Abstract

This document specifies a method for the determination of the chloride (Cl-) content by potentiometric titration. This method is applicable to growing media and soil improvers.
NOTE 1   It is possible to use other analytical techniques (e.g. ion chromatography, discrete analyser, continuous flow analyser); in this case a validation is carried out by the laboratory for the procedure and data generated.
NOTE 2   This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (as included in Annex B, (composted bark, green compost, solid digestate, soil improver in pellet form and growing media blend 1 (peat + green compost + wood fibre + liming material + inorganic fertilizer)).

Status
Not Published
Public Enquiry End Date
19-Dec-2025
Technical Committee
KAT - Soil quality
Current Stage
5020 - Formal vote (FV) (Adopted Project)
Start Date
09-Oct-2026
Due Date
27-Nov-2026

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kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 is a draft European Standard published by SIST for determining chloride content in soil improvers and growing media. It specifies a potentiometric titration method for laboratories that need chloride results for routine testing, quality control, or product verification.

What does kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 specify?

kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 specifies a method for measuring chloride ion content by potentiometric titration in growing media and soil improvers. The document is organized as a test method: it covers scope, references, terms, principle, reagents, apparatus, sampling, extraction, titration, calculation, test reporting, and method validation.

AnnexWhat it covers
Annex APreparation and standardization of 0,1 mol/l silver nitrate solution
Annex BPerformance characteristics of the method

The method is intended for analytical use on these products after appropriate sampling and sample preparation. It also notes that other analytical techniques may be used if the laboratory validates the procedure and the data it produces.

What are the key requirements of kSIST FprEN 18252:2026?

Sample handling and extraction

kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 requires the laboratory sample to be prepared according to prEN 13040-1:2025, and sampling to follow EN 12579:2024. This matters because the chloride result is only meaningful if the sample represents the product and has not been altered during transport or storage.

The extraction step depends on the material form. Solid samples are homogenized and extracted with water, pre-shaped products are squeezed after extraction, and liquid materials are weighed directly. In practice, the operator must choose the extraction route that matches the product form.

Reagents, equipment, and measurement conditions

kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 requires analytical-grade reagents, including water of low conductivity, nitric acid, silver nitrate standard solution, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution. If the laboratory prepares its own silver nitrate solution, Annex A gives the standardization procedure.

The method uses potentiometric equipment with a suitable chloride-sensitive electrode arrangement. The measurement temperature should be close to 23 °C, and the temperatures of the sample solution and standard solutions shall not differ by more than 1 °C. This reduces drift and helps the titration endpoint remain stable.

Titration procedure and checks

kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 specifies potentiometric titration with silver nitrate after acidifying the extract to a low pH. The endpoint is read from the largest change in potential between successive additions of titrant. Manual titration and automatic titration are both allowed.

A blank test is required, and a recovery test is mandatory before routine determination. The recovery test uses added sodium chloride to check whether the method is giving acceptable recovery for the sample matrix. In practice, this is the control step that tells the laboratory whether the result needs correction.

Calculation and reporting

kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 gives calculation routes for chloride content as g/kg of fresh matter and, after moisture correction, as g/kg of dry matter. The dry matter result relies on the dry matter content determined according to prEN 13040-1:2025.

The test report must identify the sample, method, test conditions, sampling information, laboratory bulk density, recovery correction if used, and any deviations or incidents that could affect the result. That makes the report usable for traceability and for comparing results between laboratories.

Method validation

kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 states that the method was validated according to ISO 5725-2 and that performance characteristics are given in Annex B. The method was checked on several product matrices, so users can see how the procedure performed on representative soil improvers and growing media materials.

What terms does kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 define?

  • Chloride content - the mass fraction of chlorides, expressed as g/kg of dry matter, measured by the procedure in this document.
  • Potentiometric titration - the measurement principle used to find the chloride endpoint from electrode potential changes during silver nitrate addition.
  • Blank test - a control titration carried out with the same reagents but without the sample, used to correct the result.
  • Recovery test - a check where a known amount of sodium chloride is added to the sample to verify method accuracy.
  • Equivalence point - the titration point where the potential change is greatest and the chloride reaction with silver nitrate is treated as complete.
  • Dry matter content - the moisture-related value used to convert chloride content from fresh matter to dry matter basis.

Who uses kSIST FprEN 18252:2026?

kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 is used by testing laboratories, producers of soil improvers and growing media, and quality managers who need a common chloride test method. It is also relevant for conformity assessment and product control where chloride content has to be measured on composts, digestates, soil improvers in pellet form, and growing media blends.

In practice, users apply it for routine analysis, incoming material checks, product release, and comparison of results between laboratories.

Which standards are used with kSIST FprEN 18252:2026?

