Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,
‘15. Regulation (EU) …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council of … on the making available on the market of detergents and surfactants (OJ L …).’
Done at …,
BIODEGRADABILITY REQUIREMENTS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 4
ULTIMATE BIODEGRADABILITY CRITERIA AND TEST METHODS FOR SURFACTANTS AND SURFACTANTS IN DETERGENTS
Pre-adaptation shall not be used and the 10-day window principle shall not be applied in any of the test methods referred to in points (a) and (b) .
REQUIREMENTS FOR DETERGENTS CONTAINING MICROORGANISMS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 5
This point shall not apply to micro-organisms intentionally added to detergents placed on the market for research and development purposes.
LIMITATIONS ON THE CONTENT OF PHOSPHATES AND OTHER PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 6
CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 7(2)
Module A - Internal production protocol
Internal production control is the conformity assessment procedure whereby the manufacturer fulfils the obligations laid down in points 2, 3 and 4, and ensures and declares on his or her sole responsibility that the detergent or surfactant concerned satisfy the requirements of this Regulation that apply to them.
For the purposes of point (e), a perfume, an essential oil, or a colouring agent shall be considered to be a single component.
The manufacturer shall take all measures necessary so that the manufacturing process and its monitoring ensure compliance of the detergent or surfactant with the technical documentation referred to in point 2 and with the requirements of this Regulation that apply to them.
LABELLING REQUIREMENTS
PART A – LABELLING OF CONTENTS
The information to be included on the labels of detergents and surfactants made available on the market
The condition listed in point (b) of the first subparagraph does not have to be met where preservatives do not exceed the elicitation thresholds referred to in point 3.4.3.3. / table 3.4.6. of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 or they no longer have a preservation function in the final product even in synergies with other preservatives.
PART B – LABELLING OF DOSAGE INFORMATION
The information to be included on the label of consumer laundry detergents and consumer automatic dishwasher detergents
PART D – SIMPLIFIED DOSAGE INFORMATION FOR CONSUMER LAUNDRY DETERGENTS
The simplified dosage grid shall contain the following information:
PRODUCT PASSPORT
The product passport shall include the following information:
The obligation referred to in point (f) shall not apply to professional detergents, or to surfactants for professional detergents, for which a safety data sheet referred to in Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 is available.
TEST METHODS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 22(2)
This method describes a laboratory model of the activated sludge and secondary settler which is designed to simulate municipal sewage treatment. Improved state-of-the-art operating conditions can be applied to this test method as described in EN ISO 11733.
The method of measurement employs the small-activated sludge plant shown in Figure 1, and in greater detail in Figure 2. The equipment consists of a sewage vessel A for synthetic sewage, dosing pump B, aeration vessel C, settling vessel D, air-lift pump E to recycle the activated sludge, and vessel F for collecting the treated effluent.
Vessels A and F must be of glass or suitable plastic and hold at least twenty-four litres. Pump B must provide a constant flow of synthetic sewage to the aeration vessel; this vessel, during normal operation, contains three litres of mixed liquor. A sintered aeration cube G is suspended in the vessel C at the apex of the cone. The quantity of air blown through the aerator shall be monitored by means of a flow meter H.
A synthetic sewage is employed for the test. Dissolve in each litre of tap water:
The synthetic sewage is freshly prepared daily.
Uncompounded surfactants are examined in the original state. Active content of surfactant samples must be determined in order to prepare the synthetic sewage (point 1.3).
Initially, fill aeration vessel C and settling vessel D with synthetic sewage. The height of the vessel D should be so fixed that the volume contained in the aeration vessel C is three litres. Inoculation is made by introducing 3 ml of a secondary effluent of good quality, freshly collected from a treatment plant dealing with a predominantly domestic sewage. The effluent must be kept under aerobic conditions in the period between sampling and application. Then set the aerator G, air-lift E and dosing device B in operation. The synthetic sewage must pass through the aeration vessel C at a rate of one litre per hour; this gives a mean retention time of three hours.
