BCR Protocol Research Articles

Rate of Microelement Quantitative Changes during the Composting of Sewage Sludge With Various Bulking Agents

The composting of sewage sludge (SS) with structure-forming additives is a popular and inexpensive method for the management of biodegradable waste. During this process, a number of transformations of organic matter and nutrients occur. This study presents the rates and directions of quantitative changes in Cu, Zn, and Ni during the composting of various mixtures. The following substances were used for preparing compost mixtures: SS, sawdust, straw, and bark. These substances were mixed together in appropriate proportions as follows: C1: 45% SS + 50% sawdust + 5% straw; C2: 45% SS + 50% bark+ 5% straw; and C3: 45% SS + 35% bark + 15% sawdust + 5% straw. Single (DTPA solution) and sequential extraction methods (BCR protocol) were used for microelement mobility assessment. Compost valorization was performed in each individual composting phase. The chain relative increment analysis was used for such assessment. Additionally, the potential metal pollution in the composts was evaluated by applying the following indices: the pollutant accumulation index (PAI), heavy metal enrichment index (HMEI), and heavy metal pollution load index (HMPLI). During composting, generally, the amounts of Ni, Cu, and Zn increased in the various extracted combinations, which was independent of their susceptibility to decomposition. Despite of this, the tested composts should be considered as a source of slowly available microelements for plants. The most intense quantitative changes in metals occurred in the thermophilic phase, and the weakest changes occurred in the cooling phase. At the same time, the calculated indices indicated a lack of contamination of the composts with the analyzed metals, emphasizing their environmental safety and lack of negative impact. The bulking agents used for composting with SS did not significantly influence the intensity of the quantitative changes in the tested metals.

Characterization and chemical fractionation of potentially toxic elements in soils of a pre-mining mineralized area; an evaluation of mobility and environmental risk.

The environmental geochemical characterization of mineralized areas prior to mining does not receive adequate attention. This study shows trace element distribution in soils of two unexploited porphyry copper deposits located in Darreh-Zereshk and Ali-Abad in central Iran. The study was carried out using a compositional data analysis (CoDa) approach and combination of multivariate statistics and clustering techniques, which made it possible to identify the geochemical associations representing the different areas of the mineral deposits. The results of the chemical analyses, performed by ICP-MS, revealed high concentrations of those elements typically associated with porphyry deposits (As, Co, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn). The typical zonal pattern with an anomaly of Cu in central parts of the system and the prevalence of epithermal elements (Ag, Cd, Pb, and Zn) toward the peripheral propylitic alteration zone were recognized. The XRD analysis of selected soil samples allowed us to determine the distribution of elements within the different carrier minerals. Afterward, geochemical speciation patterns were investigated by a four-step sequential extraction procedure based on BCR protocol. The residual fraction consisting of primary resistant minerals was found to be the main host for As (73-93.4%), Cr (65.1-79.6%), Cu (54.3-81.4%), Ni (58.9-80.6%), V (75.9-88%), and Zn (56.5-60.5%) in the studied soils. Even though these elements are not readily leachable, their behavior and distribution could be largely affected by the mining operation and consequent changes in the physicochemical properties of the soil. The soluble-exchangeable phase was only less than 15% of the total extractions for all elements, except for Cd. With respect to the mobility factor (MF), Cd was the most mobile element followed by Sb and Pb. The measured risk assessment code (RAC) presented the following risk order: Cd > Sb > Ni > Co > Pb > Cr > As > Zn > Cu > V. This study reveals that the acquisition of pre-mining geo-environmental data of trace elements is very important to establish pre-mining backgrounds and baselines for evaluating post-mining or post-reclamation geochemical signatures.

Can acid sulfate soils from the southern Baltic zone be a source of potentially toxic elements (PTEs)?

