International

Down and Feather

Bureau

Part 07

IDFB Testing Regulations

Version June 2013

Page 1 of 1

Oxygen Number
7.1. General
d) Place the jar in a horizontal position on the shaking
machine. The shaking motion of the jar is from lid to
bottom. The jar is shaken at room temperature for 30
minutes. The shaking speed is 150 shakes (one shake
= back and forth motion) and the shaking distance is
30-40 mm.

The oxygen number is an indicator for the amount of

organic foreign matter on the surface of the plumage.
The preparation of the aqueous extract is the most
critical step! Even shaking time and speed and placement of the jar are critical. Any variance from these
specifications will likely give a different result.

NOTE: If the sample does not absorb water after 5

minutes of shaking on the shaking machine, the jar
can be vigorously shaken again by hand. If after 3
minutes of vigorous shaking by hand, the plumage still
does not absorb water, simply continue using the
shaking machine for the final 25 minutes and proceed
as below.

7.2 Reagents and Equipment

a) Reagents
Grade 3 purified water (according to ISO
3696:1987), water must be 20C 2C.
3 mol/l Sulphuric Acid (6 N or 25 % H2S04)
0.02 mol/l Potassium Permanganate (N/10 or 0.1
N KMnO4
NOTE: The Potassium Permanganate should
be stored in a cool dry place such as a
refridgerator.
b) Equipment
Analytical Balance (accuracy to 0.1 mg)
2000 ml round plastic jar with watertight lid (for
shaking)
2000 ml glass or plastic beaker
250 ml glass beaker
Horizontal shaking machine with 150 shakes per
minute and a shaking width of 30-40 mm)
Glass filter according to EN 1162, pore size P160 (according to ISO 4793)
Full pipette 100 ml class A (ISO 648)
Graduated pipette 5 ml (ISO 835-3)
Micro-burette with divisions of 0.02 ml
(Eppendorf Pipette)
Stopwatch
Magnetic stirrer
Plastic or Rubber Gloves
7.3 Sample Preparation
a) Place two representative samples of l0g each
( 0.1 g) in the two 2000 ml plastic jars.
Wear gloves while preparing samples to avoid
contact with hands.
b) Add 1 litre of grade 3 purified water.
c) After attaching the watertight lid, shake the material
by hand 10-15 times (or more but no longer than 2
minutes) to make sure that the plumage begins to
absorb water.

e) Filter the resulting liquid (aqueous extract,

suspension) through the glass filter into a 2000 ml
beaker. Do not squeeze or wring excess liquid from
the plumage!
f) Prepare the second sample in the same way (a-e)
7.4

Measurement
a) Pour 100 ml of liquid into a 250 ml beaker
b) Add 3 ml of the 3 mol/l sulphuric acid to the beaker of
liquid.
c) Place the beaker of liquid on the magnetic stirrer and
titrate with potassium permanganate. Add potassium
permanganate at the rate of 0.02 ml until a faint pink
colour persists in the liquid for 60 seconds.
d) Repeat the procedure (a-c) for the second sample
e) Also complete a blank test with 100 ml distilled water.

7.5 Calculation and Reporting of Results

a) Calculate results as follows:
A = quantity in ml of potassium permanganate used
in the test samples (average)
B = quantity in ml of potassium permanganate used
in the blank test
Oxygen Number = 80 x (A B)
Calculate the average or arithmetical mean of the
two measurements rounded to one decimal place.
b) Report results as follows:
Oxygen number = XX.x

shaking direction

This version replaces the version of 2012

Note: The test report must contain the reference to this part of the IDFB Testing Regulations and/or any modifications to the
terms of these regulations.