ASTM D6866-24
(Test Method)Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This testing method provides accurate biobased/biogenic carbon content results to materials whose carbon source was directly in equilibrium with CO2 in the atmosphere at the time of cessation of respiration or metabolism, such as the harvesting of a crop or grass living its natural life in a field. Special considerations are needed to apply the testing method to materials originating from within artificial environments. Application of these testing methods to materials derived from CO2 uptake within artificial environments is beyond the present scope of this standard.
4.2 Method B utilizes AMS along with Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) techniques to quantify the biobased content of a given product. Instrumental error can be within 0.1-0.5 % (1 relative standard deviation (RSD)), but controlled studies identify an inter-laboratory total uncertainty up to ±3 % (absolute). This error is exclusive of indeterminate sources of error in the origin of the biobased content (see Section 22 on precision and bias).
4.3 Method C uses LSC techniques to quantify the biobased content of a product using sample carbon that has been converted to benzene. This test method determines the biobased content of a sample with a maximum total error of ±3 % (absolute), as does Method B.
4.4 The test methods described here directly discriminate between product carbon resulting from contemporary carbon input and that derived from fossil-based input. A measurement of a product’s 14C/12C or 14C/13C content is determined relative to a carbon based modern reference material accepted by the radiocarbon dating community such as NIST Standard Reference Material (SRM) 4990C, (referred to as OXII or HOxII). It is compositionally related directly to the original oxalic acid radiocarbon standard SRM 4990B (referred to as OXI or HOxI), and is denoted in terms of fM, that is, the sample’s fraction of modern carbon. (See Terminology, Section 3.)
4.5 Reference standards, available to all...
SCOPE
1.1 This standard is a test method that teaches how to experimentally measure biobased carbon content of solids, liquids, and gaseous samples using radiocarbon analysis. These test methods do not address environmental impact, product performance and functionality, determination of geographical origin, or assignment of required amounts of biobased carbon necessary for compliance with federal laws.
1.2 These test methods are applicable to any product containing carbon-based components that can be combusted in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. The overall analytical method is also applicable to gaseous samples, including flue gases from electrical utility boilers and waste incinerators.
1.3 These test methods make no attempt to teach the basic principles of the instrumentation used although minimum requirements for instrument selection are referenced in the References section. However, the preparation of samples for the above test methods is described. No details of instrument operation are included here. These are best obtained from the manufacturer of the specific instrument in use.
1.4 Limitation—This standard is applicable to laboratories working without exposure to artificial carbon-14 (14C). Artificial 14C is routinely used in biomedical studies by both liquid scintillation counter (LSC) and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) laboratories and can exist within the laboratory at levels 1,000 times or more than 100 % biobased materials and 100,000 times more than 1% biobased materials. Once in the laboratory, artificial 14C can become undetectably ubiquitous on door knobs, pens, desk tops, and other surfaces but which may randomly contaminate an unknown sample producing inaccurately high biobased results. Despite vigorous attempts to clean up contaminating artificial 14C from a laboratory, isolation has proven to be the only successful method of avoidance. Completely separate chemical ...
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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: D6866 − 24
Standard Test Methods for
Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and
1
Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6866; 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* may randomly contaminate an unknown sample producing
inaccurately high biobased results. Despite vigorous attempts
1.1 This standard is a test method that teaches how to
14
to clean up contaminating artificial C from a laboratory,
experimentally measure biobased carbon content of solids,
isolation has proven to be the only successful method of
liquids, and gaseous samples using radiocarbon analysis. These
avoidance. Completely separate chemical laboratories and
test methods do not address environmental impact, product
extreme measures for detection validation are required from
performance and functionality, determination of geographical
14
laboratories exposed to artificial C. Accepted requirements
origin, or assignment of required amounts of biobased carbon
are:
necessary for compliance with federal laws.
(1) disclosure to clients that the laboratory(s) working with
1.2 These test methods are applicable to any product con- 14
their products and materials also works with artificial C
taining carbon-based components that can be combusted in the
(2) chemical laboratories in separate buildings for the
presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide (CO ) gas. The 14
2
handling of artificial C and biobased samples
overall analytical method is also applicable to gaseous
(3) separate personnel who do not enter the buildings of the
samples, including flue gases from electrical utility boilers and
other
waste incinerators.
