SIST EN ISO 19679:2020
(Main)Plastics - Determination of aerobic biodegradation of non-floating plastic materials in a seawater/sediment interface - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide (ISO 19679:2020)
Plastics - Determination of aerobic biodegradation of non-floating plastic materials in a seawater/sediment interface - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide (ISO 19679:2020)
This document specifies a test method to determine the degree and rate of aerobic biodegradation of
plastic materials when settled on marine sandy sediment at the interface between seawater and the
seafloor, by measuring the evolved carbon dioxide (CO2). This test method can also be applied to other
solid materials.
This test method is a simulation under laboratory conditions of the habitat found in different seawater/
sediment-areas in the sea, e.g. in a benthic zone where sunlight reaches the ocean floor (photic zone)
that, in marine science, is called sublittoral zone
The determination of biodegradation of plastic materials and other solid materials buried in marine
sediment is outside the scope of this document.
NOTE Measurement of aerobic biodegradation can also be obtained by monitoring the oxygen consumption,
as described in ISO 18830.
The conditions described in this document do not always correspond to the optimum conditions for the
maximum degree of biodegradation to occur.
Kunststoffe - Bestimmung des aeroben Bioabbaus von nicht-schwimmenden Kunststoffmaterialien in einer Meerwasser/Sediment-Schnittstelle - rüfverfahren mittels Analyse des freigesetzten Kohlenstoffdioxids (ISO 19679:2020)
Dieses Dokument legt ein Prüfverfahren zur Bestimmung des Grades und der Geschwindigkeit des aeroben Bioabbaus von Kunststoffmaterialien fest, welche sich auf dem marinen sandigen Sediment an der Grenzfläche zwischen Meereswasser und dem Meeresboden abgesetzt haben, indem das freigesetzte Kohlenstoffdioxid (CO2) gemessen wird. Dieses Prüfverfahren kann auch auf andere Feststoffe angewendet werden.
Dieses Prüfverfahren ist eine Simulation des Lebensraums unter Laborbedingungen, der in unterschied¬lichen Meereswasser-/Sedimentbereichen im Meer anzutreffen ist, so z. B. das Benthal, in dem Sonnenlicht noch bis zum Meeresgrund vordringt (euphotische Zone), die in der Meereswissenschaft als Sublitoral bezeichnet wird.
Die Bestimmung des Bioabbaus von Kunststoffmaterialien und anderen Feststoffen, die von Meeressediment begraben sind, ist nicht Gegenstand dieses Dokuments.
ANMERKUNG Die Messung des aeroben Bioabbaus kann auch durch Überwachung des Sauerstoffverbrauchs erfolgen, wie in ISO 18830 beschrieben.
Die in diesem Dokument beschriebenen Bedingungen entsprechen nicht immer den Optimalbedingungen, unter denen der höchste Grad an biologischem Abbau möglich ist.
Plastiques - Détermination de la biodégradation aérobie des matières plastiques non-flottantes dans une interface eau de mer/sédiments - Méthode par analyse du dioxyde de carbone libéré (ISO 19679:2020)
Le présent document spécifie une méthode d'essai permettant de déterminer le taux et le niveau de biodégradation aérobie des matériaux plastiques lorsqu'ils se trouvent sur des sédiments sableux marins à l'interface entre l'eau de mer et le fond océanique, en mesurant le dioxyde de carbone (CO2) libéré. Cette méthode d'essai peut également être appliquée à d'autres matériaux solides.
Cette méthode d'essai est une simulation, dans les conditions de laboratoire, de l'habitat rencontré dans différentes zones d'eau de mer/de sédiments en mer, par exemple dans une zone benthique où les rayons du soleil atteignent le fond océanique (zone photique) c'est-à-dire ce qu'on appelle, en science marine, la zone sublittorale.
La détermination de la biodégradation des matériaux plastiques et autres matériaux solides enfouis dans les sédiments marins est hors du domaine d'application du présent document.
