Overview
EN ISO 10210:2017 (ISO 10210:2012) - adopted by CEN - specifies standard methods for the preparation of test samples for biodegradation testing of plastic materials. The standard covers procedures to produce reproducible, dimensionally consistent samples used when determining ultimate aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability of plastics in media such as aqueous systems, soil, controlled compost and anaerobic digesting sludge. It applies to natural or synthetic polymers, polymer blends, materials with additives, and composite products.
Key Topics
- Scope and purpose: Ensures consistent sample geometry and particle size to improve reproducibility across biodegradation tests.
- Sample types: Guidance for preparing powders, pellets/granules, films, sheets and bulk product pieces for testing.
- Apparatus and reagents: Lists typical equipment (sieves, rotor/ball mills, rotating mechanical mixers, sieve shakers, microscopes) and reagents (solid carbon dioxide, liquid nitrogen) used in size reduction and sample handling.
- Preparation procedures: Stepwise methods for dimensional control before and after size reduction, milling techniques, sieving and particle-size fraction collection.
- Particle size distribution: Measurement, calculation and expression of particle-size distribution to verify sample validity for subsequent biodegradation tests.
- Storage and reporting: Recommendations for storage of prepared samples and minimum content of a sample-preparation report.
- Safety and traceability: Notes on user responsibility for safe handling of equipment/reagents and the need for documentation to support reproducible test results.
Applications and Users
EN ISO 10210 is used by:
- Environmental and materials testing laboratories performing standardized biodegradability tests.
- Polymer manufacturers and product developers preparing samples to demonstrate biodegradation performance or to compare formulations.
- Certification bodies and compostability testing facilities requiring standardized sample inputs for ISO-based test methods.
- Regulators and research organizations assessing environmental fate of plastics.
Practical benefits:
- Improved comparability of biodegradation data by removing variability due to inconsistent sample preparation.
- Clear protocol for converting end-products or raw pellets into test-ready specimens for ISO test methods.
- Enhanced documentation and traceability for regulatory submissions and certification dossiers.
Related Standards
Relevant ISO / EN standards that use prepared samples from EN ISO 10210 include:
Keywords: EN ISO 10210:2017, ISO 10210:2012, sample preparation for biodegradation, biodegradable plastics testing, particle size distribution, compostability testing, aerobic anaerobic biodegradability.
