SIST EN ISO 14853:2018 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 14853:2017 (ISO 14853:2016) specifies a laboratory test method to determine the ultimate anaerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous system by measuring biogas production. The standard quantifies how much carbon in a plastic sample is converted to biogas (CO2 and CH4) when exposed to anaerobic microorganisms in sludge. The test period can be up to 90 days - longer than the typical anaerobic digester retention time (25–30 days) - and is intended to assess potential biodegradation under controlled anaerobic conditions, not necessarily optimized for maximum degradation.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Test principle: Exposure of the test material to anaerobic inoculum (digested sludge) and measurement of biogas generation as an indicator of biodegradation.
• Applicable materials: Natural and synthetic polymers (including copolymers and mixtures), plastics with additives (plasticizers, colorants), water‑soluble polymers, and other materials that do not inhibit the inoculum.
• Inhibition controls: The method requires procedures to detect inhibitory effects (e.g., using an inhibition control). If inhibition occurs, options include reducing test concentration, changing inoculum, or pre‑exposing inoculum (see also ISO 13641).
• Measurement methods: Biogas can be measured by manometric (pressure increase) or volumetric methods; the standard includes apparatus examples and calculation procedures.
• Analyses & calculations: Determination of inorganic carbon in liquid, calculation of carbon in headspace, total carbon converted to gas, and expression as percentage biodegradation.
• Validity criteria & reporting: Requirements for maintaining anaerobic conditions, test validity checks, and recommended test report content. Informative annexes include example apparatus, biodegradation curves, data sheets, theoretical CH4/CO2 calculations and workflow schemes.

Applications

• Assessing whether plastic products or formulations are amenable to anaerobic treatment (e.g., municipal or industrial digesters).
• Supporting environmental claims and life‑cycle or end‑of‑life assessments for plastics.
• Screening candidate biodegradable polymers for waste management compatibility.
• Providing standardized data for regulators, recycling and waste‑treatment operators, and certification schemes.

Who should use this standard

• Material and polymer manufacturers developing biodegradable plastics or additives.
• Environmental and analytical testing laboratories conducting biodegradation testing.
• Waste management and anaerobic digestion operators evaluating feedstock impacts.
• Regulators, certifiers and researchers needing reproducible anaerobic biodegradability data.

Related standards

• ISO 13641 (methods for determining inhibition) - referenced for handling inhibitory test materials.
• Other ISO/CEN standards on biodegradation and compostability may be relevant when assessing different environments (aerobic soil, composting, marine).

Keywords: EN ISO 14853:2017, ISO 14853, anaerobic biodegradation, plastics, biogas production, anaerobic testing, biodegradability testing, sludge inoculum.