The mobility of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in acid sulfate (AS) soils in the reverse delta of the Świna River, NE Poland was studied using extraction of the target metals using the BCR protocol, which targets acid-extractable (F1), reducible (F2), oxidizable (F3) fractions, and aqua regia digestion for residual (F4) fraction. It was assumed that the content of mobile forms determined in air-dried samples during consequent steps of BCR extraction refers to two scenarios of possible release of selected metals from the studied soils: (1) attributed to seasonal soil moisture variation or (2) caused by artificial drainage. The studied AS soils had thin organic layers (muck, peat and mud) overlaying deltaic sands, and contained hypersulfidic material. The field pH was 6.2 ± 0.5 and significantly decreased to 4.3 ± 1.4 after the 8-weeks incubation period. This can be explained by low buffering properties (e.g. lack of carbonates). Total concentrations of metals (Cr 17.9–61.6, Cu 5.7–27.7, Ni 6.2–47.0, Pb 2.2–17.7, and Zn 13.6–130 mg∙kg−1) in the AS soils were diversified but none of the concentrations exceeded the Polish legal limits. Despite the relative low content of analyzed metals, the studied soils can be a potential source of metal contamination affecting the coastal environment in the southern Baltic Sea region that has been overlooked so far. This is confirmed by the high proportion (44–82%) of Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn in the F1-F3 fractions which can potentially be released as assumed in two scenarios. The BCR protocol seems to be a useful tool for understanding the chemical behavior and fate of metals in AS soils. Challenges in the assessment of metal mobility in the oxidized and unoxidized zones of individual soil profiles occurred due to their complex morphology resulting from the heterogeneous depositional environment under the human impact.

Evaluation of Composted Organic Wastes and Farmyard Manure for Improving Fertility of Poor Sandy Soils in Arid Regions

Farmyard manure, an amendment traditionally used for improving the fertility of sandy soils in arid climates, is becoming scarce and expensive. Its shortage makes it necessary to evaluate, at field scale, the suitability and medium-term performance of other cheap, highly available substitutes. A field trial was established to analyze the effects of a single application of three organic residues on barley yield and nutrient uptake and selected soil properties after two consecutive harvests. Municipal solid waste compost (MSWC), sewage sludge compost (SSC) and farmyard manure (FYM) were tested at rates of 0, 20, 40 and 60 t ha−1. Adding all three organic amendments increased organic matter, cation exchange capacity and available P, Ca, Mg and K in the soil, the grain yield (up to 51%), and the barley plants’ nutrient contents. After the second harvest, a positive residual effect of the amendment was observed in plant yield (up to 77%) and nutrient contents. MSWC and SSC induced slight increases on the extractable fractions (BCR protocol) of Co, Cu and Ni, relative to the unamended soil. The results demonstrate the positive immediate and residual effect of the amendments evaluated as fertilizers for agricultural purposes.

Fast and easily obtained information about mobilizable metals from sediment samples. Extraction assisted by benzothiophene-based ionic liquids

A fast and easy method for trace metal extraction on sediments was developed in our laboratories. Three new stable S-metylbenzothiophenium salts were employed along with microwaves to modify the BCR protocol to obtain the concentration of metals of the first two fractions in only one step. The optimum conditions were obtained with 0.125 g of sediment irradiated at 250 W for 30 s at 120 °C, in 5 ml of an aqueous mixture of 10 mM of 1,2-dimethylbenzothiophenium tetrafluoroborate and 0.5 M of hydroxylamine chlorhydrate at pH 2. The method validation was carried out employing BCR 701. The extracted metals were determined by ICP OES. A student’s paired t-test was applied with the reference method, giving satisfactory results.

