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 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 test method is equivalent to ISO DIS15985.
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.

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Publication Date
09-Aug-2002
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ASTM D5511-02 - Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions
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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:D5511–02
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 priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bilityofregulatorylimitationspriortouse.Specifichazardsare
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the degree
given in Section 8.
and rate of anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in
high-solids anaerobic conditions. The test materials are ex-
2. Referenced Documents
posed to a methanogenic inoculum derived from anaerobic
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
digesters operating only on pretreated household waste. The
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
anaerobic decomposition takes place under high-solids (more
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
than 30% total solids) and static non-mixed conditions.
D1293 Test Methods for pH of Water
1.2 This test method is designed to yield a percentage of
D1888 Test Methods for Particulate and Dissolved Matter,
conversion of carbon in the sample to carbon in the gaseous
Solids, or Residue in Water
formunderconditionsfoundinhigh-solidsanaerobicdigesters,
2
D2908 Practice for Measuring Volatile Organic Matter in
treating municipal solid waste (1, 2, 3, 4). This test method
Water by Aqueous-Injection Gas Chromatography
may also resemble some conditions in biologically active
D3590 Test Methods for Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen in Water
landfills where the gas generated is recovered and biogas
D4129 Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Water
production is even actively promoted, for example, by inocu-
by High Temperature Oxidation and by Coulometric De-
lation (codeposition of anaerobic sewage sludge, anaerobic
tection
leachate recirculation), moisture control in the landfill
E260 Practice for Packed Column Gas Chromatography
(leachate recirculation), and temperature control (short-term
E355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Rela-
injection of oxygen, heating of recirculated leachate) (5, 6, 7).
tionships
1.3 This test method is designed to be applicable to all
2.2 APHA-AWWA-WPCF Standards:
plastic materials that are not inhibitory to the microorganisms
4
2540 D Total Suspended Solids Dried at 103°–105°C
present in anaerobic digesters operating on household waste.
4
2540 E Fixed and Volatile Solids Ignited at 550°C
1.4 The values given in SI units are to be regarded as the
4
212 Nitrogen Ammonia
standard.
2.3 ISO Standard:
1.5 This test method is equivalent to ISO DIS15985.
ISO DIS 15985 Plastics— Determination of the Ultimate
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Anaerobic Biodegradability and Disintegration Under
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions— Method
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5
by Analysis of 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 Aug. 10, 2002. Published October 2002. Originally the ASTM website.
4
published as D5511–94. Last previous edition D5511–94. DOI: 10.1520/D5511- Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 17th Edition,
02. 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.
1

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D5511–02
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions— Definitions of terms applying to this test
method appear in Terminology D883.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 methanogenic inoculum—anaerobically digested or-
ganic waste containing a high concentration of anaerobic
methane-producing microorganisms.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 This test method consists of selection and analysis of
material for testing, obtaining a concentrated anaerobic inocu-
lum from an anae
...

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