At CIRAM, we perform analyses in accordance with the NF EN ISO 21644 standard to determine the biomass content of solid recovered fuel (SRF) by measuring carbon-14.
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Published in 2021, the NF EN ISO 21644 standard defines methods for determining the biomass content of solid recovered fuels (SRF). It replaces the former EN 15440 standard and is now the international benchmark for assessing the renewable fraction of SRF.
Developed by the ISO/TC 300 technical committee on solid recovered fuels, this standard aims to harmonize the analytical methods used in the energy, waste-to-energy, and environmental reporting sectors.
The NF EN ISO 21644 standard specifies several analytical methods for determining the biomass fraction: carbon-14 dating, selective dissolution, and manual fractionation. Among these approaches, carbon-14 measurement by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is currently the gold standard due to its precision and analytical robustness. This is the method used by CIRAM for the analysis of RDF.
Radiocarbon (carbon-14) dating, which makes it possible to distinguish:
It therefore allows you to:
For a comprehensive overview of the regulatory framework for recovered solid fuels, please see our article on ISO standards applicable to recovered solid fuels: ISO 21644: An Essential Framework for the Analysis of Recovered Solid Fuels
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The NF EN ISO 21644 standard is primarily used in the energy recovery and waste treatment sectors to characterize the renewable content of fuels used in industrial processes.
It applies in particular to:
In practice, CSR samples are prepared and then analyzed to measure the isotopic signature of carbon-14 contained in the organic fraction of the fuel. The analysis determines the proportion of biomass present in the CSR, independent of material declarations or theoretical estimates. The results can be expressed as a biogenic fraction, as a percentage of biomass, or as renewable carbon content, depending on regulatory or industrial requirements.
This approach provides a reliable, traceable, and reproducible measurement that can be directly applied in environmental initiatives, carbon assessments, and energy recovery systems.
Request a quoteAt CIRAM, we perform analyses in accordance with the NF EN ISO 21644 standard within a rigorous analytical framework tailored to the complex matrices derived from solid recovered fuels.
Our expertise in radiocarbon analysis allows us to accurately distinguish between the biogenic and fossil fractions of fuels, even in heterogeneous mixtures.
We bring you :
Yes. The standard uses carbon-14 to measure the fraction derived from biomass, but it applies specifically to solid recovered fuels.
RDF derived from household, industrial, or commercial waste, as well as various alternative fuels containing an organic fraction.
This measure makes it possible to distinguish between the renewable and fossil fuel components of the fuels used for energy production and in industrial carbon footprints.
Yes. The NF EN ISO 21644 standard replaces the former EN 15440 standard regarding the determination of biomass in solid recovered fuels.
Yes. The NF EN ISO 21644 standard is available in French through AFNOR.
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