The new EN 17505 Standard "Soil and waste characterization – Temperature dependent differentiation of total carbon (TOC₄₀₀, ROC, TIC₉₀₀)"

The EN 17505 Standard provides a new European norm for labs undertaking total organic carbon (TOC) analysis. Focusing on soil and waste characterization, the standard cites reference samples of “dry solid samples of sediment, soil, soil with anthropogenic admixtures and solid waste”.

The Standard is currently being adopted in CEN (European Committee for Standardization) member states, which include much of Europe and the UK. It provides guidelines for labs using the temperature-ramping method (which incorporates TOC₄₀₀, ROC, and TIC₉₀₀) and is based on the previous German norm, DIN 19539.

Accuracy and consistency of TOC analysis results

Elementar, one of the leading manufacturers of high-performance analysis of organic and inorganic elements, contributed data to the development of the standard, along with some of their customers.

Dr Calum Preece, Product Manager at Elementar, said: "The EN 17505 Standard specifies requirements to ensure accuracy and consistency of TOC analysis results across different companies, institutions and sectors. We’ve received some fantastic feedback from companies using the temperature ramping method, who have shared how it has significantly increased the speed of returning results in their busy labs."

Standard-compliant TOC analyzers are already available

Elementar has also confirmed that its applicable instruments are compliant with the new Standard. Elementar’s soli TOC^® cube is built for carbon analysis in solid waste, and offers efficient oxidation, precise detection and robust calibration routines, ensuring that results align with the standard’s guidelines. As the most sensitive instrument in the market, it offers an unmatched measurement range from 0.001 – 100 % carbon.

For the determination of temperature-dependent carbon fractions, a precise, adjustable temperature is required for reproducible measurements. This is achieved by the dynamic heater in the soli TOC^® cube, which controls the temperature directly at the crucible.