Overview
SIST EN ISO 21660-2:2026 specifies a standardized oven dry method to determine the total moisture content in solid recovered fuels (SRF) through a simplified on-site approach. Developed by CEN and ISO/TC 300, this standard is tailored for routine production control scenarios where acquiring a highly precise moisture value is not essential. Its protocol ensures that determinations are comparable across different facilities and fuel types.
The method involves drying a test portion of the laboratory sample in an oven at 105 ± 2°C until a constant mass is reached, then calculating the moisture lost as a percentage of the initial mass. The procedure has been designed for efficiency, reproducibility, and broad applicability across all types of solid recovered fuels, including those used in power generation and industrial processes.
Key Topics
- Moisture Content Determination: Outlines a standardized protocol for measuring total moisture levels in SRF, crucial for reporting fuel quality and energy content.
- Applicability: Intended for all types of solid recovered fuels, regardless of origin or composition. This includes materials like processed municipal waste, biomass, and industrial by-products.
- Equipment Requirements: Specifies essential apparatus, including an oven capable of controlled temperature, suitable drying containers, and a highly accurate balance.
- Sample Handling: Emphasizes representative sampling, prompt weighing, and careful handling of hygroscopic materials to ensure valid results.
- Precautions: Recommends alternative methods-such as lower oven temperatures or the Karl-Fischer titration (ISO 760)-for SRFs with high oil content or volatile compounds.
- Reporting: Details requirements for the test report to ensure traceability, transparency, and comparability of results.
- Environmental Considerations: Encourages environmentally responsible procedures throughout the analysis and highlights potential environmental impacts of fuel analysis activities.
Applications
This standard provides practical and reliable procedures for determining the moisture content of solid recovered fuels in:
- Production and Quality Control: Used on-site at fuel processing plants for routine monitoring, helping producers and users assess fuel quality and optimize processing parameters.
- Fuel Trading and Documentation: Ensures consistent reporting of fuel properties for regulatory compliance, contract fulfillment, and customer information.
- Energy Generation: Supports power plant operators in predicting combustion characteristics, adjusting process operations, and improving efficiency by understanding fuel moisture content.
- Laboratory Analysis: Offers a robust method for labs conducting compliance and reference testing according to international standards.
Using a harmonized method like SIST EN ISO 21660-2:2026 enables accurate benchmarking, regulatory adherence, and international trade of solid recovered fuels.
Related Standards
- ISO 21637: Vocabulary for solid recovered fuels, providing definitions crucial for proper interpretation of test results.
- ISO 21645: Standard on sampling methods for solid recovered fuels, ensuring sample representativeness.
- ISO 21646: Procedures for the preparation of samples prior to analysis.
- ISO 21660-3: Oven dry method for moisture content determination in the general analysis sample.
- CEN/TS 15414-1: Reference method for determining total moisture in solid recovered fuels using the oven dry method.
- ISO 760: Karl Fischer titration method for precise water content determination, offered as an alternative for samples with high oil or volatile content.
By aligning with SIST EN ISO 21660-2:2026, stakeholders in biofuels, waste-derived fuel production, and energy generation can ensure reliable, consistent, and internationally recognized moisture measurement outcomes. This supports quality management, regulatory compliance, and safe, efficient fuel utilization.