  • CEN/TS 17732:2022 - provides the terminology used by the document.
  • EN 12579:2024 - gives the sampling method for soil improvers and growing media.
  • prEN 13040-1:2025 - covers sample preparation and dry matter determination used alongside the chloride test.
  • ISO 5725-2:2019 - provides the accuracy framework used for method validation and performance statistics.

What does the kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 document contain?

kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 contains the full laboratory workflow for chloride determination: principle, required reagents, apparatus, sampling interface, extraction steps for different product forms, potentiometric titration procedure, calculation formulas, and reporting rules. It also includes a normative annex for preparing and standardizing silver nitrate solution, which is important if the laboratory does not use a certified ready-made solution.

Annex B summarizes the method validation and performance characteristics from an interlaboratory study. It shows how the method behaved across multiple materials and gives repeatability and reproducibility data for users who need to judge method performance for routine testing or quality control.

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Frequently Asked Questions

kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 is a draft published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the chloride content". This standard covers: This document specifies a method for the determination of the chloride (Cl-) content by potentiometric titration. This method is applicable to growing media and soil improvers. NOTE 1 It is possible to use other analytical techniques (e.g. ion chromatography, discrete analyser, continuous flow analyser); in this case a validation is carried out by the laboratory for the procedure and data generated. NOTE 2 This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (as included in Annex B, (composted bark, green compost, solid digestate, soil improver in pellet form and growing media blend 1 (peat + green compost + wood fibre + liming material + inorganic fertilizer)).

This document specifies a method for the determination of the chloride (Cl-) content by potentiometric titration. This method is applicable to growing media and soil improvers. NOTE 1 It is possible to use other analytical techniques (e.g. ion chromatography, discrete analyser, continuous flow analyser); in this case a validation is carried out by the laboratory for the procedure and data generated. NOTE 2 This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (as included in Annex B, (composted bark, green compost, solid digestate, soil improver in pellet form and growing media blend 1 (peat + green compost + wood fibre + liming material + inorganic fertilizer)).

kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 65.080 - Fertilizers. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.

kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2019/1009; Standardization Mandates: M/564, M/564 AMD 1, M/564 AMD 2. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.

kSIST FprEN 18252:2026 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.

Standards Content (Sample)


SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 18252:2025
01-december-2025
Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Določanje klorida
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the chloride content
Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung des Chloridgehaltes
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Détermination de la teneur en chlorures
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 18252
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
oSIST prEN 18252:2025 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

oSIST prEN 18252:2025
oSIST prEN 18252:2025
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 18252
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
October 2025
ICS 65.080
English Version
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the
chloride content
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate -
Détermination de la teneur en chlorures Bestimmung des Chloridgehaltes
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 223.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, 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.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN 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, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
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.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 18252:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

oSIST prEN 18252:2025
prEN 18252:2025 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Principle . 4
4.1 General. 4
4.2 Interferences . 4
5 Reagents . 4
6 Apparatus and equipment . 5
7 Sampling . 6
8 Procedure . 6
8.1 General. 6
8.2 Temperature for measurements . 6
8.3 Extraction of materials . 6
8.3.1 General. 6
8.3.2 Extraction of materials in solid form . 6
8.3.3 Extraction of materials in pre-shaped form . 7
8.3.4 Filtration . 7
8.3.5 Liquid materials . 7
8.4 Determination by potentiometric titration . 7
8.4.1 Preparation of test portion (sample) . 7
8.4.2 Blank test . 7
8.4.3 Recovery test (mandatory) . 8
9 Calculation and expression of the results . 8
10 Test report . 9
11 Validation of the method . 10
11.1 Validation in accordance with ISO 5725-2. 10
11.2 Performance characteristics. 10
Annex A (normative) Preparation and standardization of 0,1 mol/l silver nitrate solution . 11
Annex B (informative) Performance characteristics of the method . 12
Bibliography . 14

