prEN 17403

Inorganic fertilizers - Determination of cold water insoluble nitrogen and hot water insoluble nitrogen in solid urea formaldehyde and methylene urea slow-release fertilizers and determination of the solubility of nutrient polymers in phosphate buffer solution with a pH of 7,5 at 100 °C

This document specifies a method for the determination of the cold and hot water insoluble nitrogen content in solid urea formaldehyde and methylene urea slow-release fertilizers and for the determination of the solubility of nutrient polymers in a phosphate buffer solution with a pH of 7,5 at 100 °C, in their pure form in inorganic fertilizers.
This document is not applicable to the following nutrient polymers: liquid methylene urea.

Düngemittel - Bestimmung von kalt- und heißwasserunlöslichem Stickstoff in festen langsam freisetzenden Harnstoff-Formaldehyd- und Methylenharnstoff-Düngemitteln sowie Bestimmung der Löslichkeit von Nährstoffpolymeren in Phosphatpufferlösung mit einem pH-Wert von 7,5 bei 100 °C

Dieses Dokument legt ein Verfahren für die Bestimmung des Gehalts an kaltwasserunlöslichem und heißwasserunlöslichem Stickstoff in festen langsam freisetzenden Formaldehydharnstoff- und Methylenharnstoff-Düngemitteln und für die Bestimmung der Löslichkeit von Nährstoffpolymeren in einer Phosphatpufferlösung mit einem pH-Wert von 7,5 bei 100 °C in ihrer reinen Form in anorganischen Düngemitteln fest.
Dieses Dokument ist auf die folgenden Nährstoffpolymere nicht anwendbar: flüssiger Methylenharnstoff.

Engrais inorganiques - Dosage de l’azote insoluble dans l’eau froide et de l’azote insoluble dans l’eau chaude dans les engrais à libération lente urée-formaldéhyde et méthylène-urée solides, et détermination de la solubilité des polymères nutritifs dans une solution tampon phosphate avec un pH de 7,5 à 100 °C

Le présent document spécifie une méthode pour la détermination de la teneur en azote insoluble dans l’eau froide et dans l’eau chaude dans les engrais à libération lente urée-formaldéhyde et méthylène-urée solides, et pour la détermination de la solubilité des polymères nutritifs dans une solution tampon phosphate avec un pH de 7,5 à 100 °C, sous leur forme pure dans les engrais inorganiques.
Le présent document n’est pas applicable aux polymères nutritifs suivants : méthylène-urée liquide.

Anorganska gnojila - Določanje v hladni in vroči vodi netopnega dušika, dobljenega s počasnim sproščanjem iz trdnih gnojil in metilenuree, ter določanje topnosti polimernih hranil v raztopini fosfatnega pufra s pH 7,5 pri 100 °C

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 28-Feb-2028
• ICS: 65.080 - Fertilizers
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 260 - Fertilizers and liming materials
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 260/WG 7 - Chemical analysis
• Current Stage: 4020 - Submission to enquiry - Enquiry
• Start Date: 26-Feb-2026
• Due Date: 13-Oct-2026
• Completion Date: 26-Feb-2026
• Directive: Not Harmonized2019/1009 - Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 laying down rules on the making available on the market of EU fertilising products and amending Regulations (EC) No 1069/2009 and (EC) No 1107/2009 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 (Text with EEA relevance)
• Mandate: M/564 - Fertilising products in support of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009
• Mandate: M/564 AMD 1 - amending Implementing Decision C(2020) 612 as regards certain harmonised standards and standardisation deliverables, deadlines for their adoption and the duration of the validity of the standardisation request
• Mandate: M/564 AMD 2 - Commission Implementing decision amending Implementing Decision C(2020)612 as regards harmonised standards, the deadlines for the adoption of those standards and the duration of the validity of the standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardisation as regards the EU fertilising products in support of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 17403:2026 - Inorganic fertilizers - Determination of cold water insoluble nitrogen and hot water insoluble nitrogen in solid urea formaldehyde and methylene urea slow-release fertilizers and determination of the solubility of nutrient polymers in phosphate buffer solution with a pH of 7,5 at 100 °C

