ASTM D5210-92(2007)
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determining the Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in the Presence of Municipal Sewage Sludge (Withdrawn 2016)
Standard Test Method for Determining the Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in the Presence of Municipal Sewage Sludge (Withdrawn 2016)
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The degree and rate of anaerobic biodegradability of a plastic material in this test method may be predictive of the time period required to eliminate that plastic from the environment depending on the similarities of the environments. With increasing use of plastics, disposal is a major issue. This test method may be useful to estimate the degree and persistence of plastics in biologically active anaerobic disposal sites. This test method determines the rate and degree of anaerobic biodegradation by measuring the evolved volume of carbon dioxide and methane, as a function of time of exposure to anaerobic-digester sludge.
Anaerobic sewer-digester sludge from treatment of clarifier sludge at a waste-water treatment plant that treats principally municipal waste is an acceptable active anaerobic environment (available over a wide geographical area) in which to test a broad range of plastic materials. This test method may be considered an accelerated test with respect to a typical anaerobic environment, such as landfill sites that plastics encounter in usual disposal methods because of the highly active microbial population of anaerobic-digester 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.
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.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
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.
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee D20 on Plastics, this test method was withdrawn in January 2016 in accordance with section 10.6.3 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.
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Standards Content (Sample)
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: D5210 − 92(Reapproved 2007)
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 D5210; 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 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method determines the degree and rate of
3.1 Definitions:
anaerobic biodegradation of synthetic plastic materials (includ-
3.1.1 Definitions of terms applying to this test method
ing formulation additives) on exposure to anaerobic-digester
appear in Terminology D883.
municipal sewage sludge from a waste-water plant, under
laboratory conditions.
4. Summary of Test Method
1.2 This test method is designed to index plastic materials
4.1 This test method consists of selecting plastic material
that are more or less biodegradable relative to a positive
for testing, obtaining sludge from an anaerobic-digester at a
standard in an anaerobic environment.
waste-treatment plant, exposing the plastic material to the
1.3 Thistestmethodisapplicabletoallplasticmaterialsthat
inoculum obtained from the sewage sludge, measuring total
are not inhibitory to the microorganisms present in anaerobic
gas, carbon dioxide and methane (CO and CH ), evolved as a
2 4
sewage sludge.
function of time; soluble organic carbon (SOC), and residual
polymer weight at the termination of the test, and assessing
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
degree of biodegradability.
standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the 4.2 The percent of theoretical gas production based on
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
measured or calculated carbon content is reported with respect
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- to time from which the degree of biodegradability is assessed.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.Specifichazardsare
5. Significance and Use
given in Section 8.
5.1 The degree and rate of anaerobic biodegradability of a
plastic material in this test method may be predictive of the
2. Referenced Documents
time period required to eliminate that plastic from the environ-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ment depending on the similarities of the environments. With
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
increasing use of plastics, disposal is a major issue. This test
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
methodmaybeusefultoestimatethedegreeandpersistenceof
D3593 Test Method for Molecular Weight Averages/ Distri-
plastics in biologically active anaerobic disposal sites.This test
bution of Certain Polymers by Liquid Size-Exclusion
method determines the rate and degree of anaerobic biodegra-
Chromatography (Gel Permeation Chromatography GPC)
dation by measuring the evolved volume of carbon dioxide and
Using Universal Calibration (Withdrawn 1993)
methane, as a function of time of exposure to anaerobic-
digester sludge.
5.2 Anaerobic sewer-digester sludge from treatment of
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics
clarifier sludge at a waste-water treatment plant that treats
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmentally
Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products.
principally municipal waste is an acceptable active anaerobic
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2007. Published October 2007. Originally
environment (available over a wide geographical area) in
approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D5210 – 92(2000).
which to test a broad range of plastic materials. This test
DOI: 10.1520/D5210-92R07.
method may be considered an accelerated test with respect to
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
a typical anaerobic environment, such as landfill sites that
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
plastics encounter in usual disposal methods because of the
the ASTM website.
highly active microbial population of anaerobic-digester
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org. sludge.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D5210 − 92 (2007)
TABLE 1 Stock Solutions for Anaerobic Biodegradation Test
6. Apparatus
Amount, mL, Concentration
6.1 Gas generated will be collected in either an inverted Stock Concentration,
Compound added per in media,
Solution g/L
graduated cylinder submerged in water, water acidified to pH
4L m moles
<3 with sulfuric acid, a syringe with a freely moving plunger,
S-1 Resazurin 0.5 8 .
S-2 KH PO 69.0 . 1.0
or other suitable devices for measuring gas volume such as a 2 4
K HPO 88.0 . 1.0
2 4
pressure transducer.
