On 21 March 2025, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) issued the draft Indian Standard for Chromite for Chemical Industries—Specifications (Second Revision), introducing significant updates to quality criteria and testing protocols for this critical industrial raw material. The revision aims to enhance the consistency of chromite in chemical processes through unified standards while aligning with evolving global industrial benchmarks.
Key Revisions
- Scope Clarification: Detailed physicochemical specifications and testing methods for chemical-grade chromite.
- Global Alignment: Adoption of updated technical norms, including IS 1070:2023 (reagent-grade water standards) and IS 2109:1982 (sampling guidelines), to strengthen international compatibility.
- Stricter Composition Limits: Minimum chromium oxide content raised to 44% for both lump ore and concentrates. Maximum impurity thresholds: total iron (20%), alumina (14%), silica (7%), lime (3%), and magnesia (14%).
- Traceability Requirements: Mandatory standardized packaging (e.g., open wagons) with labels specifying material name, batch number, and manufacturer details.
- Certification Incentives: Products complying with the new standard may apply for the BIS certification mark.
- Scientific Testing Procedures: Implementation of stratified sampling protocols, differentiating single-sample and composite-sample testing workflows.
BIS emphasized that the revised standard will strengthen India’s chemical sector by building robust quality infrastructure and reducing equipment wear risks caused by raw material variability.