The rate of aeration should be so regulated that the contents of vessel C are kept constantly in suspension and the dissolved oxygen content is at least 2 mg/l. Foaming must be prevented by appropriate means. Anti-foaming agents that inhibit the activated sludge or contain surfactants must not be used. The air-lift pump E must be set so that the activated sludge from the settling vessel is continually and regularly recycled to aeration vessel C. Sludge which has accumulated around the top of the aeration vessel C, in the base of the settling vessel D, or in the circulation circuit must be returned to the circulation at least once each day by brushing or some other appropriate means. When the sludge fails to settle, its settleability may be increased by the addition of 2 ml portions of a 5 % solution of ferric chloride, repeated as necessary.
The effluent from the settling vessel D is accumulated in vessel F for twenty-four hours, following which a sample is taken after thorough mixing. Vessel F must then be carefully cleaned.
The surfactant content (in mg/l) of the synthetic sewage is determined immediately before use.
The surfactant content (in mg/l) of the effluent collected over twenty-four hours in vessel F should be determined analytically by the same method, immediately after collection: otherwise the samples must be preserved, preferably by freezing. The concentrations must be determined to the nearest 0,1 mg/l surfactant
As a check on the efficiency of the process, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) or the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) of the glass fibre filtered effluent accumulated in vessel F and of the filtered synthetic sewage in vessel A is measured at least twice per week.
The reduction in COD or DOC should level off when a roughly regular daily surfactant degradation is obtained at the end of the running-in period shown in Figure 3.
The content of dry matter in the activated sludge contained in the aeration vessel should be determined twice a week in g/l. If it is more than 2,5 g/l, the excess activated sludge must be discarded.
The degradation test is performed at room temperature; this should be steady and kept between 19-24 ° C.
The percentage degradation of surfactant must be calculated every day on the basis of the surfactant content in mg/l of the synthetic sewage and of the corresponding effluent accumulated in vessel F.
The degradability values thus obtained should be presented graphically as in Figure 3.
The degradability of the surfactant should be calculated as the arithmetic mean of the values obtained over the twenty-one days that follow the running-in and acclimatisation period, during which degradation has been regular and the operation of the plant trouble-free. In any event the duration of the running-in period should not exceed six weeks.
The daily degradation values are calculated to the nearest 0,1 % but the final result is given to the nearest whole number.
In some cases it may be permissible to reduce the frequency of sampling but at least fourteen results collected over the twenty-one days which follow the running-in period should be used in calculating the average.
The method is based on the fact that the cationic dye methylene blue forms blue salts with anionic surfactants (MBAS), which can be extracted with chloroform. To eliminate interference, the extraction is first effected from alkaline solution and the extract is then shaken with acidic methylene blue solution. The absorbency of the separated organic phase is measured photometrically at the wavelength of maximum absorption of 650 nm.
Dissolve 24 g sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO
Dissolve 0,35 g methylene blue AR in deionised water and dilute to 1000 ml. Prepare the solution at least twenty-four hours before use. The absorbency of the blank chloroform phase, measured against chloroform must not exceed 0,015 per 1 cm of layer thickness at 650 nm.
Dissolve 0,35 g methylene blue AR in 500 ml deionised water and mix with 6,5 ml H
Dissolve 1 g phenolphthalein in 50 ml ethanol and add 50 ml deionised water while stirring continuously. Filter off any precipitate obtained.
The samples for analysis must not be taken through a layer of foam.
After thorough cleaning with water, the equipment used for the analysis must be thoroughly rinsed with methanolic hydrochloric acid (point 2.2.10) and then with deionised water before using.
Filter the activated sludge plant influent and effluent to be examined immediately on sampling. Discard the first 100 ml of the filtrates.
Place a measured volume of the sample, neutralised if necessary, into a 250 ml separating funnel (point 2.2.11). The volume of sample should contain between 20 and 150 g of MBAS. At the lower MBAS content, up to 100 ml of sample may be used. When using less than 100 ml, dilute to 100 ml with deionised water. Add to the sample 10 ml of buffer solution (point 2.2.1), 5 ml of neutral methylene blue solution (point 2.2.2) and 15 ml of chloroform (point 2.2.4). Shake the mixture uniformly and not too vigorously for one minute. After phase separation, run the chloroform layer into a second separating funnel, containing 110 ml of deionised water and 5 ml of acidic methylene blue solution (point 2.2.3). Shake the mixture for one minute. Pass the chloroform layer through a cotton-wool filter previously cleaned and wetted with chloroform into a graduated flask (point 2.2.12).
