prSRPS EN 16109:2026

Fertilizers - Determination of complexing agents - Identification of lignosulfonates

Scope

This document specifies two methods required for the identification of lignosulfonates by UV-Vis spectrophotometry (method A) and gravimetry (method B) in inorganic and organo-mineral fertilizers.
NOTE Lignosulfonate, as a complexing agent, is a natural polymer produced as a by-product of the sulfite method for manufacturing paper from wood pulp in the paper industry. As a natural polymer, it presents a poorly defined and variable chemical structure. It is an intricate mixture of small- to moderate-sized polymeric compounds with sulfonate groups attached to the molecule, and diverse complexing capacity.
This document is applicable to the fertilizing products blends where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, plant biostimulants, and where the following category: inorganic fertilizers or organo-mineral fertilizers is the highest % in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. Additional information on eventual interferences in fertilizer product blends is provided in Clause 5.

Related directives

NOTE: If the word "harmonized" (marked in green) is not found in the field with the name of the directive, it means that the European standard is not cited in the OJEU.