EN ISO 14855-2:2009

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2009
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Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under
controlled composting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide - Part 2:
Gravimetric measurement of carbon dioxide evolved in a laboratory-scale test (ISO
14855-2:2007)
Bestimmung der vollständigen aeroben Bioabbaubarkeit von Kunststoff-Materialien unter
den Bedingungen kontrollierter Kompostierung — Verfahren mittels Analyse des
freigesetzten Kohlenstoffdioxides - Teil 2: Gravimetrische Messung des freigesetzten
Kohlenstoffdioxides im Labormaßstab (ISO 14855-2:2007)
Détermination de la biodégradabilité aérobique ultime des matériaux plastiques dans des
conditions contrôlées de compostage - Méthode par analyse du dioxyde de carbone
libéré - Partie 2: Mesurage gravimétrique du dioxyde de carbone libéré lors d'un essai de
laboratoire (ISO 14855-2:2007)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 14855-2:2009
ICS:
13.030.99 Drugi standardi v zvezi z Other standards related to
odpadki wastes
83.080.01 Polimerni materiali na Plastics in general
splošno
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN ISO 14855-2
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
June 2009
ICS 83.080.01
English Version
Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic
materials under controlled composting conditions - Method by
analysis of evolved carbon dioxide - Part 2: Gravimetric
measurement of carbon dioxide evolved in a laboratory-scale
test (ISO 14855-2:2007, including Cor 1:2009)
Détermination de la biodégradabilité aérobie ultime des Bestimmung der vollständigen aeroben Bioabbaubarkeit
matériaux plastiques dans des conditions contrôlées de von Kunststoff-Materialien unter den Bedingungen
compostage - Méthode par analyse du dioxyde de carbone kontrollierter Kompostierung - Verfahren mittels Analyse
libéré - Partie 2: Mesurage gravimétrique du dioxyde de des freigesetzten Kohlenstoffdioxides - Teil 2:
carbone libéré lors d'un essai de laboratoire (ISO 14855- Gravimetrische Messung des freigesetzten
2:2007, Cor 1:2009 inclus) Kohlenstoffdioxides im Labormaßstab (ISO 14855-2:2007,
einschließlich Cor 1:2009)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 30 May 2009.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the CEN Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN Management Centre has the same status as the
official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2009 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 14855-2:2009: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword .3

Foreword
The text of ISO 14855-2:2007, including Cor 1:2009 has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61
“Plastics” of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and has been taken over as EN ISO
14855-2:2009 by Technical Committee CEN/TC 249 “Plastics” the secretariat of which is held by NBN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by December 2009, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn
at the latest by December 2009.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 14855-2:2007, including Cor 1:2009 has been approved by CEN as a EN ISO 14855-2:2009
without any modification.
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 14855-2
First edition
2007-08-15
Determination of the ultimate aerobic
biodegradability of plastic materials
under controlled composting
conditions — Method by analysis of
evolved carbon dioxide —
Part 2:
Gravimetric measurement of carbon
dioxide evolved in a laboratory-scale test
Détermination de la biodégradabilité aérobique ultime des matériaux
plastiques dans des conditions contrôlées de compostage — Méthode
par analyse du dioxyde de carbone libéré —
Partie 2: Mesurage gravimétrique du dioxyde de carbone libéré lors d'un
essai de laboratoire
Reference number
ISO 14855-2:2007(E)
©
ISO 2007
ISO 14855-2:2007(E)
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©
ii ISO 2007 – All rights reserved

ISO 14855-2:2007(E)
Contents Page
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Principle . 3
5 Reagents . 3
6 Apparatus . 4
7 Procedure . 5
8 Calculation . 8
9 Expression and interpretation of results . 9
10 Validity of results . 9
11 Test report . 9
Annex A (informative) Basic principle of the test . 10
Annex B (informative) Example of an apparatus using an electrically heated composting vessel . 12
Annex C (informative) Derivation of the equation used to calculate the degree of biodegradation from
the amount of carbon dioxide evolved . 14
Bibliography . 15
©
ISO 2007 – All rights reserved iii

ISO 14855-2:2007(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO14855-2 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC5, Physical-
chemical properties.
ISO 14855 consists of the following parts, under the general title Determination of the ultimate aerobic
biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions — Method by analysis of evolved
carbon dioxide:
— Part 1: General method
— Part 2: Gravimetric measurement of carbon dioxide evolved in a laboratory-scale test
©
iv ISO 2007 – All rights reserved

ISO 14855-2:2007(E)
Introduction
Management of plastics waste is a serious problem in the world. Plastics recovery technologies include material
recovery (mechanical recycling, chemical or feedstock recycling, and biological or organic recycling) and energy
recovery (heat, steam or electricity as a substitute for fossil fuels or other fuel resources). The use of
biodegradable plastics is one valuable recovery option (biological or organic recycling).
Several ISO standards for determining the ultimate aerobic/anaerobic biodegradability of plastic materials have
been published. In particular, ISO 14855-1 is a common test method that measures the amount of carbon
dioxide evolved using methods such as continuous infrared analysis, gas chromatography or titration.
Compared with ISO 14855-1, the amounts of compost inoculum and test sample used in this part of ISO 14855
are one-tenth the size. In order to ensure the activity of the compost inoculum, inert material that gives the
mixture the same texture as soil is mixed into the inoculum. The carbon dioxide evolved from the test vessel is
determined by absorbing it in a carbon dioxide trap and carrying out gravimetric analysis of the absorbent. The
method described in this part of ISO 14855, which uses a closed system to capture the carbon dioxide evolved,
can also be used to obtain valuable information, by means of isotopic-labelling studies, on the way in which the
molecular structure of co-polymers degrades.
©
ISO 2007 – All rights reserved v

.
vi
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 14855-2:2007(E)
Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic
materials under controlled composting conditions — Method by
analysis of evolved carbon dioxide —
Part 2:
Gravimetric measurement of carbon dioxide evolved in a
laboratory-scale test
WARNING—Sewage, activated sludge, soil and compost may contain potentially pathogenic
organisms. Therefore appropriate precautions should be taken when handling them. Toxic test
compounds and those whose properties are unknown should be handled with
...