Extract the alkaline and acid solutions three times, using 10 ml of chloroform for the second and third extractions. Filter the combined chloroform extracts through the same cotton wool filter and dilute to the mark in the 50 ml flask (point 2.2.12) with chloroform used for rewashing the cotton wool. Measure the absorbency of the chloroform solution with a photometer at 650 nm in 1 to 5 cm cells against chloroform. Run a blank determination through the whole procedure.
Prepare a calibration solution from the standard substance dodecylbenzene sulphonic acid methyl ester (tetrapropylene type mol. wt. 340) after saponification into the potassium salt. The MBAS is calculated as sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate (mol. wt. 348).
From a weighing pipette, weigh 400 to 450 mg of dodecyl-benzene-sulphonic-acid-methyl-ester (point 2.2.5) to the nearest 0,1 mg in a round-bottomed flask and add 50 ml of ethanolic potassium hydroxide solution (point 2.2.6) and some boiling granules. After mounting the reflux condenser, boil for one hour. After cooling, wash the condenser and ground glass joint with about 30 ml of ethanol, and add these washings to the contents of the flask. Titrate the solution with sulphuric acid against phenolphthalein until it becomes colourless. Transfer this solution to a 1000 ml graduated flask (point 2.2.14), dilute to the mark with deionised water and mix.
Part of this surfactant stock solution is then further diluted. Withdraw 25 ml, transfer to a 500 ml graduated flask (point 2.2.13), dilute to the mark with deionised water and mix.
This standard solution contains:
where E is the sample weight in mg.
To establish the calibration curve, withdraw 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 ml portions of the standard solution and dilute each to 100 ml with deionised water. Then proceed as stated under point 2.3 including a blank determination.
The amount of anionic surfactant (MBAS) in the sample is read from the calibration curve (point 2.4). The MBAS content of the sample is given by:
where: V = ml volume of the sample used.
Express the results as sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate (MW 348).
Express the results as MBAS mg/l to the nearest 0,1.
Surface active agents are concentrated and isolated by gas stripping. In the sample used, the quantity of non-ionic surfactant should be in the range 250-800 g.
The stripped surfactant is dissolved in ethyl acetate.
After phase separation and evaporation of the solvent, the non-ionic surfactant is precipitated in aqueous solution with modified Dragendorff reagent (KBiI
The precipitate is filtered, washed with glacial acetic acid and dissolved in ammonium tartrate solution. The bismuth in the solution is titrated potentiometrically with pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate solution at pH 4-5 using a bright platinum indicator electrode and a calomel or silver/silver chloride reference electrode. The method is applicable to non-ionic surfactants containing 6-30 alkylene oxide groups.
The titration result is multiplied by the empirical factor of 54 for conversion to the reference substance nonylphenol condensed with 10 mols ethylene oxide (NP 10).
Reagents are to be made up in deionised water.
Dissolve 1,7 g bismuth nitrate, BiONO
Dissolve 290 g barium chloride, BaCl
STOCK SOLUTION
Mix 1,249 g copper sulphate, CuSO
STANDARD SOLUTION
Mix 50 ml stock solution with 10 ml 0,5 M H
Filter the aqueous sample through a qualitative filter paper. Discard the first 100 ml of the filtrate.
Into the stripping apparatus, previously rinsed with ethyl acetate, place a measured quantity of the sample, such that it contains between 250-800 g non-ionic surfactant.
To improve the separation add 100 g sodium chloride and 5 g sodium bicarbonate.
If the volume of the sample exceeds 500 ml, add these salts to the stripping apparatus in solid form, and dissolve by passing nitrogen or air through.
If a smaller-sized sample is used, dissolve the salts in 400 ml water and then add to the stripping apparatus.
Add water to bring the level to the upper stopcock.
Cautiously add 100 ml ethyl acetate on top of the water.
Fill the wash-bottle in the gas-line (nitrogen or air) two-thirds full with ethyl acetate.
Pass a gas stream of 30-60 l/h through the apparatus; the use of a flowmeter is recommended. The rate of aeration must be increased gradually at the beginning. The gas rate must be so adjusted that the phases remain noticeably separate to minimise the mixing of the phases and the solution of the ethyl acetate in the water. Stop the gas flow after five minutes.
