ASTM D6903-07, developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), defines a test method for determining the release rate of organic biocide from a toxic coating exposed to substitute ocean water. This test is carried out in a completely laboratory environment under controlled pH value, temperature, salinity and hydrodynamic conditions. At predetermined intervals during testing, samples of replacement ocean water are analyzed for the washed biocide using an appropriate analytical technique.
Where the antifouling coating contains both an organic biocide and a copper-based biocide, the copper release rate is optionally also determined simultaneously according to the method described in the ASTM D6442 standard.
This test method includes preparatory steps for determining the biocide release rate in replacement ocean water from antifoulings, including apparatus, reagents, holding tank conditions, and sampling point details. According to this test method, low level of accurate determination of organic biocide concentrations in replacement ocean water is required. In addition, the analytical method to be used to determine the concentration of organic biocide in substitute ocean water must meet the acceptability criteria given in the annex to the standard in order to detect and correct for reagent impurities and to ensure that an appropriate level of analytical precision is achieved (Annex A2).
When determining the release rate of a highly photosensitive organic biocide, it is necessary to protect the apparatus and samples from exposure to natural and artificial visible light sources. The requirements for taking these steps for a particular biocide are contained in the annex to the standard (Annex A2).
The results of this test method do not reflect environmental biocide release rates for antifouling products and are not suitable for direct use in the process of establishing environmental risk assessments, environmental loading estimates, or setting release rate limits for regulatory purposes.
Our organization, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it has given for businesses in various sectors, within the scope of ASTM D6903-07 standard. It also provides standard testing services for determining the organic biocide release rate from antifouling coatings in substitute ocean water.
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