EN 15935:2021

Soil, waste, treated biowaste and sludge - Determination of loss on ignition

This document specifies a method for the determination of the loss on ignition (LOI) at 550 °C. The dry matter is determined according to EN 15934.
This method applies to the determination of loss on ignition of sediment, sludge, treated biowaste, soil and waste.
NOTE   The loss on ignition is often used as an estimate for the content of organic matter in the sample. Inorganic substances or decomposition products (e.g. H2O, CO2, SO2, O2) are released or absorbed and some inorganic substances are volatile under the reaction conditions.

Boden, Abfall, behandelter Bioabfall und Schlamm - Bestimmung des Glühverlusts

Dieses Dokument legt ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Glühverlusts (LOI) bei 550 °C fest. Die Trockenmasse wird mit dem Verfahren nach EN 15934 bestimmt.
Dieses Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Glühverlusts ist anwendbar für Sediment, Schlamm, behandelten Bioabfall, Boden und Abfall.
ANMERKUNG   Der Glühverlust dient oft als Schätzwert für den Gehalt an organischen Bestandteilen in der Probe. Anorganische Stoffe oder Zersetzungsprodukte (z. B. H2O, CO2, SO2, O2) werden freigesetzt oder absorbiert und einige anorganische Stoffe sind unter den Reaktionsbedingungen flüchtig.

Sols, déchets, biodéchets traités et boues - Détermination de la perte au feu

Le présent document spécifie une méthode de détermination de la perte au feu (LOI) à 550 °C. La teneur en matière sèche est déterminée conformément à l’EN 15934.
Cette méthode s’applique à la détermination de la perte au feu des sédiments, des boues, des biodéchets traités, des sols et des déchets.
NOTE   La perte au feu est souvent utilisée comme une estimation de la teneur en matière organique dans l'échantillon. Des substances inorganiques ou des produits de décomposition (par exemple, H2O, CO2, SO2, O2) sont libérés ou absorbés et certaines substances inorganiques sont volatiles dans les conditions opératoires.

Blato, obdelani biološki odpadki, tla in odpadki - Določevanje žarilne izgube

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 10-Aug-2021
• Withdrawal Date: 27-Feb-2022
• ICS: 13.030.01 - Wastes in general
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 444 - Environmental characterization
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 444/WG 5 - Physical tests
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 11-Aug-2021
• Due Date: 12-Jan-2021
• Completion Date: 11-Aug-2021
• Ref Project: SIST EN 15935:2021 - Sludge, treated biowaste, soil and waste - Determination of loss on ignition

Relations

• Replaces: EN 15169:2007 - Characterization of waste - Determination of loss on ignition in waste, sludge and sediments
• Effective Date: 08-Jun-2022
• Replaces: EN 15935:2012 - Sludge, treated biowaste, soil and waste - Determination of loss on ignition
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2018

Overview

EN 15935:2021 is a CEN standard for the determination of loss on ignition (LOI) at 550 °C in soils, sediments, sludge, treated biowaste and various wastes. The method quantifies the mass lost on ignition of a dried or undried sample to constant mass and is commonly used as an empirical estimate of organic matter content. Dry matter determination is referenced to EN 15934.

Keywords: EN 15935:2021, loss on ignition, LOI, soil, sludge, treated biowaste, sediment, EN 15934, 550 °C.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope: Applies to sediment, sludge, treated biowaste, soil and waste; combines previous EN 15169 and EN 15935:2012 methods.
• Principle: Weigh test portion, incinerate at (550 ± 25) °C to constant mass, calculate LOI as mass loss.
• Constant mass: Defined when further 1 h heating changes mass by ≤ 0.5% (m/m) or ≤ 2 mg, whichever is greater.
• Apparatus: Crucibles (nickel, platinum, porcelain or silica), furnace maintained at 550 ± 25 °C, desiccator, metal cooling plate and precision balance (1 mg resolution).
• Sample mass and preparation: Typical test portion 0.5–5 g (larger if complete combustion ensured); pretreatment per EN 15002 / EN 16179 (comminution to <200 µm for solids, mixing with Al2O3 for pasty samples, homogenization of liquids).
• Procedure variations:
  • Dried sample (air-dried or dried at 105 ± 5 °C using EN 15934 for dry matter).
  • Undried sample method and step-wise heating for samples high in volatiles or organic matter (cold insertion into furnace, slow ramping, or stepwise to 250 °C for pyrolysis).
• Interferences and errors: LOI is empirical - elemental carbon, chemically bound water, volatilization of inorganic compounds, oxidation of metals (Fe), sulphide oxidation, lime reactions and sample deflagration can affect LOI values. Precautions include stepwise heating, ventilation control and limiting sample layer height (~5 mm).

Applications and users

• Environmental laboratories performing organic matter estimation in soils, dredged sediments, sludge, composts and wastes.
• Waste management and recycling facilities for quality control of treated biowaste and compost.
• Wastewater treatment plants and sludge handling operations assessing sludge characteristics.
• Remediation and environmental monitoring programs requiring standardized LOI data for regulatory compliance, benchmarking and research.

Related standards

• EN 15934 - Calculation of dry matter fraction (referenced normative).
• EN 15169:2007 and EN 15935:2012 - superseded by EN 15935:2021.
• EN 15002, EN 16179 - sample pretreatment guidance.
• EN ISO 5667‑15, ISO 18512 - sample preservation and handling.