NOTE Le mesurage de la biodégradation aérobie peut également être obtenu en surveillant la consommation d'oxygène, comme décrit dans l'ISO 18830.
Les conditions décrites dans le présent document ne correspondent pas nécessairement aux conditions optimales permettant d'obtenir le taux maximal de biodégradation.
Polimerni materiali - Določanje aerobne biorazgradljivosti neplavajočih polimernih materialov v vmesnem predelu med morsko vodo in peščenim sedimentom - Metoda z analizo sproščenega ogljikovega dioksida (ISO 19679:2020)
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN ISO 19679:2020
01-september-2020
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 19679:2018
Polimerni materiali - Določanje aerobne biorazgradljivosti neplavajočih polimernih
materialov v vmesnem predelu med morsko vodo in peščenim sedimentom -
Metoda z analizo sproščenega ogljikovega dioksida (ISO 19679:2020)
Plastics - Determination of aerobic biodegradation of non-floating plastic materials in a
seawater/sediment interface - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide (ISO
19679:2020)
Kunststoffe - Bestimmung des aeroben Bioabbaus von nicht-schwimmenden
Kunststoffmaterialien in einer Meerwasser/Sediment-Schnittstelle - rüfverfahren mittels
Analyse des freigesetzten Kohlenstoffdioxids (ISO 19679:2020)
Plastiques - Détermination de la biodégradation aérobie des matières plastiques non-
flottantes dans une interface eau de mer/sédiments - Méthode par analyse du dioxyde
de carbone libéré (ISO 19679:2020)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 19679:2020
ICS:
83.080.01 Polimerni materiali na Plastics in general
splošno
SIST EN ISO 19679:2020 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 19679:2020
---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 19679:2020
EN ISO 19679
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
July 2020
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 83.080.01 Supersedes EN ISO 19679:2017
English Version
Plastics - Determination of aerobic biodegradation of non-
floating plastic materials in a seawater/sediment interface
- Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide (ISO
19679:2020)
Plastiques - Détermination de la biodégradation Kunststoffe - Bestimmung des aeroben Bioabbaus von
aérobie des matières plastiques non-flottantes dans nicht-schwimmenden Kunststoffmaterialien in einer
une interface eau de mer/sédiments - Méthode par Meerwasser/Sediment-Schnittstelle - Prüfverfahren
analyse du dioxyde de carbone libéré (ISO mittels Analyse des freigesetzten Kohlenstoffdioxids
19679:2020) (ISO 19679:2020)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 7 June 2020.
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-CENELEC 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-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2020 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 19679:2020 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 19679:2020
EN ISO 19679:2020 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
2
---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 19679:2020
EN ISO 19679:2020 (E)
European foreword
This document (EN ISO 19679:2020) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61 "Plastics"
in collaboration with 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 January 2021, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by January 2021.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 19679:2017.
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,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 19679:2020 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 19679:2020 without any modification.
3
---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 19679:2020
---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 19679:2020
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 19679
Second edition
2020-06
Plastics — Determination of aerobic
biodegradation of non-floating plastic
materials in a seawater/sediment
interface — Method by analysis of
evolved carbon dioxide
Plastiques — Détermination de la biodégradation aérobie des
matières plastiques non-flottantes dans une interface eau de mer/
sédiments — Méthode par analyse du dioxyde de carbone libéré
Reference number
ISO 19679:2020(E)
©
ISO 2020
---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 19679:2020
ISO 19679:2020(E)
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2020
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Fax: +41 22 749 09 47
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved
---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 19679:2020
ISO 19679:2020(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 2
5 Test environment . 2
6 Reagents . 2
7 Apparatus . 3
8 Procedure. 3
8.1 Test material . 3
8.2 Reference material . 4
8.3 Preparation of the sediment . 4
8.4 Test setup . 4
8.5 Pre-conditioning phase . 4
8.6 Start of the test . 5
8.7 Carbon dioxide measurement . 5
8.8 End of the test . 6
9 Calculation and expression of results . 6
9.1 Calculation . 6
9.1.1 Amount of CO produced . 6
2
9.1.2 Percentage of biodegradation. 8
9.2 Visual inspection . 8
9.3 Expression and interpretation of results . 8
10 Validity of results . 9
11 Test report . 9
Annex A (informative) Example of respirometric system based on CO measurement .11
2
Bibliography .12
© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved iii
---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 19679:2020
ISO 19679:2020(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.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
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. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www .iso .org/
iso/ foreword .html.