Assessment of the Speciation and Pollution of Heavy Metals in Paddy Soils from the Jiulong River Basin

Speciation characteristics of twelve heavy metals in 71 paddy soils from the Jiulong River Basin were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the modified BCR protocol. The risk assessment coding method (RAC), ratio of secondary phase and primary phase (RSP), and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) were applied to evaluate the pollution degree of heavy metals in the area. The results show that most of these elements are abundant in the paddy soils and the speciation characteristics of different heavy metals vary. The elements Cd and Mn mainly exist as acid soluble fractions in the soils, with a mean proportion of 46.2% and 35.2%, respectively; Fe and Pb mainly exist as reducible fractions in the soils, with a mean proportion of 64.5% and 41.5%, respectively; and V, Cr, Ni, As, Co, Sr, Zn, and Cu mainly exist as residual fractions in the soils, with a mean proportion of 79.6%, 78.4%, 73.1%, 67.7%, 51.9%, 49.7%, 45.3%, and 38.4%, respectively. The three pollution assessment methods focus on the acid-soluble phase, secondary phase, and total amount of heavy metals, respectively. All have their own application value and disadvantages of incompletion. The comprehensive analysis of these three pollution assessment methods helps to more accurately and comprehensively assess the pollution characteristics of the heavy metals. The results show that the paddy soils are moderately to severely polluted with Cd; the Mn and Sr pollution is mild to severe; the Zn, Pb, Cu, and Co pollution is mild to moderate; the As and Ni pollution is absent or moderate; and V, Fe, and Cr pollution is non-existent or mild.

A critical assessment on arsenic partitioning in mine-affected soils by using two sequential extraction protocols

ABSTRACTThe highly degraded mine-affected soils of Lavrion, central Greece, are greatly polluted by heavy metals and arsenic (As). To assess As partitioning in the soils of the area, Wenzel and BCR (Community Bureau of Reference) sequential extraction procedures (SEP) were applied to 29 top soils. The results of the Wenzel SEP showed that As was mainly bound to the well-crystallized (33.3%) and to the amorphous/poorly-crystalline (30.1%) oxides of Fe, Al, and Mn. According to the BCR scheme, most of the total As (78.4%) was retained in the residual phase. Low mobility factor values (Wenzel: 0.34%; BCR: 1.56%) clearly demonstrate the low availability and mobility of As in the studied soils. The specifically-sorbed/inner-sphere and the reducible fractions of As, obtained by the Wenzel SEP, were positively correlated with clay and Fe oxides content, respectively. The reducible As fractions of both SEPs were negatively correlated with carbonates content indicating that carbonates may partially control As sorption on Fe oxides. The comparative evaluation of the two SEPs showed that the application of the BCR protocol in contaminated soils cannot provide reliable information on As sequestration in soils but it can be a first estimate of As labile forms.

Chemical fractionation and mobility of traffic-related elements in road environments

Due to considerable progress in exhaust control emission technology and extensive regulatory work regarding this issue, non-exhaust sources of air pollution have become a growing concern. This research involved studying three types of road environment samples such as road dust, sludge from storm drains and roadside soil collected from heavily congested and polluted cities in Poland (Krakow, Warszawa, Opole and Wroclaw). Particles below 20 µm were examined since it was previously estimated that this fine fraction of road dust is polluted mostly by metals derived from non-exhaust sources of pollution such as brake linings wear. Chemical analysis of all samples was combined with a fractionation study using BCR protocol. It was concluded that the finest fractions of road environment samples were significantly contaminated with all of the investigated metals, in particular with Zn, Cu, both well-known key tracers of brake and tire wear. In Warszawa, the pollution index for Zn was on average 15–18 times the background value, in Krakow 12 times, in Wroclaw 8–12 times and in Opole 6–9 times the background value. The pollution index for Cu was on average 6–14 times the background in Warszawa, 7–8 times in Krakow, 4–6 times in Wroclaw and in Opole 5 times the background value. Fractionation study revealed that mobility of examined metals decreases in that order: Zn (43–62%) > Cd (25–42%) > Ni (6–16%) > Cu (3–14%) > Pb (1–8%). It should, however, be noted that metals even when not mobile in the environment can become a serious health concern when ingested or inhaled.