(NH ) HPO 10.0 8 0.15
4 2 4
NH Cl 100.0 . 3.7
6.2 Gas Chromatograph, or other apparatus, equipped with
A
S-3 MgCl ·6H O 60.0 . 3.0
2 2
a suitable detector and column(s), shall be used to quantify
FeCl ·4H O 20.0 . 1.0
2 2
methane and carbon dioxide evolution using an analytical KCI 10.0 . 1.3
CaCl 10.0 . 0.90
procedure specific for these gases.
KI 1.0 . 0.060
MnCl ·4H O 0.40 . 0.020
6.3 Incubator, sufficient to store the test bottles at 356 2°C 2 2
CoCl ·6H O 0.40 40 0.017
2 2
in the dark for the duration of the test.
NiCl ,6H O 0.050 . 0.0021
2 2
CuCl 0.050 . 0.0037
6.4 Medium Handling Apparatus, suitable for maintaining
ZnCl 0.050 . 0.0037
anaerobic conditions during medium preparation and inocula-
H BO 0.050 . 0.0081
3 3
tion (See Fig. 1). Na MoO ·H O 0.050 . 0.0018
2 4 2
NaIO ·nH O 0.050 . 0.0041
3 2
6.5 Serum Bottles, with sufficient capacity for the
Na SeO 0.010 . 0.00054
2 3
S-4 Na S·9H O 50.0 8 0.40
experiment, with butyl-rubber stoppers and crimp clamps to 2 2
Bicarbonate NaHCO . 16.8 g 50.0
hold the rubber stoppers.
A
S-3mayformasmallamountofprecipitateonstanding,shakewellbeforeusing.
6.6 Analytical Balance, to weigh samples before and after
test.
6.7 Analytical Instrument, to measure soluble organic car-
7.4 Up to 1 mLof concentrated HCl may be added to Stock
bon content of aqueous medium before and after test.
Solution S-3 to improve the solubility of salts. Shake well
before use in order to distribute any undissolved material
7. Reagents and Materials
throughout the solution.
7.1 Reagent grade chemicals shall be used in all tests.
7.2 Purity of Water—Purity of water unless indicated oth- 8. Hazards
erwise shall be understood to mean reagent water as defined by
8.1 This test method involves the use of hazardous chemi-
Type IV of Specification D1193.
cals.Avoid contact with the chemicals and follow manufactur-
7.3 Stock solutions are prepared as shown in Table 1. er’s instructions and material safety data sheets.
FIG. 1 Schematic Diagram of Apparatus Suitable for Maintenance of Anaerobic Conditions During Medium Preparation and Inoculation
D5210 − 92 (2007)
NOTE 1—Precaution:This test method involves the use of sludge from
11.2.1 Add the test specimen and control to serum bottles
awaste-treatmentplant.Avoidcontactwiththesludgebyusingglovesand
taking care to maintain an inert atmosphere prior to the
other appropriate protective equipment. Use good personal hygiene to
addition of the inoculated medium.The sample weights should
minimize exposure to potentially harmful microbiological agents.
be accurately known.
11.2.2 Prepare the specimen bottles, blanks, and controls in
9. Inoculum—Test Organisms
triplicate.
9.1 The inoculum consists of sludge from a well-operated
11.2.3 Sample all bottles for analysis of soluble carbon
anaerobic-sludge digester with a total organic solids level of at
content.
least 1 to 2 % (W/V). The sewage treatment plant should
11.3 Filling the Test Bottles:
receive no more than minimal effluent from industry and the
solids retention time of the digester should be 15 to 30 days.At 11.3.1 Transfer 100-mL portions of the inoculated medium
the time of collection, filter the sludge through a 2-mm sieve or anaerobically into serum bottles with a total capacity of
one layer of cheese cloth. approximately 160 mL, or proportionally larger amounts if
larger bottles are used to accommodate larger plastic samples.
9.2 Fresh sludge may be used in this test, but it may be
Fig. 1 illustrates an apparatus suitable for maintaining anaero-
stored for up to two weeks at 4°C prior to use without
bic conditions during medium preparation and transfer. Other
significant loss of activity. Preferably, the sludge is anaerobi-
suitable devices may be used. Valves V1 and V2 are used to
cally digested for another 7 to 14 days at 35°C to reduce
control the transfer of the medium to the serum bottles. Draw
background activity, which may interfere with the test.
inoculated medium into the pipette by suction, then move the
9.3 Take care to minimize exposure of the sludge to oxygen
pipette and insert the tip into a serum bottle. During these
during collection, handling, and storage. processes,continuouslyspargetheserumbottleandneckofthe
medium flask with a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide of
10. Test Specimen composition previously indicated.
11.3.2 Discharge the medium in the pipette into the serum
10.1 The test specimen should be of known weight and of
bottle.
sufficient carbon content to yield carbon dioxide and methane
11.3.3 Insert a new butyl-ru
...
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