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 14, Environmental
aspects, in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee
CEN/TC 249, Plastics, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN
(Vienna Agreement).
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 19679:2016), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— in Annex A: Density of O in air at 1 atm, 28 °C and a relative humidity of 100 % has been corrected
2
and the subsequent calculations have been adapted accordingly.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
iv © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved
---------------------- Page: 10 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 19679:2020
ISO 19679:2020(E)
Introduction
Products made with biodegradable plastics are designed to be recovered by means of organic recycling
in composting plants or in anaerobic digesters. The uncontrolled dispersion of biodegradable plastics
in natural environments is not desirable. The biodegradability of products cannot be considered as an
excuse to spread wastes that should be recovered and recycled. However, test methods to measure rate
and level of biodegradation in natural environments (such as soil or the marine environment) are of
interest in order to better characterize the behaviour of plastics in these very particular environments.
As a matter of fact, some plastics are used in products that are applied in the sea (e.g. fishing gear)
and sometimes they can get lost or put willingly in the marine environment. The characterization of
biodegradable plastic materials can be enlarged by applying specific test methods that enable the
quantitative assessment of biodegradation of plastics exposed to marine sediment and seawater. Plastic
products are directly littered or arrive with fresh waters in the pelagic zone (free water). From there,
and depending on density, tides, currents, and marine fouling plastics can sink to the sublittoral, and
reach the seafloor surface. Many biodegradable plastics have a density higher than 1 and therefore tend
to sink. The sediment passes from aerobic to anoxic and finally anaerobic conditions going from the
surface (the interface with seawater) into deeper layers, displaying a very steep oxygen gradient.
© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved v
---------------------- Page: 11 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 19679:2020
---------------------- Page: 12 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 19679:2020
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 19679:2020(E)
Plastics — Determination of aerobic biodegradation of
non-floating plastic materials in a seawater/sediment
interface — Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide
1 Scope
This document specifies a test method to determine the degree and rate of aerobic biodegradation of
plastic materials when settled on marine sandy sediment at the interface between seawater and the
seafloor, by measuring the evolved carbon dioxide (CO ). This test method can also be applied to other
2
solid materials.
This test method is a simulation under laboratory conditions of the habitat found in different seawater/
sediment-areas in the sea, e.g. in a benthic zone where sunlight reaches the ocean floor (photic zone)
that, in marine science, is called sublittoral zone
The determination of biodegradation of plastic materials and other solid materials buried in marine
sediment is outside the scope of this document.
NOTE Measurement of aerobic biodegradation can also be obtained by monitoring the oxygen consumption,
as described in ISO 18830.
The conditions described in this document do not always correspond to the optimum conditions for the
maximum degree of biodegradation to occur.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
theoretical amount of evolved carbon dioxide
ThCO
2
maximum theoretical amount of carbon dioxide evolved after completely oxidising a chemical compound,
calculated from the molecular formula or from determination of total organic carbon (TOC) (3.2)
Note 1 to entry: It is expressed as mg of carbon dioxide evolved per mg or g of test compound.
3.2
total organic carbon
TOC
amount of carbon bound in an organic compound
Note 1 to entry: Total organic carbon is expressed as mg of carbon per 100 mg of the compound.
© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved 1
---------------------- Page: 13 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 19679:2020
ISO 19679:2020(E)
3.3
dissolved organic carbon
DOC
part of the organic carbon in water which cannot be removed by specified phase separation methods,
−2
for example by centrifugation at 40 000 ms for 15 min or by membranes with pores of 0,2 µm to
0,45 µm diameter
3.4
pre-conditioning phase
pre-incubation of an inoculum under the conditions of the subsequent test in the absence of test material,
with the aim to consume potential organic matter present in excess that could disturb biodegradation
measurement and to improve the acclimatization of the microorganisms to the test conditions
4 Principle
This test method is based on the determination of evolved CO and derives from ISO 14852. The testing
2
medium is based on a solid phase and a liquid phase. The solid phase is a sandy marine sediment laid
in the bottom of a closed flask; the liquid phase is a column of natural or artificial sea water, poured on
the sediment. The test material is preferably in the form of a film to be laid down on top of the sediment,
at the interface between the solid phase and the liquid phase. This is a simulation of an object that has
sunk and finally reached the sea floor. The system is contained in a closed flask.
The CO evolved during the microbial degradation is determined by a suitable analytical method. The
2
level of biodegradation is determined by comparing the amount of CO evolved with the theoretical
2
amount (ThCO ) and expressed in percentage. The test result is the maximum level of biodegradation,
2
determined from the plateau phase of the biodegradation curve. The principle of a system for measuring
evolved CO is given in ISO 14852:2018, Annex A.
2
The details of interlaboratory testing based on the test method specified in this document are available
in Reference [6].
5 Test environment
Incubation shall take place in the dark or in diffuse light in an enclosure which is free from vapours
inhibitory to microorganisms and which is maintained at a constant temperature, preferably between
15 °C to 25 °C, but not exceeding 28 °C, to an accuracy of ± 2 °C. Any change in temperature shall be
justified and clearly indicated in the test report.
NOTE Temperatures applied in the test can be different from those found in marine environments
6 Reagents
6.1 Distilled or deionized water, free of toxic substances (copper in particular) and containing less
than 2
...
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN ISO 19679:2019
01-december-2019
Polimerni materiali - Ugotavljanje aerobne biodegradacije neplavajočih plastičnih
materialov v vmesnem predelu med morsko vodo in peščenim sedimentom -
Metoda z analizo sproščenega ogljikovega dioksida (ISO/DIS 19679:2019)
Plastics - Determination of aerobic biodegradation of non-floating plastic materials in a
seawater/sediment interface - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide (ISO/DIS
19679:2019)
Kunststoffe - Bestimmung des aeroben Bioabbaus von nicht-schwimmenden
Kunststoffmaterialien in einer Meerwasser/Sediment-Schnittstelle - rüfverfahren mittels
Analyse des freigesetzten Kohlenstoffdioxids (ISO/DIS 19679:2019)
Plastiques - Détermination de la biodégradation aérobie des matières plastiques non-
flottantes dans une interface eau de mer/sédiments - Méthode par analyse du dioxyde
de carbone libéré (ISO/DIS 19679:2019)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN ISO 19679
ICS:
83.080.01 Polimerni materiali na Plastics in general
splošno
oSIST prEN ISO 19679:2019 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 19679:2019
---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 19679:2019
DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
ISO/DIS 19679
ISO/TC 61/SC 14 Secretariat: DIN
Voting begins on: Voting terminates on:
2019-10-01 2019-12-24
Plastics — Determination of aerobic biodegradation of
non-floating plastic materials in a seawater/sediment
interface — Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide
Plastiques — Détermination de la biodégradation aérobie des matières plastiques non-flottantes à
l'interface eau de mer/sédiments — Méthode par analyse du dioxyde de carbone libéré
ICS: 83.080.01
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
This document is circulated as received from the committee secretariat.
