ASTM D5210-92
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determining the Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in the Presence of Municipal Sewage Sludge
Standard Test Method for Determining the Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in the Presence of Municipal Sewage Sludge
SCOPE
1.1 This test method determines the degree and rate of anaerobic biodegradation of synthetic plastic materials (including formulation additives) on exposure to anaerobic-digester municipal sewage sludge from a waste-water plant, under laboratory conditions.
1.2 This test method is designed to index plastic materials that are more or less biodegradable relative to a positive standard in an anaerobic environment.
1.3 This test method is applicable to all plastic materials that are not inhibitory to the microorganisms present in anaerobic sewage sludge.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.5 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. Specific hazards are given in Section 8.
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Designation: D 5210 – 92 An American National Standard
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Test Method for
Determining the Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic
Materials in the Presence of Municipal Sewage Sludge
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5210; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4. Summary of Test Method
1.1 This test method determines the degree and rate of 4.1 This test method consists of selecting plastic material
anaerobic biodegradation of synthetic plastic materials (includ- for testing, obtaining sludge from an anaerobic-digester at a
ing formulation additives) on exposure to anaerobic-digester waste-treatment plant, exposing the plastic material to the
municipal sewage sludge from a waste-water plant, under inoculum obtained from the sewage sludge, measuring total
laboratory conditions. gas, carbon dioxide and methane (CO and CH ), evolved as a
2 4
1.2 This test method is designed to index plastic materials function of time; soluble organic carbon (SOC), and residual
that are more or less biodegradable relative to a positive polymer weight at the termination of the test, and assessing
standard in an anaerobic environment. degree of biodegradability.
1.3 This test method is applicable to all plastic materials that 4.2 The percent of theoretical gas production based on
are not inhibitory to the microorganisms present in anaerobic measured or calculated carbon content is reported with respect
sewage sludge. to time from which the degree of biodegradability is assessed.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
5. Significance and Use
standard.
5.1 The degree and rate of anaerobic biodegradability of a
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the plastic material in this test method may be predictive of the
time period required to eliminate that plastic from the environ-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- ment depending on the similarities of the environments. With
increasing use of plastics, disposal is a major issue. This test
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazards are
given in Section 8. method may be useful to estimate the degree and persistence of
plastics in biologically active anaerobic disposal sites. This test
2. Referenced Documents
method determines the rate and degree of anaerobic biodegra-
2.1 ASTM Standards: dation by measuring the evolved volume of carbon dioxide and
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics methane, as a function of time of exposure to anaerobic-
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water digester sludge.
D 3593 Test Method for Molecular Weight Averages and 5.2 Anaerobic sewer-digester sludge from treatment of
Molecular Weight Distribution of Certain Polymers by clarifier sludge at a waste-water treatment plant that treats
Liquid Size-Exclusion Chromatography (Gel Permeation principally municipal waste is an acceptable active anerobic
Chromatography—GPC) Using Universal Calibration environment (available over a wide geographical area) in
which to test a broad range of plastic materials. This test
3. Terminology
method may be considered an accelerated test with respect to
3.1 Definitions: a typical anaerobic environment, such as landfill sites that
3.1.1 Definitions of terms applying to this test method
plastics encounter in usual disposal methods because of the
appear in Terminology D 883. highly active microbial population of anaerobic-digester
sludge.
6. Apparatus
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-20 on Plastics
6.1 Gas generated will be collected in either an inverted
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmentally
Degradable Plastics. graduated cylinder submerged in water, water acidified to pH
Current edition approved Aug. 15, 1992. Published October 1992. Originally
<3 with sulfuric acid, a syringe with a freely moving plunger,
published as D 5210 – 91. Last previous edition D 5210 – 91.
or other suitable devices for measuring gas volume such as a
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
pressure transducer.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.02.
D 5210
TABLE 1 Stock Solutions for Anaerobic Biodegradation Test
6.2 Gas Chromatograph, or other apparatus, equipped with
a suitable detector and column(s), shall be used to quantify Amount, mL, Concentration
Stock Concentration,
Compound added per in media,
methane and carbon dioxide evolution using an analytical
Solution g/L
4L m moles
procedure specific for these gases.
S-1 Resazurin 0.5 8 .
6.3 Incubator, sufficient to store the test bottles at 356 2°C
S-2 KH PO 69.0 . 1.0
2 4
in the dark for the duration of the test.