Speciation and Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments from Jiulong River

Speciation characteristics of fifteen heavy metals in seventeen surface sediments from Jiulong River was analyzed using the modified BCR protocol and dilute HNO3 method, respectively. The results of the modified BCR protocol showed that most of the elements (Fe, Ni, V, Tl, Ba, Sb, Ga, Cr and Sr) existed mainly in residual fractions, and extractable fraction was dominant for Mn (83.8%), followed by Cd, Pb, Zn, Co and Cu (80.0%, 75.5%, 74.3%, 70.8% and 57.7%). The results of dilute HNO3 method showed that the proportions of the dilute HNO3-extractable fractions of Pb, Mn, Cd, Co, Zn and Cu were higher (70.4%, 65.4%, 58.7%, 48.4%, 44.5% and 45.5%). The assessment results of RSP (ratio of secondary phase to primary phase) indicated that Pb, Mn, Cd, Co, Zn and Cu in surface sediments of Jiulong River had higher ecological risks. Both extraction methods had merits and demerits respectively. In general, the dilute HNO3 method is enough to analyze the bioavailability and ecological risk of heavy metals in sediments.

A novel automated method for the adjustment of ionic metal concentrations in soil extracts

AbstractA novel method is proposed for correcting metal fraction concentrations remaining within the sediment containing the solid residue of the sequentially extracted fraction. An easy‐to‐use Excel spreadsheet was prepared to assist adjustment of concentration in each fraction and demonstrate the difference between adjusted and non‐adjusted metal concentration of the fraction. The demonstration of a calculation of the modified BCR protocol data showed that this difference may reach 10–15% of the result value. The spreadsheet is available to download at: http://departments.agri.huji.ac.il/zabam/Rosen_Chen_Fraction_Adjustment_Formulae.xls

Distribuição geoquímica e biodisponibilidade de metais traço em sedimentos no Rio Bento Gomes, Poconé - MT, Brasil

RESUMO O sedimento é um dos compartimentos mais importantes dos ecossistemas aquáticos, possui papel importante no transporte e acumulação de metais. Este estudo teve por objetivo determinar a concentração de metais nas frações geoquímicas de sedimentos do Rio Bento Gomes, Pantanal de Poconé (MT) por meio da extração seletiva e sequencial, a fim de avaliar a distribuição e mobilidade dos metais. Os sedimentos foram coletados nos períodos seco e chuvoso em oito pontos distintos, e os metais (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Zn e Ni) extraídos dos sedimentos por procedimentos de extração sequencial (baseada no protocolo proposto por BCR -Community Bureau of Reference) e de extração seletiva (baseada no protocolo 3050B da Environmental Protection Agency of the United States), utilizando-se materiais de referência certificados para validação do método analítico. Todos os metais apresentaram teores abaixo do limite previsto na Resolução CONAMA nº 454/2012 no período seco, com exceção do Ni no período chuvoso (maior que 18 mg kg-1). Os estudos de fracionamento indicaram que os metais foram encontrados nas frações mobilizáveis do sedimento, especialmente associados aos óxidos de ferro. Os metais mais móveis e, consequentemente, mais biodisponíveis, foram o manganês, zinco e níquel, principalmente na época chuvosa. Maiores teores de cobre foram encontrados nas frações residuais do sedimento, indicando baixa mobilidade no meio aquático. A sequência de mobilidade dos metais estudados foi Mn > Zn > Ni > Cr > Cu > Fe.

Distribution, speciation, environmental risk, and source identification of heavy metals in surface sediments from the karst aquatic environment of the Lijiang River, Southwest China.

