ASTM D5511-11
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions
Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Biodegradation of a plastic within a high-solids anaerobic digestion unit is an important phenomenon because it will affect the decomposition of other waste materials enclosed by the plastic and the resulting quality and appearance of the compost after an anaerobic digestion process. Biodegradation of plastics could allow for the safe disposal of these plastics through aerobic and anaerobic solid-waste-treatment plants. This procedure has been developed to permit the determination of the rate and degree of anaerobic biodegradability of plastic products when placed in a high-solids anaerobic digester for the production of compost from municipal solid waste.
Limitations—Because there is a wide variation in the construction and operation of anaerobic-digestion systems and because regulatory requirements for composting systems vary, this procedure is not intended to simulate the environment of any particular high-solids anaerobic-digestion system. However, it is expected to resemble the environment of a high-solids anaerobic-digestion process operated under optimum conditions. More specifically, the procedure is intended to create a standard laboratory environment that will permit a rapid and reproducible determination of the anaerobic biodegradability under high-solids 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 also resembles other anaerobic conditions where the gas generated is recovered and biogas production is actively promoted by inoculation (for example, codeposition of anaerobic sewage sludge, anaerobic leachate recirculation), moisture control (for example, leachate recirculation), and temperature control (for example, 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 Claims of performance shall be limited to the numerical result obtained in the test and not be used for unqualified “biodegradable” claims. Reports shall clearly state the percentage of net gaseous carbon generation for both the test and reference samples at the completion of the test. Furthermore, results shall not be extrapolated past the actual duration of the test.
1.5 The values given in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.6 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—This test method is equivalent to ISO 15985.
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Designation:D5511–11
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 D5511; 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 responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the degree
bilityofregulatorylimitationspriortouse.Specifichazardsare
and rate of anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in
given in Section 8.
high-solids anaerobic conditions. The test materials are ex-
posed to a methanogenic inoculum derived from anaerobic
NOTE 1—This test method is equivalent to ISO15985.
digesters operating only on pretreated household waste. The
2. Referenced Documents
anaerobic decomposition takes place under high-solids (more
3
than 30% total solids) and static non-mixed conditions.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 This test method is designed to yield a percentage of
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
conversion of carbon in the sample to carbon in the gaseous
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
formunderconditionsfoundinhigh-solidsanaerobicdigesters,
D1293 Test Methods for pH of Water
2
treating municipal solid waste (1, 2, 3, 4). This test method
D1888 Test Methods for Particulate and Dissolved Matter,
also resembles other anaerobic conditions where the gas
Solids, or Residue in Water
generated is recovered and biogas production is actively
D2908 Practice for Measuring Volatile Organic Matter in
promotedbyinoculation(forexample,codepositionofanaero-
Water by Aqueous-Injection Gas Chromatography
bic sewage sludge, anaerobic leachate recirculation), moisture
D3590 Test Methods for Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen in Water
control (for example, leachate recirculation), and temperature
D4129 Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Water
control(forexample,short-terminjectionofoxygen,heatingof
by High Temperature Oxidation and by Coulometric De-
recirculated leachate) (5, 6, 7).
tection
1.3 This test method is designed to be applicable to all
E260 Practice for Packed Column Gas Chromatography
plastic materials that are not inhibitory to the microorganisms
E355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Rela-
present in anaerobic digesters operating on household waste.
tionships
1.4 Claims of performance shall be limited to the numerical
2.2 APHA-AWWA-WPCF Standards:
4
resultobtainedinthetestandnotbeusedforunqualified
2540 D Total Suspended Solids Dried at 103°–105°C
4
“biodegradable”claims.Reportsshallclearlystatethepercent-
2540 E Fixed and Volatile Solids Ignited at 550°C
4
age of net gaseous carbon generation for both the test and
212 Nitrogen Ammonia
5
reference samples at the completion of the test. Furthermore,
2.3 ISO Standard:
results shall not be extrapolated past the actual duration of the
ISO13641-1 Water quality—Determination of inhibition of
test.
gasproductionofanaerobicbacteria—Part1:Generaltest
1.5 The values given in SI units are to be regarded as the
ISO15985 Plastics—Determination of the ultimate anaero-
standard.
bic biodegradability and disintegration under high-solids
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
anaerobic-digestion conditions—Method by analysis of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
released biogas
1 3
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee of D20 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmen- contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
tally Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2011. Published February 2011. Originally the ASTM website.
4
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D5511–02. DOI: Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 17th Edition,
10.1520/D5511-11. 1989,American Public HealthAssociation, 1740 Broadway, NewYork, NY10018.
2 5
The boldface numbers is parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the text. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D5511–11
3. Terminology
3.1 Defin
...
This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately,ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:D5511–02 Designation:D5511–11
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 D5511; 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
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 Thistestmethodisdesignedtoyieldapercentageofconversionofcarboninthesampletocarboninthegaseousformunder
2
conditions found in high-solids anaerobic digesters, treating municipal solid waste (1, 2, 3, 4). This test method may also
resembles omther anaerobic conditions in biologically active landfills where the gas generated is recovered and biogas production
isevenactivelypromoted,forexample,promotedbyinoculation(forexample,codepositionofanaerobicsewagesludge,anaerobic
leachaterecirculation),moisturecontrolinthelandfill(leachate(forexample,leachaterecirculation),andtemperaturecontrol(for
example, 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.
1.4The values given in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.5This test method is equivalent to ISO DIS15985.
1.4 Claims of performance shall be limited to the numerical result obtained in the test and not be used for unqualified
“biodegradable” claims. Reports shall clearly state the percentage of net gaseous carbon generation for both the test and reference
samples at the completion of the test. Furthermore, results shall not be extrapolated past the actual duration of the test.
1.5 The values given in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.6 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—This test method is equivalent to ISO15985.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D1293 Test Methods for pH of Water
D1888 Test Methods for Particulate and Dissolved Matter, Solids, or Residue in Water
D2908 Practice for Measuring Volatile Organic Matter in Water by Aqueous-Injection Gas Chromatography
D3590 Test Methods for Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen in Water
D4129 Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Water by High Temperature Oxidation and by Coulometric Detection
E260 Practice for Packed Column Gas Chromatography
E355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Relationships
2.2 APHA-AWWA-WPCF Standards:
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee of D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmentally
Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products.
Current edition approved Aug. 10, 2002. Published October 2002. Originally published as D5511–94. Last previous edition D5511–94. DOI: 10.1520/D5511-02.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2011. Published February 2011. Originally approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D5511–02. DOI:
10.1520/D5511-11.
2
The boldface numbers is parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of the text.
3
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,orcontactASTMCustomerServiceatservice@astm.org.For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D5511–11
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2540 D D Total Suspended Solids Dried at 103°–105°C
4
2540 E E Fixed and Volatile Solids Ignited
...
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