FOR COMMENT AND APPROVAL. IT IS
THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY
NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD UNTIL PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
Reference number
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO/DIS 19679:2019(E)
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
©
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. ISO 2019
---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 19679:2019
ISO/DIS 19679:2019(E)
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2019
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Fax: +41 22 749 09 47
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved
---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 19679:2019
ISO/DIS 19679:2019(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 2
5 Test environment . 2
6 Reagents . 2
7 Apparatus . 3
8 Procedure. 3
8.1 Test material . 3
8.2 Reference material . 4
8.3 Preparation of the sediment . 4
8.4 Test setup . 4
8.5 Pre-conditioning phase . 4
8.6 Start of the test . 5
8.7 Carbon dioxide measurement . 5
8.8 End of the test . 6
9 Calculation and expression of results . 6
9.1 Calculation . 6
9.1.1 Amount of CO produced . 6
2
9.1.2 Percentage of biodegradation. 8
9.2 Visual inspection . 8
9.3 Expression and interpretation of results . 9
10 Validity of results . 9
11 Test report . 9
Annex A (informative) Example of respirometric system based on CO measurement .11
2
Bibliography .12
© ISO 2019 – All rights reserved iii
---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 19679:2019
ISO/DIS 19679:2019(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.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/directives).
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. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www .iso
.org/iso/foreword .html.
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 14, Environmental
aspects.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 19679:2016), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— Annex A: Density of O in air at 1 atm, 28 °C and a relative humidity of 100 % was corrected and the
2
following calculations adapted accordingly.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/members .html.
iv © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved
---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 19679:2019
ISO/DIS 19679:2019(E)
Introduction
Products made with biodegradable plastics are designed to be recovered by means of organic recycling
in composting plants or in anaerobic digesters. The uncontrolled dispersion of biodegradable plastics
in natural environments is not desirable. The biodegradability of products cannot be considered as an
excuse to spread wastes that should be recovered and recycled. However, test methods to measure rate
and level of biodegradation in natural environments (such as soil or the marine environment) are of
interest in order to better characterize the behaviour of plastics in these very particular environments.
As a matter of fact, some plastics are used in products that are applied in the sea (e.g. fishing gear)
and sometimes they can get lost or put willingly in marine environment. The characterization of
biodegradable plastic materials can be enlarged by applying specific test methods that enable the
quantitative assessment of biodegradation of plastics exposed to marine sediment and seawater. Plastic
products are directly littered or arrive with fresh waters in the pelagic zone (free water). From there,
and depending on density, tides, currents, and marine fouling plastics may sink to the sublittoral, and
reach the seafloor surface. Many biodegradable plastics have a density higher than 1 and therefore tend
to sink. The sediment passes from aerobic to anoxic and finally anaerobic conditions going from the
surface (the interface with seawater) into deeper layers, displaying a very steep oxygen gradient.
© ISO 2019 – All rights reserved v
---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 19679:2019
---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 19679:2019
DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/DIS 19679:2019(E)
Plastics — Determination of aerobic biodegradation of
non-floating plastic materials in a seawater/sediment
interface — Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies a test method to determine the degree and rate of aerobic
biodegradation of plastic materials when settled on marine sandy sediment at the interface between
seawater and the seafloor, by measuring the evolved carbon dioxide.
This test method is a simulation under laboratory conditions of the habitat found in different seawater/
sediment-areas in the sea, e.g. in a benthic zone where sunlight reaches the ocean floor (photic zone)
that, in marine science, is called sublittoral zone
The determination of biodegradation of plastic materials buried in marine sediment is outside the
scope of this International Standard.
Measurement of aerobic biodegradation can also be obtained by monitoring the oxygen consumption,
as described in ISO 18830.
The conditions described in this International Standard may not always correspond to the optimum
conditions for the maximum degree of biodegradation to occur.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 14852:1999, Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous
medium — Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide
ISO 8245, Water quality — Guidelines for the determination of total organic carbon (TOC) and dissolved
organic carbon (DOC)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
theoretical amount of evolved carbon dioxide
ThCO
2
maximum theoretical amount of carbon dioxide evolved after completely oxidising a chemical
compound, calculated from the molecular formula or from determination of total organic carbon (TOC)
Note 1 to entry: It is expressed as milligrams of carbon dioxide evolved per milligram or gram of test compound.