If there is a reduction of more than 20 % in the volume of the organic phase through solution in water, the sublation must be repeated paying special attention to the rate of gas flow.
Run off the organic phase into a separating funnel. Return any water in the separating funnel from the aqueous phase — it should only be a few ml — to the stripping apparatus. Filter the ethyl acetate phase through a dry qualitative filter paper into a 250 ml beaker.
Put a further 100 ml ethyl acetate into the stripping apparatus and again pass nitrogen or air through for five minutes. Draw off the organic phase into the separating funnel used for the first separation, reject the aqueous phase and run the organic phase through the same filter as the first ethyl acetate portion. Rinse both the separating funnel and the filter with about 20 ml ethyl acetate.
Evaporate the ethyl acetate extract to dryness using a water-bath (fume cupboard). Direct a gentle stream of air over the surface of the solution to accelerate the evaporation.
Dissolve the dry residue from 3.3.1 in 5 ml methanol, add 40 ml water and 0,5 ml dilute HCl (point 3.2.3) and stir the mixture with a magnetic stirrer.
To this solution add 30 ml of precipitating agent (point 3.2.6) from a measuring cylinder. The precipitate forms after repeated stirring. After stirring for ten minutes leave the mixture to stand for at least five minutes.
Filter the mixture through a Gooch crucible, the base of which is covered with a glass-fibre filter paper. First wash the filter under suction with about 2 ml glacial acetic acid. Then thoroughly wash the beaker, magnet, and crucible with glacial acetic acid, of which about 40-50 ml is necessary. It is not necessary to quantitatively transfer the precipitate adhering to the sides of the beaker, to the filter, because the solution of the precipitate for the titration is returned to the precipitating beaker, and the remaining precipitate will then be dissolved.
Dissolve the precipitate in the filter crucible by the addition of hot ammonium tartrate solution (about 80 ° C) (point 3.2.8) in three portions of 10 ml each. Allow each portion to stand in the crucible for some minutes before being sucked through the filter into the flask.
Put the contents of the filter flask into the beaker used for the precipitation. Rinse the sides of the beaker with a further 20 ml of tartrate solution to dissolve the rest of the precipitate.
Carefully wash the crucible, adapter and filter flask with 150-200 ml water, and return the rinsing water to the beaker used for the precipitation.
Stir the solution using a magnetic stirrer (point 3.2.16), add a few drops of bromocresol purple (point 3.2.5) and add the dilute ammonia solution (point 3.2.9) until the colour turns violet (the solution is initially weakly acid from the residue of acetic acid used for rinsing).
Then add 10 ml standard acetate buffer (point 3.2.10), immerse the electrodes in the solution, and titrate potentiometrically with standard ‘carbate solution’ (point 3.2.11), the burette tip being immersed in the solution.
The titration rate should not exceed 2 ml/min.
The endpoint is the intersection of the tangents to the two branches of the potential curve.
It will be observed occasionally that the inflection in the potential curve becomes flattened; this can be eliminated by carefully cleaning the platinum electrode (by polishing with emery paper).
At the same time run a blank determination through the whole procedure with 5 ml methanol and 40 ml water, according to the instructions in point 3.3.2. The blank titration should be below 1 ml, otherwise the purity of the reagents (points 3.2.3, 3.2.7, 3.2.8, 3.2.9, 3.2.10) is suspect, especially their content of heavy metals, and they must be replaced. The blank must be taken into account in the calculation of the results.
Determine the factor for the carbate solution on the day of use. To do this, titrate 10 ml of the copper sulphate solution (point 3.2.12) with ‘carbate solution’ after the addition of 100 ml water and 10 ml standard acetate buffer (point 3.2.10). If the amount used is a ml, the factor f is:
and all the results of the titration are multiplied by this factor.
Every non-ionic surfactant has its own factor, depending on its composition, particularly on the length of the alkene oxide chain. The concentration of non-ionic surfactant is expressed in relation to a standard substance — a nonyl phenol with ten ethylene oxide units (NP 10) — for which the conversion factor is 0,054.
Using this factor the amount of surfactant present in the sample is found expressed as mg of NP 10 equivalent, as follows:
(b — c) xfx 0,054 = mg non-ionic surfactant as NP 10
where:
Express the results in mg/l as NP 10 to the nearest 0,1.
CORRELATION TABLE