ASTM D5271-02
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determining the Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in an Activated-Sludge-Wastewater-Treatment System (Withdrawn 2011)
Standard Test Method for Determining the Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in an Activated-Sludge-Wastewater-Treatment System (Withdrawn 2011)
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The degree and rate of aerobic biodegradability of a plastic material in the environment determines to what extent and in what time period that plastic may be eliminated from certain environments. With increasing use of plastics, disposal is becoming a major issue. This procedure estimates the degree and time required to biodegrade plastics in an activated-sludge-wastewater-treatment aeration basin. This test method determines the degree of aerobic biodegradation by measuring the consumption of oxygen due to respiration of the microbial population, as a function of time when the plastic is exposed to an inoculum of activated sewer sludge in the concentration range from 30 mg/L to 1000 mg/L MLVSS. This test method is designed to measure the oxidation of plastics containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine, and sodium. Changes in the molecular weight and physical characteristics of the polymer after exposure to activated-sludge inoculum can be assessed by other ASTM test methods, such as Test Method D 5209.
Activated sludge from a sewage treatment plant that treats principally municipal waste is considered to be an acceptable active aerobic inoculum available over a wide geographical area in which to test a broad range of plastic materials. When biodegradation in a specific activated-sludge-wastewater-treatment system is to be determined seed should be collected from that environment. Alternatively, soil or compost suspensions, or both can be used for inoculation, because with some plastic materials the activity of fungi is important for biodegradation.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is designed to index plastic materials which are more or less biodegradable relative to a standard in aerobic activated-sludge-treatment systems.
1.2 This test method is designed to be applicable to all plastic materials that are not inhibitory to the bacteria present in the activated sludge. Compounds with toxic properties may delay or inhibit the degradation process.
1.3 This test method measures the degree and rate of aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials (including formulation additives which may be biodegradable) on exposure to activated-sludge biomass in the concentration range from 0.1 to 2.5 g/L mixed-liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) under laboratory conditions.
1.4 The high MLVSS concentration relative to other biodegradation tests has the advantage of improved repeatability and increased likelihood of more rapid adaptation or acclimation of the biomass.
1.5 This test method allows for the determination of biological nitrification and the oxidation of other non-carbon components of the plastic.
1.6 This test method does not purport to determine whether or not a plastic material will pass through primary treatment to the aeration basin of an activated-sludge wastewater-treatment plant. The size or density of the plastic material may exclude it from the secondary-treatment stage of a treatment facility.
1.7 This test method is equivalent to ISO 14851.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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. For a specific hazards statement, see Section 8.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
This test method was designed to index plastic materials, which are more or less biodegradable relative to a standard in aerobic activated-sludge-treatment systems.
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee D20 on Plastics, this test method was withdrawn in January 2011 in accordance with section 10.5.3.1 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D5271–02
Standard Test Method for
Determining the Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials
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in an Activated-Sludge-Wastewater-Treatment System
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5271; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
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1.1 This test method is designed to index plastic materials 2.1 ASTM Standards:
which are more or less biodegradable relative to a standard in D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
aerobic activated-sludge-treatment systems. D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
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1.2 This test method is designed to be applicable to all D1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics
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plastic materials that are not inhibitory to the bacteria present D2579 Test Method for Total Organic Carbon in Water
in the activated sludge. Compounds with toxic properties may D3593 Test Method for Molecular Weight Averages and
delay or inhibit the degradation process. Molecular Weight Distribution of Certain Polymers by
1.3 Thistestmethodmeasuresthedegreeandrateofaerobic Liquid Size-Exclusion Chromatography (Gel Permeation
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biodegradation of plastic materials (including formulation Chromatography GPC) Using Universal Calibration
additives which may be biodegradable) on exposure to D5209 Test Method for Determining the Aerobic Biodeg-
activated-sludge biomass in the concentration range from 0.1 radation of Plastic Materials in the Presence of Municipal
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to 2.5 g/L mixed-liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) Sewage Sludge
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under laboratory conditions. 2.2 APHA-AWWA-WPCF Standards:
1.4 The high MLVSS concentration relative to other bio- 2540D Total Suspended Solids Dried at 103°–105°C
degradation tests has the advantage of improved repeatability 2540E Fixed and Volatile Solids Ignited at 550°C
and increased likelihood of more rapid adaptation or acclima- 2.3 ISO Standard:
tion of the biomass. ISO 14851 Determination of the Ultimate Aerobic Biode-
1.5 This test method allows for the determination of bio- gradability of Plastic Materials in an Aqueous Medium -
logical nitrification and the oxidation of other non-carbon Method by Measuring the Oxygen Demand in a Closed
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components of the plastic. Respirometer
1.6 This test method does not purport to determine whether
3. Terminology
or not a plastic material will pass through primary treatment to
3.1 Definitions:
the aeration basin of an activated-sludge wastewater-treatment
plant.Thesizeordensityoftheplasticmaterialmayexcludeit 3.1.1 Definitions of terms applying to this test method
appear in Terminology D883.
from the secondary-treatment stage of a treatment facility.
1.7 This test method is equivalent to ISO14851. 3.1.2 biological nitrification—the process by which organic
nitrogen or ammonia salts are oxidized to nitrite (NO)or
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
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safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the nitrate (NO ), or both, by means of the metabolic pathways of
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microorganisms.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
hazards statement, see Section 8.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
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Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced
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ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD20onPlastics on www.astm.org.
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and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmentally Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, American
Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products. Public Health Association-American Water Works Association-Water Pollution
Current edition approved March 10, 2002. Published May 2002. Originally Control Federation, 17th Edition, 1989.
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published as D5271–92. Last previous edition D5271–93. DOI: 10.1520/D5271- Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
02. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D5271–02
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: because with some plastic materials the activity of fungi is
3.2.1 mixed liquid volatile suspended solids (MLVSS)—the important for biodegradation.
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