The distribution and speciation of several heavy metals, i.e., As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn, in surface sediments from the karst aquatic environment of the Lijiang River, Southwest China, were studied comparatively. The mean contents of Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn were 1.72, 38.07, 0.18, 51.54, and 142.16mg/kg, respectively, which were about 1.5-6 times higher than their corresponding regional sediment background values. Metal speciation obtained by the optimized BCR protocol highlighted the bioavailable threats of Cd, Cu, and Zn, which were highly associated with the exchangeable fraction (the labile phase). Hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that in sediments, As and Cr were mainly derived from natural and industrial sources, whereas fertilizer application might lead to the elevated level of Cd. Besides, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn were related to traffic activities. The effects-based sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) showed that Hg, Pb, and Zn could pose occasional adverse effects on sediment-dwelling organisms. However, based on the potential ecological risk assessment (PER) and risk assessment code (RAC), Cd was the most outstanding pollutant and posed the highest ecological hazard and bioavailable risk among the selected metals. Moreover, the metal partitioning between water and sediments was quantified through the calculation of the pseudo-partitioning coefficient (K P), and result implied that the sediments in this karst aquatic environment cannot be used as stable repositories for the metal pollutants.

The evaluation of sequentially extracted mercury fractions in Thar coal samples by using different extraction schemes

In the present study, various sequential extraction methods were applied to assess the mercury (Hg) contents bounded with different chemical fractions of coal samples, collected from four different seams of the blocks III and V in Thar coalfield, Pakistan. The BCR sequential extraction (BCR-SE) method and two alternative modified schemes (conventional and ultrasonic assisted single step extractions) were designed and applied on the same operating conditions for each individual BCR fraction. Proximate and elemental analyses of coal samples were also performed to point out the physicochemical characteristics of the Thar coal samples. Validation of the desired methodologies was checked by the standard addition method to the real coal samples. The Hg concentration in extractable fractions was determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometer (CV-AAS). The proposed conventional (CSE) and ultrasonic assisted single step (USE) extraction methods were non-tedious and time saving, as the extraction time was reduced from 51h to 36h and 2h, respectively. The extraction efficiency of CSE and USE was comparable with those data obtained with the conventional BCR protocol. The relative mobility of Hg in coal samples obtained from different depths was found in the following increasing order: oxidizable fraction<reducible fraction<acid soluble fraction.

Impact of a spent mushroom substrate, Agaricus bisporus on chromium and copper speciation in the humus horizon

Spent mushroom substrate used as fertilizing material provides nutrients for plants in forms with a different degree of availability. A two-year experiment was conducted in central eastern Poland (Siedlecka High Plain) to determine the fertilizing effect of substrate previously used to grow mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) on the total content chromium and copper content and their quantitative content in the fraction in humus horizon pseudogley loessive soil. The experiment included the control (without fertilization), and several fertilized variants: NPK, swine manure, swine manure + NPK, spent mushroom substrate and spent mushroom substrate +NPK. The sequential fractionation of chromium and copper, carried out according to the BCR protocol, in the soil humus horizon under the above treatments demonstrated various concentration of these metals in the extracted fractions and their shares in the total content. Fertilization with spent mushroom substrate alone and with NPK contributed to a decrease in the Cr content in the F2 and F3 fractions, but resulted in an increase in the Cu content in the F1, F2 and F3 fractions after the second year of plant cultivation in comparison with the first year. The highest share of the tested metals in the total content was detected in the residual fraction F4: after the second year for chromium and after the first year of the experiment for copper.

