GB 46997-2025 Limits of certain heavy metal in printing ink English, Anglais, Englisch, Inglés, えいご
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ICS
CCS H
National Standard of the People's Republic of China
GB 46997-2025
Limits of certain heavy metal in printing ink
油墨中重金属的限量
Issue date: 2025-12-31 Implementation date: 2027-01-01
Issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China
the Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China
Contents
Foreword
1 Scope
2 Normative References
3 Terms and Definitions
4 General Principles
5 Requirements
6 Test Methods
7 Detection Limits of Test Methods
8 Test Report
Appendix A (Normative) Determination of Lead and Cadmium Content by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry
Appendix B (Normative) Determination of Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury Content by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry
Appendix C (Normative) Determination of Mercury Content by Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry
Appendix D (Normative) Test Method for Hexavalent Chromium
Appendix E (Normative) Requirements for Sieves Used in Testing
Appendix F (Normative) Determination of Soluble Antimony, Barium, Cadmium, Chromium, and Lead Content by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry
Appendix G (Normative) Determination of Soluble Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury, and Selenium Content by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry
Appendix H (Normative) Determination of Soluble Mercury, Arsenic, and Selenium Content by Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry
Limits of Heavy Metals in Printing Inks
1 Scope
This document specifies the maximum permissible limits for lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and soluble heavy metals (soluble antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium) in printing inks, and describes the corresponding test methods.
This document applies to printing ink products.
2 Normative References
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
GB/T 6682 Water for analytical laboratory use — Specification and test methods
3 Terms and Definitions
No terms and definitions are required for this document.
4 General Principles
This document aims to protect human health to the maximum extent possible, reduce environmental pollution and damage, and not compromise the safety or health of users or third parties.
5 Requirements
The maximum limits for heavy metals in printing inks shall comply with the requirements specified in Table 1.
6 Test Methods
6.1 Test Methods for Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, and Hexavalent Chromium in Printing Inks
6.1.1 Sample Preparation
6.1.1.1 Reagents and Materials
Unless otherwise specified, use only reagents of analytical grade or higher purity and distilled water, deionized water, or water of equivalent purity during analysis.
6.1.1.1.1 Nitric acid (HNO₃): Guaranteed reagent.
6.1.1.1.2 Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂): Approximately 30% (mass fraction), analytical reagent grade.
6.1.1.1.3 Hydrofluoric acid (HF): Guaranteed reagent.
6.1.1.1.4 Nitric acid solution (1+1) (volume ratio).
6.1.1.1.5 Water: Meeting at least the grade 2 requirements specified in GB/T 6682.
6.1.1.2 Apparatus and Equipment
6.1.1.2.1 Drying oven: 0°C to 200°C, temperature control accuracy ±2°C.
6.1.1.2.2 Pressure digestion vessel: Fitted with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) digestion liners.
6.1.1.2.3 Microwave digestion system: Fitted with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) digestion liners.
6.1.1.2.4 Hot plate (for wet acid digestion) or muffle furnace (for ashing method).
6.1.1.2.5 UV curing apparatus.
6.1.1.2.6 Analytical balance: Accuracy 0.1 mg.
6.1.1.2.7 Volumetric flasks (25 mL, 50 mL, etc.).
6.1.1.2.8 All glassware, glass containers, glass plates, or PTFE plates shall be soaked in nitric acid solution (1+1) for 24 hours before use, then rinsed with water and dried.
6.1.1.3 Sampling Procedure for Test Sample
After stirring the sample to homogeneity, prepare a coating film of suitable thickness on a glass plate or PTFE plate. After complete drying [if oven-drying, at a temperature of (60±2)°C, or according to the drying characteristics of the ink], take the ink sample, crush it at room temperature, and pass it through a 0.5 mm x 0.5 mm metal sieve for subsequent treatment.
Note: If the coating film is difficult to crush to 0.5 mm x 0.5 mm, prepare the sample to a size not less than 1 mm x 1 mm and not greater than 2 mm x 2 mm before testing.
6.1.1.4 Sample Digestion
6.1.1.4.1 Pressure Vessel Digestion Method
Weigh approximately 0.5 g of the sample (accurate to 0.1 mg) and place it in a PTFE digestion liner. Add 5 mL to 8 mL of nitric acid and 2 mL of 30% hydrogen peroxide. For materials with high silicon content, add 3 mL of hydrofluoric acid, or choose an appropriate sample amount and acid addition method according to the sample material to ensure complete digestion. Cover with the PTFE lid, tighten the stainless steel outer vessel, and place it in a constant temperature drying oven. Heat at (180±2)°C for 4 hours. After the pressure digestion vessel cools to room temperature, transfer the digestate to a 50 mL volumetric flask. Rinse the PTFE liner and lid 3 to 4 times with water, and transfer the rinsings to the volumetric flask. Dilute to the mark with water. If the solution is not clear or precipitation occurs, filter it. Retain the sample digestate for measurement.
6.1.1.4.2 Microwave Digestion Method
Weigh approximately 0.5 g of the sample (accurate to 0.1 mg) and place it in a PTFE digestion liner. Add 5 mL to 8 mL of nitric acid and 2 mL of 30% hydrogen peroxide. For materials with high silicon content, add 3 mL of hydrofluoric acid, or choose an appropriate sample amount and acid addition method according to the sample material to ensure complete digestion. Cover and let stand for 1 hour. Seal the digestion vessel and place it in the microwave digestion system. Perform digestion following the standard operating procedure of the microwave digestion instrument. After digestion is complete, remove the digestion vessel from the instrument. Allow the vessel to cool completely before slowly opening the inner lid. Transfer the digestate to a 50 mL volumetric flask. Rinse the digestion vessel and lid 3 to 4 times with water, and transfer the rinsings to the volumetric flask. Dilute to the mark with water. If the solution is not clear or precipitation occurs, filter it. Retain the sample digestate for measurement.
6.1.1.4.3 Other Digestion Methods
If the sample can be completely digested, other digestion methods such as wet acid digestion, ashing, etc., may be used to process the sample to obtain the sample digestate for measurement.
6.1.1.4.4 Blank Test
Perform the procedure according to 6.1.1.4.1, 6.1.1.4.2, or 6.1.1.4.3 without adding the sample to obtain a blank digestate.
Note: The digestates obtained from 6.1.1.4.1, 6.1.1.4.2, 6.1.1.4.3, and 6.1.1.4.4 are used for the determination of elements specified in Appendices A through C.
