidean distances in this space to represent the perceived magnitude of colour differences.


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