地球化学標準物質（堆積物シリーズ）に逐次溶解法を適用した際に生じる鉱物組成変動

We have applied the sequential extraction procedure developed by the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) to eight Japanese geochemical reference materials. By using this method, we attempt to extract exchangeable and carbonate phases in step 1, extract iron hydroxide and manganese oxide in step 2, and extract metal sulfide and organic material in step 3. We use X-ray diffractometry (XRD) to measure untreated samples and the residue of samples after each step of the extraction process to determine whether the target material is satisfactorily decomposed during the procedure. For JSd-1 and JSd-3, XRD patterns do not change significantly by using the BCR procedure. Actually, most of the elements in these materials are scarcely extracted by BCR scheme. The peaks of calcite in JSd-4, JMs-1 and JMs2 disappear in the XRD patterns after the first extraction procedure. The result suggests that the target phase of step 1 process is fully decomposed. JLk-1 and JMs-2 show high concentrations of the Fe and Mn extracted in step 2. However, it is difficult to clearly confirm the full decomposition of iron hydroxide and manganese oxide in step 2 because these materials do not show distinct peaks in the XRD patterns. Pyrite in JMs-1 disappears in step 3 of the extraction, which suggests that sulfide is satisfactorily decomposed in this process. X-ray reflection intensities of some peaks for quartz and plagioclase in JSO-1 increase significantly after step 3 of the extraction. It is assumed that organic material thickly covered the mineral surfaces and reduced the X-ray reflection from the minerals prior to the third procedure. Although this evidence is indirect, we conclude that organic material is successfully decomposed and removed from the mineral surface during the third extraction procedure. On the basis of these results, it is confirmed that the BCR protocol can properly extract target materials from the geochemical reference materials.

Sono-extraction as a pretreatment approach for the screening evaluation of element mobility of sediment samples

Abstract Application of economically important and time saving pretreatment for the screening element mobility evaluation of contaminated sediments is presented. Ultrasonically-assisted single-step extraction (USAE) was carried out by EDTA solution. The extraction time of USAE was optimized and obtained results were compared with results estimated by conventional (EDTA extraction) and by sequential extraction (modified BCR protocol). The original three step BCR protocol was modified by addition of the first step (water leaching) and the fifth step, total digestion of sediment residue (acid mixture with HF). Zn, Cu and Pb have been determined in extracts by ICP-OES. Good conformity of the ultrasonically-extracted element contents and sum of contents, extracted during first three steps (water-soluble, acid-extractable, reducible — i.e., the most mobile fractions) of sequential extraction, was found. The sono-extraction reduced operating time of the first three steps of sequential extraction from 48 h to 15 min. Thus, USAE can serve as a rapid screening assessment of the mobile and potentially mobile element portions in sediments and other similar solid state environmental media. Analytical quality control was realized by comparison of the sums of element contents obtained at individual (five) extraction steps. Total element contents were also determined by an independent method (XRF).

An appraisal of conventional, microwave and ultrasound BCR extraction methods for the analysis of metals in sediments of Pančevo, Serbia

We use conventional, microwave and ultrasound assisted sequential extraction, of defined time and power, techniques for extractions of Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn in sediments and certified material. We did not change the conditions of extractions through steps, cause we what to see is there difference in extraction results for the certified material and sediments. We use lower powers and time from microwave and ultrasound extraction in order to avoid additional heating and boiling of the samples. Steps 1-3 of the BCR (Community Bureau of Reference), excluding the hydrogen peroxide digestion in step 3, were completed in 16 h in the conventional, in 120 s with 90 W power of microwave and in 30 min of 42 kHz of an ultrasonic frequency. Digestion of organic matter with hydrogen peroxide was performed the same for all techniques. The fourth step, the pseudo-total content, was performed the same on samples remaining after performing the extraction of the previous three phases either conventionally, microwave-assisted or with ultrasound. The precision and accuracy of the proposed procedures were evaluated using a certified reference material BCR701. Acceptable accuracy for most of the metals was observed for all three steps of BCR protocol applying a 16 h total shaking period. Metals were determined with an acceptable accuracy after the pseudo-total step; expect Cr. Results obtained after the application of different techniques on sediments were comparable with ANOVA test for the 95 % of confidence level.

Chemometric tools in chemical fractionation data of soil samples from five antarctic research stations

The aim of this study was to carry out a broad chemical investigation of selected soil samples from Antarctica, near different Antarctic scientific stations. Soil samples collected in background reference sites, with minimal human impact, far away from the stations were used as control samples. Anthropogenic places at the vicinity of the following stations Frei Montalva and Escudero (Chile), Great Wall (China), Bellingshausen (Russia) and Artigas (Uruguay) were studied as a priori human impacted sites. The sequential extraction procedure (SEP) based on the BCR (Community Bureau of Reference) protocol was applied for Cu, Mn and Zn determination. With the help of PCA (principal component analysis) and PARAFAC (parallel factor analysis) methods, meaningful information was extracted from the raw data obtained from SEP procedure. Soil samples affected by the scientific stations are associated with higher heavy metal contents (especially Cu and Zn, between the investigated metals, in the most labile fractions of the SEP applied). This pollution signal is associated with diesel use for the energy generation by the Antarctic stations.