(4) no sharing of common areas such as lunch rooms and
1.3 These test methods make no attempt to teach the basic
offices
principles of the instrumentation used although minimum
(5) no sharing of supplies or chemicals between the two
requirements for instrument selection are referenced in the
(6) quasi-simultaneous quality assurance measurements
References section. However, the preparation of samples for
within the detector validating the absence of contamination
2
the above test methods is described. No details of instrument
within the detector itself. (1, 2, and 3)
operation are included here. These are best obtained from the
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
manufacturer of the specific instrument in use.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.4 Limitation—This standard is applicable to laboratories
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
14
working without exposure to artificial carbon-14 ( C). Artifi-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
14
cial C is routinely used in biomedical studies by both liquid
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
scintillation counter (LSC) and accelerator mass spectrometry
NOTE 1—ISO 16620-2 is equivalent to this standard.
(AMS) laboratories and can exist within the laboratory at levels
1,000 times or more than 100 % biobased materials and
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
100,000 times more than 1% biobased materials. Once in the dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
14
laboratory, artificial C can become undetectably ubiquitous
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
on door knobs, pens, desk tops, and other surfaces but which
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1 Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on
Plastics and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmen-
tally Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2024. Published February 2024. Originally
2
approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 2022 as D6866 - 22. DOI: The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of
10.1520/D6866-24. this standard.
*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 ----------------------
D6866 − 24
2. Referenced Documents marine, or forestry materials living in a natural environment
...
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: D6866 − 22 D6866 − 24
Standard Test Methods for
Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and
1
Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6866; 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 standard is a test method that teaches how to experimentally measure biobased carbon content of solids, liquids, and
gaseous samples using radiocarbon analysis. These test methods do not address environmental impact, product performance and
functionality, determination of geographical origin, or assignment of required amounts of biobased carbon necessary for
compliance with federal laws.
1.2 These test methods are applicable to any product containing carbon-based components that can be combusted in the presence
of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide (CO ) gas. The overall analytical method is also applicable to gaseous samples, including
2
flue gases from electrical utility boilers and waste incinerators.
1.3 These test methods make no attempt to teach the basic principles of the instrumentation used although minimum requirements
for instrument selection are referenced in the References section. However, the preparation of samples for the above test methods
is described. No details of instrument operation are included here. These are best obtained from the manufacturer of the specific
instrument in use.
14 14
1.4 Limitation—This standard is applicable to laboratories working without exposure to artificial carbon-14 ( C). Artificial C
is routinely used in biomedical studies by both liquid scintillation counter (LSC) and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)
laboratories and can exist within the laboratory at levels 1,000 times or more than 100 % biobased materials and 100,000 times
14
more than 1% biobased materials. Once in the laboratory, artificial C can become undetectably ubiquitous on door knobs, pens,
desk tops, and other surfaces but which may randomly contaminate an unknown sample producing inaccurately high biobased
14
results. Despite vigorous attempts to clean up contaminating artificial C from a laboratory, isolation has proven to be the only
successful method of avoidance. Completely separate chemical laboratories and extreme measures for detection validation are
14
required from laboratories exposed to artificial C. Accepted requirements are:
14
(1) disclosure to clients that the laboratory(s) working with their products and materials also works with artificial C
14
(2) chemical laboratories in separate buildings for the handling of artificial C and biobased samples
(3) separate personnel who do not enter the buildings of the other
(4) no sharing of common areas such as lunch rooms and offices
(5) no sharing of supplies or chemicals between the two
(6) quasi-simultaneous quality assurance measurements within the detector validating the absence of contamination within the
2
detector itself. (1, 2, and 3)
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmentally
Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products.
Current edition approved March 15, 2022Feb. 1, 2024. Published March 2022February 2024. Originally approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 20212022
as D6866 - 21.D6866 - 22. DOI: 10.1520/D6866-22.10.1520/D6866-24.
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of this standard.
*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 ----------------------
D6866 − 24
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
NOTE 1—ISO 16620-2 is equivalent to this standard.
1.6 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 Recommendatio
...
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