BS ISO 23832:2021 pdf download.Plastics — Test methods for determination of degradation rate and disintegration degree of plastic materials exposed to marine environmental matrices under laboratory conditions.
4 Principle This document describes three laboratory test methods: a) Method A: Sand burial degradation test; b) Method B: Sediment/seawater interface degradation test; and c) Method C: Seawater degradation test. These three test methods are based on the exposure of plastic samples to environmental matrices taken from the sea and on the measurement of physical degradation. These three test methods differ for the exposure conditions. In Method A, the plastic samples are buried in a wet sandy sediment (a condition similar to the sandy shoreline where beach is maintained wet by the waves and tides). In Method B, the plastic samples are laid at the interface between a sandy sediment bed and a water column (a condition similar to the seabed where most debris sinks, accumulates, and undergoes degradation). In Method C, the plastic samples are exposed to seawater. The degradation rate of the plastic material can be measured as: a) mass loss and/or b) erosion and/or c) tensile properties decay.
6 Environmental matrix 6.1 Sampling Take a sample of a sandy sediment with a shovel beneath the low-water line at the shoreline and/or seawater with a bucket. Record location and date of sampling. The wet sediment together with seawater is transferred into sealed containers for transport and fast delivered to the laboratory. After delivery, conserve the sediment and seawater at low temperature (approximately 4 °C) until use. The seawater/sediment sample should preferably be used within 4 weeks after sampling. Record storage time and conditions. More detailed instructions about sampling, preservation, handling, transport and storage of marine matrices are given in ISO 5667-3. Measure the total dry solids, total organic carbon [(TOC) or, as an alternative, ashes and volatile solids], pH, and nitrogen content of the sediment and of the natural seawater. The pH can be measured by applying ISO 10523 with seawater or ISO 10390 with marine sediments. ISO 10694 can be applied to determine the TOC and ISO 11261 can be applied to determine nitrogen content. A description on how to measure total dry solids, volatile solids and ashes of a solid environmental matrix (e.g. marine sediment or compost) is given in ISO 20200 and ISO 16929.BS ISO 23832 pdf download.