Chemical Technology Standards: May 2025 Monthly Overview (Part 1)

Looking back at May 2025, the Chemical Technology sector experienced a significant wave of standards publications, addressing both analytical and product testing domains. This period saw the release of five pivotal standards, each laying fresh groundwork in materials analysis, gas mixture data handling, or chemical disinfectant efficacy. For industry professionals aiming to maintain compliance, optimize quality assurance, or stay abreast of emerging best practices, this retrospective offers valuable insights into evolving expectations and regulatory trajectories. Such comprehensive overviews remain crucial for anyone intent on not missing key developments in this dynamic field.

Monthly Overview: May 2025

May 2025 marked a notable period of activity within Chemical Technology standardization, with five major standards published across a span of disciplines—from advanced materials testing for aluminium production to complex gas analysis and rigorous evaluations of antimicrobial products for veterinary applications. Compared to previous months, May delivered a relatively balanced spectrum, focusing both on analytical protocols and practical disinfection requirements. The dual emphasis on precise measurement methods (e.g., electrical resistivity, electron diffraction) and effective, harmonized antibacterial testing protocols reflects an industry-wide push for reproducibility and reliability.

These publications collectively point to maturing trends: the drive for harmonized international methodologies, the integration of advanced instrumentation in research and quality control, and the growing regulatory focus on chemical safety, especially concerning the veterinary and agricultural sectors. Notably, recurring themes include the updating of legacy standards to fit modern industrial contexts and expanding cross-disciplinary applicability, ensuring that both commoditized and specialty chemical operations have clear, actionable benchmarks for best practices.

Standards Published This Month

ISO 11713:2025 - Determination of Specific Electrical Resistivity of Aluminium Production Materials

Carbonaceous materials used in the production of aluminium - Cathode blocks and baked anodes - Determination of the specific electrical resistivity at ambient temperature

This standard specifies a method for measuring the specific electrical resistivity of cathode blocks and baked anodes—core carbonaceous materials used in electrolysis cells for aluminium production. The measurement takes place at ambient temperature and mandates precise sampling, apparatus configuration, and calculation protocols. The second edition reflects technical revisions from its predecessor (ISO 11713:2000), with clearer apparatus descriptions and a reworked introduction for improved industry clarity.

Organizations operating within primary aluminium manufacturing, carbon block production, and related quality labs are the primary audience. The measurements stipulated here are integral to compliance with operational specifications such as cell performance, energy efficiency, and longevity of core components. By providing harmonized procedures for preparation, measurement, and reporting, ISO 11713:2025 not only reduces variability in material acceptance across borders but also supports vendor qualification and product development for the aluminium value chain.

Key highlights:

• Updated and clarified apparatus requirements and calculation guidance
• Emphasizes repeatability and reproducibility for industrial QC
• Reinforces standardization in the assessment of key materials for efficient aluminium production

Access the full standard:View ISO 11713:2025 on iTeh Standards

prEN 17422 - Evaluation of Teat Disinfectants for Veterinary Use

Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics - Quantitative surface test for the evaluation of teat disinfectants used in the veterinary area - Test method and requirements (phase 2 step 2)

This European draft standard introduces a rigorous, practical test for assessing the bactericidal efficacy of teat disinfectants used in the veterinary sector—particularly in animal husbandry, production, and care environments. The outlined quantitative method establishes minimum efficacy levels for both pre-milking and post-milking teat applications, covering simulation soiling scenarios and without mechanical action on the teat skin.

The document stipulates performance criteria (e.g., a 4-log reduction for post-milking disinfectants), test organisms (including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus), and assessment conditions reflecting real-life operational use—contact times, interfering substances, and temperature. Intended for disinfectant manufacturers, testing laboratories, quality managers, and animal health authorities, prEN 17422 harmonizes with European directives and integrates with broader regulatory frameworks (as referenced via EN 14885).

Notably, this revision aligns and clarifies soiling levels and calculation definitions, addressing practical challenges and fostering cross-laboratory reproducibility.

Key highlights:

• Standardizes bactericidal testing for veterinary-use teat disinfectants
• Defines both laboratory and practical simulation parameters
• Supports compliance with veterinary hygiene and animal welfare regulations

Access the full standard:View prEN 17422 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 14912:2025 - Gas Analysis: Conversion of Gas Mixture Composition Data

Gas analysis - Conversion of gas mixture composition data (ISO 14912:2025)

EN ISO 14912:2025 provides a globally harmonized methodology for the conversion of gas mixture composition data across various units and state conditions. The standard defines key quantities—amount fraction, mass fraction, volume fraction and their respective concentrations—and offers structured procedures for conversions both between these quantities and across different temperature-pressure states.

Applicable to gas analysis laboratories, process industries, and researchers working with homogeneous gas mixtures, the standard updates prior versions with the latest IUPAC/ CIAAW atomic mass data, revises the SI gas constant, and improves computational guidance (including programmatic implementation). Required for emission monitoring, fuel gas measurement, and scientific research, this standard ensures accurate, traceable, and reliable reporting across international boundaries and applications.

It establishes the minimum requirements for expressing, interconverting, and documenting results, enabling users to respond to diverse regulatory, scientific, and commercial needs.

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive coverage of gas composition calculations for homogeneous mixtures
• Procedures for converting both between quantities and under variable state conditions
• Aligns with updated SI units, IUPAC recommendations, and best industry practice

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 14912:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 25498:2025 - Analytical Electron Microscopy for Microbeam Analysis

Microbeam analysis - Analytical electron microscopy - Selected area electron diffraction analysis using a transmission electron microscope

ISO 25498:2025 details a robust protocol for performing Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) analysis using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) on micrometre- and sub-micrometre-scale crystalline specimens. With applicability extending from materials research to advanced QC in electronics and metallurgy, it specifies optimal specimen preparation, instrument calibration, pattern acquisition, and interpretation methods—with a focus on indexing diffraction patterns and calibrating the camera constant.