3.2
total organic carbon
TOC
amount of carbon bound in an organic compound
Note 1 to entry: Total organic carbon is expressed as milligrams of carbon per 100 mg of the compound.
© ISO 2019 – All rights reserved 1
---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 19679:2019
ISO/DIS 19679:2019(E)
3.3
dissolved organic carbon
DOC
that part of the organic carbon in water which cannot be removed by specified phase separation
-2
methods, for example by centrifugation at 40 000 ms for 15 min or by membranes with pores of
0,2 µm to 0,45 µm diameter
3.4
pre-conditioning phase
pre-incubation of an inoculum under the conditions of the subsequent test in the absence of test material,
with the aim to consume potential organic matter present in excess that could disturb biodegradation
measurement and to improve the acclimatization of the microorganisms to the test conditions
4 Principle
This test method is based on the determination of evolved carbon dioxide and derives from ISO 14852.
The testing medium is based on a solid phase and a liquid phase. The solid phase is a sandy marine
sediment laid in the bottom of a closed flask; the liquid phase is a column of natural or artificial sea
water, poured on the sediment. The test material is preferably in the form of a film to be laid down on
top of the sediment, at the interface between the solid phase and the liquid phase. This is a simulation of
an object that has sunk and finally reached the sea floor. The system is contained in a closed flask.
The carbon dioxide evolved during the microbial degradation is determined by a suitable analytical
method. The level of biodegradation is determined by comparing the amount of carbon dioxide evolved
with the theoretical amount (ThCO ) and expressed in percentage. The test result is the maximum level
2
of biodegradation, determined from the plateau phase of the biodegradation curve. The principle of a
system for measuring evolved carbon dioxide is given in ISO 14852:1999, Annex A.
The details of interlaboratory testing based on the test method specified in this International Standard
[5]
are available in Reference .
5 Test environment
Incubation shall take place in the dark or in diffuse light in an enclosure which is free from vapours
inhibitory to microorganisms and which is maintained at a constant temperature, preferably between
15 °C to 25 °C, but not exceeding 28 °C, to an accuracy of ±2 °C. Any change in temperature shall be
justified and clearly indicated in the test report.
NOTE Test results are obtained for temperature that may be different from real conditions in marine
environment.
6 Reagents
6.1 Distilled or deionized water, free of toxic substances (copper in particular) and containing less
than 2 mg/l of DOC.
6.2 Artificial seawater
Dissolve:
Sodium chloride (NaCl) 22 g
Magnesium chloride hexahydrate (MgCl · 6 H O) 9,7 g
2 2
Sodium sulfate (Na SO ) 3,7 g
2 4
2 © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved
---------------------- Page: 10 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 19679:2019
ISO/DIS 19679:2019(E)
Calcium chloride (CaCl ) 1 g
2
Potassium chloride (KCl) 0,65 g
Sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO ) 0,20 g
3
in water (6.1) and make up to 1 000 ml.
6.3 Natural seawater/sediment
Take a sample of a sandy sediment and seawater with a shovel beneath the low-water line into a bucket.
Transfer the wet sediment together with seawater into sealed containers for transport and fast deliver
it to the laboratory. After delivery, conserve the sediment at low temperature (approximately 4 °C) until
use. The seawater/sediment sample should be preferably used within 4 weeks after sampling. Record
storage time and conditions.
NOTE Seawater and sediment can also be sampled from large, well-running public marine aquaria.
Measure the TOC, pH and nitrogen content of the sediment and of the natural seawater if used instead
of artificial seawater. The carbon content of sediment should be in the range of 0,1 % to 2 %.
A preliminary oxidation can be applied to the sediment in order to dec
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.