EN ISO 16094-2:2025 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 16094-2:2025 - "Water quality - Analysis of microplastic in water - Part 2: Vibrational spectroscopy methods for waters with low content of suspended solids including drinking water" (ISO 16094-2:2025) specifies principles and procedures for detecting, counting and chemically identifying microplastics in waters with low suspended solids (including ultrapure water, drinking water and raw groundwater). The method uses microscopy coupled with vibrational spectroscopy (infrared and Raman) and is intended for automatic analysis of large numbers of particles while minimizing laboratory contamination.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope & matrix: Applicable to waters with low natural suspended matter or organic matter as defined in ISO 6107 (approx. 1 mg/L to 100 mg/L, or lower if interfering).
• Particle size range: Designed for microplastics from 1 µm to 5 000 µm; supports counting and size-classification.
• Polymer identification: Chemical identification targets major industrial and environmentally abundant polymers, including PE, PP, PET, PC, PS, PTFE, PVC, PA, PMMA, PU.
• Instrumentation: Uses infrared (IR) and Raman microscopes; requirements cover instrument adjustment, calibration, spectral acquisition and database matching for automatic identification.
• Sample handling & contamination control: Emphasizes strict anti‑contamination procedures during sampling and preparation because concentrations are typically very low.
• Filter analysis strategies: Describes grid/scan models (TOTAL, RANDOM, CAKE, SPIRAL/HELIX) for automated mapping of filter surfaces and particle selection strategies.
• Quality assurance: Includes analytical control blanks, verification of size measurement accuracy, determination of method reporting limits, recovery-rate verification, and criteria for spectral match (HQI).
• Interferences and limitations:
  • Known spectral interferences (pigments, dyes, protein vs polyamide, long CH-chain overlaps) are addressed.
  • The method does not characterize surface-adsorbed substances or determine particle geometric shape.
• Scope beyond plastics: Can also identify non-plastic particles (minerals, proteins, cellulose, pigments) encountered during analysis.

Applications and intended users

• Water utilities and laboratories testing drinking water and low-turbidity sources for microplastics.
• Environmental monitoring agencies and groundwater quality programs.
• Academic and industrial research groups studying microplastic occurrence, trends and polymer composition in low-solid waters.
• Manufacturers and service providers of vibrational spectroscopy instrumentation and automated image analysis tools.

Related standards

• ISO 6107 (water quality - definitions and terms for suspended/organic matter) is referenced for matrix classification.
• EN ISO 16094-2:2025 complements other parts of the ISO 16094 series and water‑quality analytical standards addressing microplastic sampling, preparation and reporting.

Keywords: EN ISO 16094-2:2025, microplastic analysis, vibrational spectroscopy, infrared microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, drinking water, low suspended solids, polymer identification, contamination control.