Fractionation of uranium and other trace elements in soil samples collected in selected regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan

To determine the specific chemical forms of trace elements and to study of their mobility/availability in soil, samples collected in the Republic of Kazakhstan were analysed using the revised BCR protocol. A study was made with dependence of the mobility of different elements of interest on digestion procedures for collected soil samples and Standard Reference Material. The concentrations of the analysed elements (Sc, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Y, Cd, In, Tl, Pb, Th, U) were measured using ICP-MS in each sequential extraction step (exchangeable, reducible, oxidation and residual) and after a total digestion procedure.

Matrix solid phase dispersion-assisted BCR sequential extraction method for metal partitioning in surface estuarine sediments

The BCR (the Community Bureau of Reference) of the European Union sequential extraction scheme for metal partitioning in estuarine sediments has been accelerated by using a matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) approach. The MSPD assisted BCR procedure consists of passing the extractants proposed by conventional BCR protocol (0.11 M acetic acid, 0.1 M hydroxylammonium chloride and 8.8 M hydrogen peroxide plus 1 M ammonium acetate) through the dispersed sample packaged inside a disposable syringe. Different silica-, magnesium- and aluminium-based materials were tested as dispersing agents and sea sand was found to offer the best performances. Variables for assisting the three stages of the BCR protocol were optimized, and accurate results were obtained when assisting the first and the third stages (exchangeable and oxidizable fractions, respectively). However, lack of accuracy was observed when assisting the second step (reducible fraction) and this result agrees with most of the assisted BCR procedures for which extracting the reducible fraction is the most troublesome stage. The organic matter oxidation (third stage) was successfully assisted by passing hydrogen peroxide at 50 °C through the dispersed sample inside de syringe just before passing ammonium acetate. Therefore, the time-consuming and unsafe conventional organic matter oxidation processes, commonly performed even for microwave/ultrasounds assisted BCR procedures, are totally avoided. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used as a selective detector. The target elements were Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Sr and Zn (first stage), Cd, Co and Ni (second stage), and Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Sr and Zn (third stage). Repeatability of the method ( n = 7) was good, and RSDs values of 9, 10, 10, 8, 8, 3 and 8% was obtained for Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Sr and Zn, respectively (first stage); 10, 9 and 9% for Cd, Co and Ni, respectively (second stage); and 6, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 9% Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Sr and Zn, respectively (third stage). The procedure was also validated by analysing two certified reference materials (CRM 601 and CRM 701). Good accuracy was obtained for the target elements extracted at the first stage: Cd (4.0 ± 0.1 and 7.3 ± 0.09 μg g −1 in CRM 601 and CRM 701, respectively), Cr (0.36 ± 0.008 and 2.21 ± 0.08 μg g −1 in CRM 601 and CRM 701, respectively), Ni (8.0 ± 0.3 and 15.4 ± 0.3 μg g −1 in CRM 601 and CRM 701, respectively) and Zn (262 ± 3 and 203 ± 3 μg g −1 in CRM 601 and CRM 701, respectively). Also, good accuracy was observed for elements extracted at the third step: Cd (1.8 ± 0.09 and 0.29 ± 0.03 μg g −1 in CRM 601 and CRM 701, respectively), Cr (145 ± 4 μg g −1 in CRM 701), Ni (8.2 ± 0.7 and 15.1 ± 0.5 μg g −1 in CRM 601 and CRM 701, respectively) and Zn (45 ± 0.7 μg g −1 in CRM 701).