ISO 8810:2026

Plastics — Determination of residual peroxide — Gas chromatography method

This document specifies a method for the determination of di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP) and 2, 5-Dimethyl-2, 5-di (tert-butylperoxy) hexane (DBPH) in plastics by using gas chromatography. This document is applicable to the determination of the content of residual peroxides in plastics and their products, which use peroxides as a degradation agent or crosslinking agent during plastics processing, or as an additive during polymerization, thereby remaining in degraded polypropylene, crosslinked polyethylene, polystyrene and other plastics. NOTE The applicability of this method to other peroxides is possible when the method is validated for each case.

Plastiques — Détermination du peroxyde résiduel — Méthode par chromatographie en phase gazeuse

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 21-May-2026
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 61/SC 5 - Physical-chemical properties
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 61/SC 5 - Physical-chemical properties
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 22-May-2026
• Due Date: 30-Nov-2026
• Completion Date: 22-May-2026

Overview

ISO 8810: Plastics - Determination of Residual Peroxide - Gas Chromatography Method is an international standard that specifies a reliable procedure for quantifying residual peroxide content in plastics. The method applies specifically to the determination of di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP) and 2,5-Dimethyl-2,5-di(tert-butylperoxy)hexane (DBPH) using gas chromatography (GC). Residual peroxides may remain in polymers such as degraded polypropylene (PP), crosslinked polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene after being used as degradation agents, crosslinking agents, or additives during manufacturing processes. Accurate measurement of these compounds is essential for ensuring product safety, regulatory compliance, and product performance in plastic materials.

Key Topics

• Scope of Application
  • Suitable for all plastic materials and products utilizing DTBP or DBPH as degradation or crosslinking agents.
  • Applicable to both raw resin (powder or granulate) and final plastic products, after sample size adjustment.
• Target Peroxides
  • Di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP)
  • 2,5-Dimethyl-2,5-di(tert-butylperoxy)hexane (DBPH)
• Measurement Principle
  • Samples are extracted with an appropriate solvent (such as tetrahydrofuran) using an ultrasonic bath.
  • The solution is analyzed by gas chromatography, using an internal standard method.
• Analytical Method Highlights
  • Utilizes either flame ionization detector (FID) or mass spectrometry (MS) for detection.
  • Calibration with internal reference substances ensures precise quantitative results.
  • Method validation for other peroxides is possible if appropriately verified.

Applications

• Quality Control in Polymer Manufacturing
  • Ensures residual peroxide content in plastics does not exceed safety or technical thresholds, enhancing product consistency and safety.
• Regulatory Compliance
  • Supports adherence to international and national regulations on additive residue limits in plastics, especially for food-contact and medical-grade materials.
• Materials Research & Development
  • Used in laboratories to monitor and optimize the use of peroxides in polymer degradation or crosslinking processes.
• Plastics Recycling
  • Determines residual chemical agents in recycled plastics, critical for evaluating reprocessing or further usage.
• Consumer Product Safety
  • Protects end users by detecting and controlling potentially hazardous peroxide residues in finished plastic goods.

Relevant Sectors

• Polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene manufacturing
• Compounders and converters of plastics
• Analytical laboratories specializing in polymer characterization
• Regulatory and compliance departments in plastics industry

Related Standards

• ISO 648: Laboratory glassware - Single-volume pipettes
• ISO 1042: Laboratory glassware - One-mark volumetric flasks
• ISO 5725-2: Accuracy (trueness and precision) of measurement methods and results - Part 2: Basic method for the determination of repeatability and reproducibility of a standard measurement method
• ASTM D7210: Extraction of Additives in Polyolefin Plastics

Practical Value

By following the standardized procedures in ISO 8810, laboratories and manufacturers can consistently determine residual peroxide levels in plastic materials, ensuring high-quality, compliant, and safe plastic products. The use of gas chromatography provides high specificity and sensitivity for DTBP and DBPH, making the standard suitable for a wide range of industry applications. Adopting ISO 8810 supports quality assurance, process optimization, and regulatory due diligence in the global plastics industry.