oSIST prEN 18252:2025
prEN 18252:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 18252:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 223 “Soil
improvers and growing media”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN. This document was prepared in
collaboration with CEN/TC 260 “Fertilizers and liming materials”.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
oSIST prEN 18252:2025
prEN 18252:2025 (E)
1 Scope
-
This document specifies a method for the determination of the chloride (Cl ) content by potentiometric
titration. This method is applicable to growing media and soil improvers.
NOTE It is possible to use other analytical techniques (e.g. ion chromatography, discrete analyser, continuous
flow analyser); in this case a validation is carried out by the laboratory for the procedure and data generated.
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.
CEN/TS 17732:2022, Soil improvers and growing media - Terminology
EN 12579:2024, Soil improvers and growing media - Sampling
prEN 13040-1:2025, Soil improvers and growing media — Sample preparation — Part 1: Sample
preparation for chemical and physical tests, determination of dry matter content, moisture content and
laboratory bulk density
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions given in CEN/TS 17732:2022 and
the following apply.
3.1
chloride content
mass fraction of chlorides, expressed in g/kg of dry matter, determined in accordance with the procedure
described in this document
4 Principle
4.1 General
Soluble chlorides are extracted from the sample with water containing nitric acid. The chloride content
of the solution is titrated with silver nitrate standard solution. The end point is determined
potentiometrically by using either a silver ion selective electrode plus a reference electrode or a
combined electrode.
4.2 Interferences
-
Maintaining the sample at a lower pH can avoid the silver ion from interacting with OH to precipitate as
silver oxide (Ag O), it minimizes the interference of other anions with AgCl formation, and it improves
the binding between the titrant and the analyte.
5 Reagents
Only reagents of recognized analytical grade shall be used.
5.1 Water, with a specific conductivity not higher than 0,2 mS/m at 25 °C, free from the elements shall
be used.
5.2 Nitric acid concentrated, 70 % w/v, p.a.
oSIST prEN 18252:2025
prEN 18252:2025 (E)
5.3 Nitric acid solution
It shall dilute 1:1 concentrated nitric acid (5.2) in water (5.1).
5.4 Silver nitrate standard solution, c = 0,1 mol/l solution.
The silver nitrate solution of 0,1 mol/l in water (5.1) shall be prepared. Many silver nitrate solutions
ready-to-use are commercially available with the certified concentration.
If an in-house solution is prepared, it shall be standardized following the instructions in Annex A.
5.5 Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution, acidified with nitric acid.
It is recommended to use an acidified protector colloid medium for the potentiometric titration.
2 g of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) shall be mixed with 400 ml of hot water (approximately 90 °C) in a 1 000 ml
one-mark volumetric glass flask (6.3) and let it cool to room temperature. Nitric acid (5.3) shall be added
for an amount of 10ml, then filled up with water to 1 000 ml.
5.6 Sodium chloride, p.a., for the standardization of silver nitrate solution (5.4)
For the preparation of sodium chloride solution, the instructions in Annex A shall be followed.
Many solutions ready-to-use are commercially available with concentration c = 0,01 mol/l.
6 Apparatus and equipment
This method describes manual titrations. Automatic titrators may be used. Ordinary laboratory
equipment and the following shall be used.
6.1 Electromagnetic stirrer and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated magnetic bars.
6.2 Glass burettes, class A or AS [4], with a reading accuracy of 0,02 ml, or automatic pipettes with a
reading accuracy of 0,002 ml.
6.3 One-mark volumetric glass flasks, Class A [5], capacity 150 ml, 500 ml and 1 000 ml.
6.4 Glass beaker [6], capacity 300 ml.
6.5 Glass conical (Erlenmeyer) flask, capacity 250 ml.
6.6 Potentiometer, with a reading accuracy of 0,1 mV, equipped with an electrode suitable for the
measurement of chloride (e.g. a silver electrode or ion selective electrode for chloride) and a reference
electrode (e.g. a mercury(I) sulphate electrode). Alternatively, use a suitable combination electrode.
6.7 HPE bottles or containers, sufficiently large (500 ml to 2 000 ml) with screw cap to accommodate
the volume of the sample, extractant and at least 10 % air volume.
6.8 Analytical balance with an accuracy of 0,001 g.
6.9 Technical balance with an accuracy of 0,01 g.
6.10 Qualitative filter paper, cellulose-based ashless type.
NOTE Centrifugation is an acceptable alternative: a centrifuge with a speed of at least 3 000 rpm.
6.11 Orbital shaker, capable of holding the plastic bottles or containers (6.7) and maintaining the
sample in suspension without damaging the structure of the sample.
oSIST prEN 18252:2025
prEN 18252:2025 (E)
6.12 Pipettes, class AS with an accuracy of 0,1 ml.
6.13 Graduated glass cylinder, class A, with capacity 50 ml, 100 ml and 250 ml.
6.14 pH testing device, e.g. pH meter, pH indicator paper, or pH rapid test.
7 Sampling
Sampling is not part of the method specified in this document. EN 12579:2024 shall be followed dealing
with soil improvers and growing media. It is important that the laboratory receives a sample that is
representative of the product under consideration. The sample should not have been damaged or
changed during transport or storage.
8 Procedure
8.1 General
Tests conducted according to this document shall be carried out by suitably trained staff. Persons using
this document should be familiar with usual laboratory practice. This document does not purport to
address all of the safety issues, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user to establish
appropriate health and safety practices and to ensure compliance with any national regulatory
conditions.
8.2 Temperature for measurements
To reduce the effects of thermal and electric hysteresis, the temperatures of the electrodes, the water
used for washing, the standard solutions and the test solution shall be as close to each other as possible.
The temperatures of the standard solutions and the test solution shall not differ by more than 1 °C. The
measurement temperature should be 23 °C ± 3 °C whenever possible.
8.3 Extraction of
...