The third edition incorporates notable changes, such as revised scope, deletion and updating of specific subclauses for clarity, and expanded guidance on uncertainty estimation. Professionals in research laboratories, electron microscopy centers, or industries reliant on crystal structure analysis (e.g., high-performance ceramics, nanomaterials, and metals processing) will find this standard indispensable for ensuring the validity and comparability of their crystallographic data.

ISO 25498:2025 is pivotal for validating material properties at the micro-scale—supporting both innovation and regulatory compliance.

Key highlights:

• Defines methodology and quality assurance for SAED in TEM
• Expanded guidance on uncertainty and calibration
• Broadens application and enhances comparability for advanced material studies

Access the full standard:View ISO 25498:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 14349:2025 - Veterinary Disinfectant Efficacy on Non-Porous Surfaces

Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics - Quantitative surface test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics used in the veterinary area on non-porous surfaces without mechanical action - Test method and requirements (phase 2, step 2)

EN 14349:2025 introduces a standardized, quantitative test for assessing the bactericidal effectiveness of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics specifically used on non-porous surfaces within veterinary practice—covering breeding, production, veterinary care, and animal transport environments. The method simulates practical application conditions, specifying low and high soiling scenarios, required log reductions (minimum 4-log), and the use of representative bacterial test strains such as Enterococcus hirae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus.

By aligning with updated terminology, structural conventions, and referencing EN 14885 for harmonized usage guidance, this revision (superseding EN 14349:2012) brings improved clarity and comparability to disinfectant validation across the veterinary and animal husbandry sector. Relevant stakeholders include disinfectant manufacturers, QA labs, and veterinary facility operators charged with infection prevention and biosecurity.

Key highlights:

• Mandates quantitative surface testing for bactericidal efficacy under stringent conditions
• Harmonized terminology and structure with other CEN/TC 216 standards
• Excludes evaluation against non-bacterial pathogens—focuses solely on antibacterial validation

Access the full standard:View EN 14349:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

Several clear trends emerged from the May 2025 publications in Chemical Technology:

• Reinforced Analytical Precision: Updated standards for both human-operated tests (e.g., resistivity and SAED/TEM for materials) and computational gas mixture handling stress repeatability, error estimation, and robust calibration—mirroring the industry’s growing appetite for quantitative confidence and international comparability.
• Product Safety and Efficacy in Veterinary and Industrial Hygiene: Two standards (prEN 17422, EN 14349:2025) underscore the need for harmonized efficacy assessments for antimicrobial disinfectants, spotlighting links between public health, animal welfare, and regulatory convergence across Europe.
• Lifecycle Updates of Core Standards: Revisions of legacy standards (such as ISO 11713 and EN 14349) ensure older protocols adapt to new scientific findings, updated SI units, and shifting industrial baselines, supporting organizations in maintaining global alignment and market access.
• Method Harmonization: May’s standards reflect a coordinated push by ISO and CEN to ensure that testing conditions, reporting formats, and requirement thresholds respond to real-world operational scenarios—enabling laboratories and facilities to reduce ambiguity and minimize compliance discrepancies.
• Advanced Instrumentation and Digitalization: The detailed methodologies for TEM-based analysis (ISO 25498) and the digital-ready, programmatic aspects of gas analysis (EN ISO 14912) highlight a shift towards the integration of sophisticated measurement tools and process automation in routine chemical practice.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For professionals impacted by these standards, several practical considerations apply:

• Immediate Review Required: Facilities producing aluminium, conducting gas analysis, or deploying disinfectants in veterinary contexts should review existing test protocols and update documentation to reflect the revised or new standards.
• Training and Quality Systems: Lab analysts and quality managers should undergo upskilling on the updated procedures—especially for sampling, use of updated equipment, uncertainty assessments, and data calculations.
• Timeline for Adoption: As some standards (notably EN and ISO documents) require national adoption and may have transition periods, check local implementation deadlines and factor them into operational planning.
• Resource Acquisition: Ensure access to the full standards via authoritative platforms, such as iTeh Standards, and procure supporting literature and reference materials for calibration as referenced in the standards themselves.
• Vendor and Supply Chain Communication: For those outsourcing test execution or material supply, communicate changing standards requirements to vendors, ensuring alignment and verification of compliance up the supply chain.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from May 2025

The set of Chemical Technology standards published in May 2025 reflects a sector in pursuit of heightened rigor, harmonization, and adaptability. Whether optimizing material inputs in aluminium smelting, advancing microstructural analysis in material science, recalibrating gas composition reporting, or validating chemical disinfectant performance in agricultural settings, these documents evidence a decisive shift toward robust, verifiable practices.

For engineers, researchers, quality professionals, and compliance managers, these standards are more than procedural updates—they serve as blueprints for maintaining competitiveness, assuring health and safety, and facilitating international cooperation. Engaging with these publications ensures readiness for audits, regulatory reviews, and marketplace demands.

Staying current with such standards is not simply a matter of compliance—it is a catalyst for quality improvement and innovation. Professionals are encouraged to explore each standard in detail, update internal practices, and leverage these documents as tools for continuous advancement. For full access and ongoing updates, visit iTeh Standards and position your organization at the forefront of best practice in Chemical Technology.