K HPO 88.0 . 1.0
2 4
(NH ) HPO 10.0 8 0.15
6.4 Medium Handling Apparatus, suitable for maintaining 4 2 4
NH Cl 100.0 . 3.7
anaerobic conditions during medium preparation and inocula-
A
S-3 MgCl ·6H O 60.0 . 3.0
2 2
tion (See Fig. 1).
FeCl ·4H O 20.0 . 1.0
2 2
KCI 10.0 . 1.3
6.5 Serum Bottles, with sufficient capacity for the experi-
CaCl 10.0 . 0.90
ment, with butyl-rubber stoppers and crimp clamps to hold the
KI 1.0 . 0.060
rubber stoppers.
MnCl ·4H O 0.40 . 0.020
2 2
CoCl ·6H O 0.40 40 0.017
6.6 Analytical Balance, to weigh samples before and after 2 2
NiCl ,6H O 0.050 . 0.0021
2 2
test.
CuCl 0.050 . 0.0037
6.7 Analytical Instrument, to measure soluble organic car-
ZnCl 0.050 . 0.0037
H BO 0.050 . 0.0081
3 3
bon content of aqueous medium before and after test.
Na MoO ·H O 0.050 . 0.0018
2 4 2
NaIO ·nH O 0.050 . 0.0041
3 2
7. Reagents and Materials
Na SeO 0.010 . 0.00054
2 3
S-4 Na S·9H O 50.0 8 0.40
2 2
7.1 Reagent grade chemicals shall be used in all tests.
Bicarbonate NaHCO . 16.8 g 50.0
7.2 Purity of Water—Purity of water unless indicated oth-
A
S-3 may form a small amount of precipitate on standing, shake well before
erwise shall be understood to mean reagent water as defined by
using.
Type IV of Specification D 1193.
7.3 Stock solutions are prepared as shown in Table 1.
NOTE 1—Precaution: This test method involves the use of sludge from
7.4 Up to 1 mL of concentrated HCl may be added to Stock
a waste-treatment plant. Avoid contact with the sludge by using gloves and
Solution S-3 to improve the solubility of salts. Shake well
other appropriate protective equipment. Use good personal hygiene to
before use in order to distribute any undissolved material
minimize exposure to potentially harmful microbiological agents.
throughout the solution.
9. Inoculum—Test Organisms
8. Hazards
9.1 The inoculum consists of sludge from a well-operated
8.1 This test method involves the use of hazardous chemi- anaerobic-sludge digester with a total organic solids level of at
cals. Avoid contact with the chemicals and follow manufactur- least 1 to 2 % (W/V). The sewage treatment plant should
er’s instructions and material safety data sheets. receive no more than minimal effluent from industry and the
FIG. 1 Schematic Diagram of Apparatus Suitable for Maintenance of Anaerobic Conditions During Medium Preparation and Inoculation
D 5210
solids retention time of the digester should be 15 to 30 days. At bic conditions during medium preparation and transfer. Other
the time of collection, filter the sludge through a 2-mm sieve or suitable devices may be used. Valves V1 and V2 are used to
one layer of cheese cloth. control the transfer of the medium to the serum bottles. Draw
9.2 Fresh sludge may be used in this test, but it may be inoculated medium into the pipette by suction, then move the
stored for up to two weeks at 4°C prior to use without pipette and insert the tip into a serum bottle. During these
significant loss of activity. Preferably, the sludge is anaerobi- processes, continuously sparge the serum bottle and neck of the
cally digested for another 7 to 14 days at 35°C to reduce medium flask with a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide of
background activity, which may interfere with the test. composition previously indicated.
9.3 Take care to minimize exposure of the sludge to oxygen 11.3.2 Discharge the medium in the pipette into the serum
during collection, handling, and storage. bottle.
11.3.3 Insert a new butyl-rubber serum-bottle stopper into
10. Test Specimen
the neck of the bottle as the needle used to sparge the contents
10.1 The test specimen should be of known weight and of
with nitrogen and carbon dioxide is withdrawn. A small
sufficient carbon content to yield carbon dioxide and methane
amount of silicone lubricant may be used to facilitate insertion
volumes that can be adequately measured by the trapping
of the stopper. Hold the stopper in place with an aluminum
devices described in this test method. Modification of trapping
crimp seal.
devices may be made to accommodate plastic material han-
11.4 Incubation:
dling.
11.4.1 At the start of the i
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