Overview
EN ISO 665:2020 (ISO 665:2020) specifies a standardized laboratory method for the determination of moisture and volatile matter content in oilseeds. Adopted by CEN and published in March 2020, this method replaces the 2000 edition and defines the principle of drying test portions at 103 °C ± 2 °C until practically constant mass is reached. The document is intended for consistent, repeatable assessment of moisture/volatile matter in oilseeds such as rapeseed, sunflower seed, soya, copra and other oleaginous seeds.
Keywords: EN ISO 665, ISO 665:2020, oilseeds moisture determination, volatile matter content, drying oven 103°C.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and principle: Moisture and volatile matter are determined as mass loss under specified drying conditions (103 °C ± 2 °C) until constant mass.
- Apparatus: Required equipment includes an analytical balance (0.001 g), mechanical mill (for certain seeds), mechanical or hand grater (for copra), flat-bottomed vessels with lids (spread target ≈ 0.2 g/cm²), an electric oven with thermostatic control and good ventilation, and a desiccator with efficient desiccant.
- Sample preparation:
- Reduce laboratory sample per ISO 664.
- Grind medium-sized seeds (except specified exceptions) to particles ≤ 2 mm; small seeds and several oilseeds (sunflower, soya beans, cottonseed with linters) are analysed whole.
- Copra is grated (particles up to 2–5 mm).
- Test portion & procedure:
- Typical test portions: ~5 g (±0.5 g) grated or 5–10 g whole seeds depending on seed type.
- Dry in oven 3 h (or 12–16 h for cottonseed with adherent linters) from the time oven temperature stabilizes at 103 °C, then reweigh repeatedly until mass change criterion is met.
- Precision and reporting: The standard includes interlaboratory data and specifies repeatability and reproducibility considerations; the test report must document conditions and results.
Applications and users
This standard is used for:
- Quality control in seed testing and oilseed processing plants
- Contractual moisture verification for trade and storage
- Laboratory accreditation and routine analytical testing in seed analysis labs
- Research into oilseed handling, storage and drying processes
Typical users: testing laboratories, grain/oilseed traders, processors, quality managers, standards bodies and regulatory authorities.
Related standards
- ISO 664 - Reduction of laboratory sample to test sample (normative reference)
- ISO 21294 - Recommended sampling methods for oilseeds (sampling guidance referenced)
- EN adoption: this ISO document was endorsed as EN ISO 665:2020 by CEN members.