Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the degree and rate of anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in high-solids anaerobic conditions. The test materials are exposed to a methanogenic inoculum derived from anaerobic digesters operating only on pretreated household waste. The anaerobic decomposition takes place under high-solids (more than 30% total solids) and static non-mixed conditions.  
1.2 This test method is designed to yield a percentage of conversion of carbon in the sample to carbon in the gaseous form under conditions found in high-solids anaerobic digesters, treating municipal solid waste (1, 2, 3, 4).  This test method may also resemble some conditions in biologically active landfills where the gas generated is recovered and biogas production is even actively promoted, for example, by inoculation (codeposition of anaerobic sewage sludge, anaerobic leachate recirculation), moisture control in the landfill (leachate recirculation), and temperature control (short-term injection of oxygen, heating of recirculated leachate) (5, 6, 7).  
1.3 This test method is designed to be applicable to all plastic materials that are not inhibitory to the microorganisms present in anaerobic digesters operating on household waste.  
1.4 The values given in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazards are given in Section 8.  Note 1-There is no similar or equivalent ISO method.

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Publication Date
31-Dec-1993
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ASTM D5511-94 - Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions
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Standards Content (Sample)

Designation: D 5511 – 94 An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials
1
Under High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5511; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
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1. Scope D 1293 Test Methods for pH of Water
D 1888 Test Methods for Particulate and Dissolved Matter,
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the degree
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Solids, or Residue in Water
and rate of anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in
D 2908 Practice for Measuring Volatile Organic Matter in
high-solids anaerobic conditions. The test materials are ex-
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Water by Aqueous-Injection Chromatography
posed to a methanogenic inoculum derived from anaerobic
4
D 3590 Test Methods for Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen in Water
digesters operating only on pretreated household waste. The
D 4129 Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Water
anaerobic decomposition takes place under high-solids (more
by High-Temperature Oxidation and by Coulometric De-
than 30 % total solids) and static non-mixed conditions.
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tection
1.2 This test method is designed to yield a percentage of
7
E 260 Practice for Packed Column Gas Chromatography
conversion of carbon in the sample to carbon in the gaseous
E 355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Rela-
form under conditions found in high-solids anaerobic digesters,
7
2 tionships
treating municipal solid waste (1, 2, 3, 4). This test method
2.2 APHA-AWWA-WPCF Standards:
may also resemble some conditions in biologically active
8
2540 D Total Suspended Solids Dried at 103°–105°C
landfills where the gas generated is recovered and biogas
8
2540 E Fixed and Volatile Solids Ignited at 550°C
production is even actively promoted, for example, by inocu-
8
212 Nitrogen Ammonia
lation (codeposition of anaerobic sewage sludge, anaerobic
leachate recirculation), moisture control in the landfill
3. Terminology
(leachate recirculation), and temperature control (short-term
3.1 Definitions— Definitions of terms applying to this test
injection of oxygen, heating of recirculated leachate) (5, 6, 7).
method appear in Terminology D 883.
1.3 This test method is designed to be applicable to all
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
plastic materials that are not inhibitory to the microorganisms
3.2.1 methanogenic inoculum—anaerobically digested or-
present in anaerobic digesters operating on household waste.
ganic waste containing a high concentration of anaerobic
1.4 The values given in SI units are to be regarded as the
methane-producing microorganisms.
standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4. Summary of Test Method
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.1 This test method consists of selection and analysis of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
material for testing, obtaining a concentrated anaerobic inocu-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
lum from an anaerobic laboratory-scale digester, exposing the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazards are
material to an anaerobic-static-batch fermentation at more than
given in Section 8.
30 % solids, measuring total carbon in the gas (CO and CH )
2 4
NOTE 1—There is no similar or equivalent ISO method.
evolved as a function of time, and assessing the degree of
biodegradability.
2. Referenced Documents
4.2 The percentage of biodegradability is obtained by de-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
termining the percent of conversion of carbon from the test
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics and Electrical
material to carbon in the gaseous phase (CH and CO ). This
4 2
3
Insulating Materials for Testing
percentage of biodegradability will not include the amount of
3
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
carbon from the test substance that is converted to cell biomass
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee of D-20 on
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmen-
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tally Degradable Plastics. Discontinued. See 1991 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
6
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 1994. Published April 1994. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.02.
2 7
The boldface numbers is parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.01.
8
the text. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 17th Edition,
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01. 1989, American Public Health Association, 1740 Broadway, New York, NY 10018.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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