ASTM D5988-18
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in Soil
Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in Soil
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The degree and rate of aerobic biodegradability of a plastic material in the environment determines the extent to which and time period over which plastic materials are mineralized by soil microorganisms. Disposal is becoming a major issue with the increasing use of plastics, and the results of this test method permit an estimation of the degree of biodegradability and the time period over which plastics will remain in an aerobic soil environment. This test method determines the degree of aerobic biodegradation by measuring evolved carbon dioxide as a function of time that the plastic is exposed to soil.
5.2 Soil is an extremely species-rich source of inoculum for evaluation of the biodegradability of plastics in the environment. When maintained appropriately with regard to moisture content and oxygen availability, the biological activity is quite considerable, although lower than other biologically active environments, such as activated sewage-sludge or compost.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers determination under laboratory conditions of the degree and rate of aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials, including formulation additives, in contact with soil.
1.2 This test method is designed to measure the biodegradability of plastic materials relative to a reference material in an aerobic environment.
1.3 This test method is designed to be applicable to all plastic materials that are not inhibitory to the bacteria and fungi present in soil.
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. Results shall not be extrapolated beyond the actual duration of the test.
1.5 The values stated 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. A specific hazard statement is given in Section 8.
1.7 This ASTM test method is equivalent to ISO 17556.
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D5988 − 18
Standard Test Method for
Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in
1
Soil
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5988; 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
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This test method covers determination under laboratory
D425Test Method for Centrifuge Moisture Equivalent of
conditions of the degree and rate of aerobic biodegradation of
Soils
plastic materials, including formulation additives, in contact
D618Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
with soil.
D883Terminology Relating to Plastics
1.2 This test method is designed to measure the biodegrad-
D1193Specification for Reagent Water
abilityofplasticmaterialsrelativetoareferencematerialinan
D1293Test Methods for pH of Water
aerobic environment.
D2974Test Methods for Moisture,Ash, and Organic Matter
of Peat and Other Organic Soils
1.3 This test method is designed to be applicable to all
D2980 Test Method for Saturated Density, Moisture-
plasticmaterialsthatarenotinhibitorytothebacteriaandfungi
Holding Capacity, and Porosity of Saturated Peat Materi-
present in soil.
als
1.4 Claims of performanceshallbelimitedtothenumerical
D2989Test Method for Acidity-Alkalinity of Halogenated
result obtained in the test and not be used for unqualified
Organic Solvents and Their Admixtures
“biodegradable”claims.Reportsshallclearlystatethepercent-
D4129Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Water
age of net gaseous carbon generation for both the test and
by High Temperature Oxidation and by Coulometric
reference samples at the completion of the test. Results shall
Detection
not be extrapolated beyond the actual duration of the test.
D4972Test Method for pH of Soils
D5338Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegrada-
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
tion of Plastic Materials Under Controlled Composting
standard.
Conditions, Incorporating Thermophilic Temperatures
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
D5511TestMethodforDeterminingAnaerobicBiodegrada-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
tion of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Digestion Conditions
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- 3
2.2 APHA-AWWA-WPCF Standards:
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. A
2540D Total Suspended Solids Dried at 103°–105°C
specific hazard statement is given in Section 8.
2540G Total, Fixed, and Volatile Solids in Solids and
1.7 This ASTM test method is equivalent to ISO 17556.
Semi-Solid Samples
4
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
2.3 ISO Standard:
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ISO11261SoilQuality—DeterminationofTotalNitrogen—
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Modified Kjeldahl Method
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
ISO 17556Plastics—Determination of the UltimateAerobic
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. ForAnnual Book ofASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD20onPlastics the ASTM website.
3
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmentally Standard Methods for the Examination ofWater andWastewater, 17th Edition,
Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products. 1989,Available fromAmerican Public HealthAssociation (APHA), 800 I St., NW,
Current edition approved April 1, 2018. Published April 2018. Originally Washington, DC 20001, http://www.apha.org.
4
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D5988-12. DOI: Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/D5988-18. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D5988 − 18
BiodegradabilityofPlasticMaterialsinSoilbyMeasuring
the Oxygen Demand in a Respirometer or theAmount of
Ca
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM 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: D5988 − 12 D5988 − 18
Standard Test Method for
Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in
1
Soil
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5988; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method covers determination under laboratory conditions of the degree and rate of aerobic biodegradation of plastic
materials, including formulation additives, in contact with soil.
1.2 This test method is designed to measure the biodegradability of plastic materials relative to a reference material in an aerobic
environment.
1.3 This test method is designed to be applicable to all plastic materials that are not inhibitory to the bacteria and fungi present
in soil.
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. Results shall not be extrapolated beyond the actual duration of the test.
1.5 The values stated 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. A specific hazard statement is given in Section 8.
1.7 This ASTM test method is equivalent to ISO 17556.
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D425 Test Method for Centrifuge Moisture Equivalent of Soils
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D1293 Test Methods for pH of Water
D2974 Test Methods for Moisture, Ash, and Organic Matter of Peat and Other Organic Soils
D2980 Test Method for Saturated Density, Moisture-Holding Capacity, and Porosity of Saturated Peat Materials
D2989 Test Method for Acidity-Alkalinity of Halogenated Organic Solvents and Their Admixtures
D4129 Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Water by High Temperature Oxidation and by Coulometric Detection
D4972 Test Method for pH of Soils
D5338 Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under Controlled Composting Conditions,
Incorporating Thermophilic Temperatures
D5511 Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion
Conditions
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmentally Degradable
Plastics and Biobased Products.
Current edition approved May 1, 2012April 1, 2018. Published June 2012April 2018. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 20032012 as
D5988 - 03.D5988 - 12. DOI: 10.1520/D5988-12.10.1520/D5988-18.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or 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.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D5988 − 18
3
2.2 APHA-AWWA-WPCF Standards:
2540 D Total Suspended Solids Dried at 103°–105°C
2540 G Total, Fixed, and Volatile Solids in Solids and Semi-Solid Samples
4
2.3 ISO Standard:
ISO 11261 Soil Quality—Determination of Total Nitrogen—Modified Kjeldahl Method
ISO 17556 Plastics—Determination of the Ultimate Aerobic Biodegradability of Plastic Materials in Soil by Measuring the
Oxygen Demand in a Respirometer or the Amount of Carbon Dioxide Evolved
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Definitions
...
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