Relations

• Revises: CEN/TS 17403:2021 - Fertilizers - Determination of cold water insoluble nitrogen and hot water insoluble nitrogen in solid urea formaldehyde and methylene urea slow-release fertilizers and determination of the solubility of nutrient polymers in phosphate buffer solution with a pH of 7,5 at 100 °C
• Effective Date: 18-Jan-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-april-2026
Anorganska gnojila - Določanje v hladni in vroči vodi netopnega dušika,
dobljenega s počasnim sproščanjem iz trdnih gnojil in metilenuree, ter določanje
topnosti polimernih hranil v raztopini fosfatnega pufra s pH 7,5 pri 100 °C
Inorganic fertilizers - Determination of cold water insoluble nitrogen and hot water
insoluble nitrogen in solid urea formaldehyde and methylene urea slow-release fertilizers
and determination of the solubility of nutrient polymers in phosphate buffer solution with
a pH of 7,5 at 100 °C
Düngemittel - Bestimmung von kalt- und heißwasserunlöslichem Stickstoff in festen
langsam freisetzenden Harnstoff-Formaldehyd- und Methylenharnstoff-Düngemitteln
sowie Bestimmung der Löslichkeit von Nährstoffpolymeren in Phosphatpufferlösung mit
einem pH-Wert von 7,5 bei 100 °C
Engrais inorganiques - Dosage de l’azote insoluble dans l’eau froide et de l’azote
insoluble dans l’eau chaude dans les engrais à libération lente urée-formaldéhyde et
méthylène-urée solides, et détermination de la solubilité des polymères nutritifs dans une
solution tampon phosphate avec un pH de 7,5 à 100 °C
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 17403
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
February 2026
ICS 65.080 Will supersede CEN/TS 17403:2021
English Version
Inorganic fertilizers - Determination of cold water
insoluble nitrogen and hot water insoluble nitrogen in
solid urea formaldehyde and methylene urea slow-release
fertilizers and determination of the solubility of nutrient
polymers in phosphate buffer solution with a pH of 7,5 at
100 °C
Engrais inorganiques - Dosage de l'azote insoluble dans Düngemittel - Bestimmung von kalt- und
l'eau froide et de l'azote insoluble dans l'eau chaude heißwasserunlöslichem Stickstoff in festen langsam
dans les engrais à libération lente urée-formaldéhyde freisetzenden Harnstoff-Formaldehyd- und
et méthylène-urée solides, et détermination de la Methylenharnstoff-Düngemitteln sowie Bestimmung
solubilité des polymères nutritifs dans une solution der Löslichkeit von Nährstoffpolymeren in
tampon phosphate avec un pH de 7,5 à 100 °C Phosphatpufferlösung mit einem pH-Wert von 7,5 bei
100 °C
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 260.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, 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.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN 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, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 17403:2026 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 Sampling and sample preparation . 7
4.1 Sampling . 7
4.2 Sample preparation . 7
5 Determination of the mass fraction of CWIN in solid UF/MU . 7
5.1 Principle . 7
5.2 Reagents . 7
5.3 Apparatus . 7
5.4 Procedure . 8
5.5 Calculation and expression of results . 8
6 Determination of the mass fraction of HWIN in solid UF/MU . 8
6.1 Principle . 8
6.2 Reagents . 8
6.3 Apparatus . 9
6.4 Procedure . 9
6.5 Calculation and expression of results . 9
7 Determination of the solubility of nutrient polymers in phosphate buffer solution
with a pH of 7,5 at 100 °C . 10
8 Precision . 10
8.1 Inter-laboratory study . 10
8.2 Repeatability . 10
8.3 Reproducibility . 10
9 Test report . 10
Annex A (informative) Results of the inter-laboratory study . 12
Bibliography . 15

European foreword
This document (prEN 17403:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 260 “Fertilizers
and liming materials”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This is currently submitted to CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede CEN/TS 17403:2021.
CEN/TS 17403:2021:
a) The CEN Technical Specification has been adopted as a European Standard.
b) Normative references (Clause 2) and Terms and definitions (Clause 3) have been updated.
c) The type of quantitative filter paper has been better specified.
d) The use of the combustion method to determine the residue on the filter has been contemplated.
e) The method for determining total nitrogen has been specified.
f) Clause 8 on precision has been added.
g) Annex A with the results of the inter-laboratory study has been added.
h) The Bibliography has been updated.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
Introduction
Solid urea formaldehyde and methylene urea slow-release fertilizers are non-coated and chemically
synthesized nitrogen fertilizers with slow-release effect. In 1924, the first slow-release fertilizer patent
in the world was issued to urea formaldehyde (UF) and in 1955, UF was put into commercial production
as the oldest slow-release fertilizer.
WARNING — Users of this document should be familiar with normal laboratory practice. This
document does not purport to address all of the safety issues, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user to establish appropriate health and safety practices and to ensure compliance
with any national regulatory conditions.
IMPORTANT — It is absolutely essential that tests conducted according to this document are carried
out by suitably trained staff.
1 Scope
This document specifies a method for the determination of the cold and hot water insoluble nitrogen
content in solid urea formaldehyde and methylene urea slow-release fertilizers and for the
determination of the solubility of nutrient polymers in a phosphate buffer solution with a pH of 7,5 at
100 °C, in their pure form in inorganic fertilizers.
This document is not applicable to the following nutrient polymers: liquid methylene urea.
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 1482-2, Fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors — Sampling and sample preparation — Part 2:
General sample preparation provisions
EN 12944-1, Fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors — Vocabulary — Part 1: General terms
EN 12944-2, Fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors — Vocabulary — Part 2: Terms relating to
fertilizers
EN 15478, Inorganic fertilizers — Determination of total nitrogen in urea, methylene-urea and urea
formaldehyde
ISO 5315, Fertilizers — Determination of total nitrogen content — Titrimetric method after distillation
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 12944-1 and EN 12944-2 and
the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
urea formaldehyde
UF
slow-release nitrogenous fertilizer obtained by the reaction between urea and formaldehyde to produce
molecular chains of general formula NH -CO-NH(CH NHCONH) H
2 2 n
3.2
methylene urea
MU
slow-release nitrogenous fertilizer obtained by the reaction between urea and formaldehyde to produce
oligomers such as MDU (methylendiurea), DMTU (dimethylentriurea), TMTU (trimethylentetraurea),
TMPU (tetramethylenpentaurea) and higher counterparts

A revision is under preparation. Stage at the time of preparation: prEN 12944-1:2026
A revision is under preparation. Stage at the time of preparation: prEN 12944-2:2026
3.3
nutrient polymers
component material of fertilizing products consisting of polymers exclusively made up of virgin
material substances and mixtures, where the purpose of the polymerisation is to control the release of
nutrients from one or more of the monomer substances
3.4
virgin material substances and mixtures
component material of fertilizing products consisting of virgin material substances and mixtures
Note 1 to entry: Excluded are the following products: waste and by-products according to [4], materials formerly
having constituted in waste or by-products, animal by-products or derived products and polymers.
3.5
cold water insoluble nitrogen
CWIN
insoluble nitrogen fractions in urea formaldehyde or methylene urea products that are insoluble in
phosphate buffer solution (pH 7,5) or distilled water at 25 °C during a 15 min period
[SOURCE: ISO 19670:2017, 3.2]
3.6
cold water soluble nitrogen
CWSN
...