EN 15935:2021 provides a harmonized, validated LOI procedure for multiple solid matrices, improving comparability and compliance in environmental and waste characterization.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2021
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 15169:2007
SIST EN 15935:2012
Blato, obdelani biološki odpadki, tla in odpadki - Določevanje žarilne izgube
Sludge, treated biowaste, soil and waste - Determination of loss on ignition
Schlamm, behandelter Bioabfall, Boden und Abfall - Bestimmung des Glühverlusts
Boue, biodéchet traité, sol et déchets - Détermination de la perte au feu
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 15935:2021
ICS:
13.030.20 Tekoči odpadki. Blato Liquid wastes. Sludge
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 15935
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
August 2021
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.030.01 Supersedes EN 15169:2007, EN 15935:2012
English Version
Soil, waste, treated biowaste and sludge - Determination of
loss on ignition
Sols, déchets, biodéchets traités et boues - Boden, Abfall, behandelter Bioabfall und Schlamm -
Détermination de la perte au feu Bestimmung des Glühverlusts
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 4 July 2021.

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. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists 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, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2021 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 15935:2021 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Principle . 5
5 Interferences and sources of errors. 6
6 Apparatus . 6
7 Procedure . 6
7.1 Preservation . 6
7.2 Pretreatment . 6
7.3 Determination . 7
7.4 Samples containing a high content of volatile or organic substances or undried
samples . 7
8 Calculation and expression of results . 8
8.1 Loss on ignition, based on dry mass according to EN 15934 (7.3) . 8
8.2 Loss on ignition, based on undried sample (7.4) . 9
8.3 Residue on ignition . 9
9 Performance characteristics. 9
10 Test report . 9
Annex A (informative) Performance characteristics . 10
Bibliography . 12

European foreword
This document (EN 15935:2021) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 444
“Environmental characterization of solid matrices”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by February 2022, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by February 2022.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 15169:2007 and EN 15935:2012.
The following technical modifications have been made:
— two existing standards have been combined;
— the scope defines more sample types;
— the criteria for the heating time are specified.
This document specifies a method for the determination of the loss on ignition (LOI) at 550 °C of
sediment, sludge, treated biowaste, soil and waste and combines the methods previously described in
EN 15935:2012 and EN 15169.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: 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, Turkey and the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
The method described in this document has been developed from EN 15169 (derived from EN 12879),
which was prepared by CEN/TC 292 “Characterization of waste” and from EN 15935:2012, which was
prepared by CEN/TC 400 “Horizontal standards in the field of sludge, biowaste and soil”.
This document specifies a method for the determination of the loss on ignition (LOI) at 550 °C of
sediment, sludge, treated biowaste, soil and waste and combines the methods previously described in
EN 15935:2012 and EN 15169. Both dried and undried samples which are pretreated prior to
determination can be used. The determination is ended after a predefined timeframe or when constant
mass is reached.
This document is applicable and validated for several types of matrices as indicated in Table 1 (see also
Annex A for the results of the validation).
Table 1 — Matrices for which this document is applicable and validated
Matrix Materials used for validation
Sludge Municipal sludge
Biowaste Compost,
Fresh Compost
Soil Sludge amended soil,
Agricultural soil
Waste Contaminated soil,
Dredged sludge (sediment),
Nickel sludge
1 Scope
This document specifies a method for the determination of the loss on ignition (LOI) at 550 °C. The dry
matter is determined according to EN 15934.
This method applies to the determination of loss on ignition of sediment, sludge, treated biowaste, soil
and waste.
NOTE The loss on ignition is often used as an estimate for the content of organic matter in the sample. Inorganic
substances or decomposition products (e.g. H O, CO , SO , O ) are released or absorbed and some inorganic
2 2 2 2
substances are volatile under the reaction conditions.
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.
EN 15934, Sludge, treated biowaste, soil and waste - Calculation of dry matter fraction after determination
of dry residue or water content
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
loss on ignition
LOI
mass fraction lost by incineration of a dried sample to constant mass (3.3) at a specified temperature
3.2
residue on ignition
mass fraction remaining after incineration of a dried sample to constant mass (3.3) at a specified
temperature
3.3
constant mass
mass obtained when the change in mass during a further period of heating of 1 h is within 0,5 % (m/m)
or 2 mg, whatever is greater
4 Principle
A weighed test portion is incinerated in a furnace to constant mass at (550 ± 25) °C. The difference in
mass before and after the ignition process is used to calculate the loss on ignition.
The determination is performed on a dried sample or directly on the undried sample including a drying
step or by referring to the dry matter.
5 Interferences and sources of errors
LOI is an empirical parameter, thus in principle there is no interference connected to the determination.
However, for some purposes the determination of LOI is used for the assessment of the content of organic
matter in the sample. It should be noted that elemental carbon in the sample will be included in the loss
on ignition value. Furthermore, any volatilisation or chemical reactions of inorganic compounds will also
be included in the loss on ignition value.
Chemically bound water could be released during heating, thereby contributing to the loss on ignition.
Samples containing iron or other metals in low bonding state or in metallic state can be oxidized during
heating, thereby contributing to the loss on ignition with a negative amount.
Sulphides present in the sample could be oxidized to sulphate during heating, thereby contributing to the
loss on ignition with a negative amount.
Explosive ignition is likely to result in loss of residue from the crucible, thereby contributing to the loss
on ignition with a positive amount. If such loss of residue is observed during the removal of the crucible
from the furnace, the test shall be discharged and repeated taken the necessary precautions, e.g. using a
smaller test portion.
Calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide present in large amounts (e.g. sludge conditioned with lime) can
combine with sulphuric oxides liberated during ignition or with carbon dioxide formed during ignition
resulting in a too low content of the loss on ignition. Such reactions can be avoided using the stepwise
heating procedure stated in 7.4 combined with a sufficient ventilation rate in the furnace
...