Standards Content (Sample)

International
Standard
ISO 8810
First edition
Plastics — Determination
2026-05
of residual peroxide — Gas
chromatography method
Plastiques — Détermination du peroxyde résiduel — Méthode
par chromatographie en phase gazeuse
Reference number
© ISO 2026
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 1
5 Reagents . 2
6 Apparatus . 2
7 Preparation of sample . 3
8 Procedure . 3
8.1 Preparation of internal calibration solutions .3
8.2 Preparation of test solution .3
8.3 Preparation of the calibration curve .4
8.4 Determination .4
9 Calculation . 4
10 Precision . 5
11 Test report . 5
Annex A (informative) Examples of operating conditions . 6
Annex B (informative) Peroxides (DTBP and DBPH) chromatograms . 8
Annex C (informative) Precision and accuracy of the method .11
Bibliography .13

iii
Foreword
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 5, Physical-
chemical properties.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
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iv
Introduction
Peroxide has many applications in polymer preparation, such as: used as a degradation agent in the
degradation reaction of ultra-high fluidity polypropylene (PP) and a variety of polymers, as a crosslinking
agent in polyethylene’s (PE) crosslinking reaction, as initiator for free radical polymerization, as a
vulcanizing agent for rubber vulcanization, etc. For health reasons and stable product quality, the content of
residual peroxide in plastics, especially in peroxide-degraded polypropylene (PP) needs to be determined.
Chromatography is the main method for the determination of peroxide.

v
International Standard ISO 8810:2026(en)
Plastics — Determination of residual peroxide — Gas
chromatography method
WARNING — Persons using this document should be familiar with normal laboratory practice. This
document does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is
the responsibility of the user to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine
any applicable national regulatory conditions prior to use.
IMPORTANT — It is absolutely essential that tests conducted in accordance with this document be
carried out by suitably trained staff.
1 Scope
This document specifies a method for the determination of di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP) and 2, 5-Dimethyl-2,
5-di (tert-butylperoxy) hexane (DBPH) in plastics by using gas chromatography.
This document is applicable to the determination of the content of residual peroxides in plastics and their
products, which use peroxides as a degradation agent or crosslinking agent during plastics processing, or as
an additive during polymerization, thereby remaining in degraded polypropylene, crosslinked polyethylene,
polystyrene and other plastics.
NOTE The applicability of this method to other peroxides is possible when the method is validated for each case.
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.
ISO 648, Laboratory glassware — Single-volume pipettes
ISO 1042, Laboratory glassware — One-mark volumetric flasks
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
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/
4 Principle
The test sample is extracted by ultrasonic bath with tetrahydrofuran or other suitable solvent. After the
extract solution is cooled, the internal standard is added, and the solution is shaken and filtered. The residual
peroxides in the extract solution are determined by gas chromatography (GC) with suitable detection
technique.
5 Reagents
During the analysis, unless otherwise stated, use only reagents of recognized analytical grade and distilled
or demineralized water or water of equivalent purity.
®1)
5.1 Di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP), CAS RN . 110-05-4, minimum of 95 % purity.
®1)
5.2 2, 5-Dimethyl-2, 5-di (tert-butylperoxy) hexane (DBPH), CAS RN 78-63-7, minimum of 93 %
purity.
5.3 Solvent, any product which will completely dissolve the internal reference and the target peroxides
(DTBP and DBPH) to give a stable solution, and which meets the following requirements:
— is inert (does not react with the resin or the internal standard under the test conditions);
— is compatible with the constituents of the chromatographic column;
— has a retention time different from those of the peroxides and the internal reference.
Examples of solvents which meet the above-mentioned requirements are:
®1)
— tetrahydrofuran (THF), CAS RN 109-99-9 (recommended);
®1)
— toluene, CAS RN 108-88-3;
®1)
— trichloromethane, CAS RN 67-66-3.
WARNING — The reagents used in this method are toxic. Safety precautions are necessary.
®1)
5.4 Internal reference substance, Undecane, CAS RN 1120-21-4, analytical grade or higher.
The internal reference substance shall not be present in the test portion matrix. Other compounds may be
used as alternative internal reference substances.
5.5 Initial calibration solution, 100 mg/l of DTBP and DBPH, each in tetrahydrofuran or other suitable
solvent.
The initial calibration solution should be properly stored at 4 °C to prevent change of concentration. It is
recommended that the solution should be prepared at least every three months.
5.6 Internal reference solution, 100 mg/l of undecane or others, in tetrahydrofuran or other suitable
solvent.
The internal stock solution should be properly stored at 4 °C to prevent change of concentration. It is
recommended that the solution should be prepared at least every three months.
6 Apparatus
6.1 Gas chromatography (GC), any laboratory chromatograph fitted with a suitable detection.
Examples of the operating conditions are shown in Annex A. It is possible to use different procedures
providing it can be verified that they would give the same results.
1) CAS Registry Number® is a trademark of the American Chemical Society (ACS). This information is given for the
convenience of users of this document and does not constitute an endorsement by ISO of the product named. Equivalent
products may be used if they can be shown to lead to the same results.
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