ASTM D5210-92(2000)
(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:D5210–92 (Reapproved 2000)
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 3.1.1 Definitions of terms applying to this test method
appear in Terminology D 883.
1.1 This test method determines the degree and rate of
anaerobicbiodegradationofsyntheticplasticmaterials(includ-
4. Summary of Test Method
ing formulation additives) on exposure to anaerobic-digester
4.1 This test method consists of selecting plastic material
municipal sewage sludge from a waste-water plant, under
for testing, obtaining sludge from an anaerobic-digester at a
laboratory conditions.
waste-treatment plant, exposing the plastic material to the
1.2 This test method is designed to index plastic materials
inoculum obtained from the sewage sludge, measuring total
that are more or less biodegradable relative to a positive
gas, carbon dioxide and methane (CO and CH ), evolved as a
2 4
standard in an anaerobic environment.
function of time; soluble organic carbon (SOC), and residual
1.3 Thistestmethodisapplicabletoallplasticmaterialsthat
polymer weight at the termination of the test, and assessing
are not inhibitory to the microorganisms present in anaerobic
degree of biodegradability.
sewage sludge.
4.2 The percent of theoretical gas production based on
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
measured or calculated carbon content is reported with respect
standard.
to time from which the degree of biodegradability is assessed.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5. Significance and Use
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5.1 The degree and rate of anaerobic biodegradability of a
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
plastic material in this test method may be predictive of the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.Specifichazardsare
time period required to eliminate that plastic from the environ-
given in Section 8.
ment depending on the similarities of the environments. With
2. Referenced Documents increasing use of plastics, disposal is a major issue. This test
2 methodmaybeusefultoestimatethedegreeandpersistenceof
2.1 ASTM Standards:
plastics in biologically active anaerobic disposal sites.This test
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
method determines the rate and degree of anaerobic biodegra-
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water
dationbymeasuringtheevolvedvolumeofcarbondioxideand
D 3593 Test Method for Molecular Weight Averages and
methane, as a function of time of exposure to anaerobic-
Molecular Weight Distribution of Certain Polymers by
digester sludge.
Liquid Size-Exclusion Chromatography (Gel Permeation
3 5.2 Anaerobic sewer-digester sludge from treatment of
Chromatography—GPC) Using Universal Calibration
clarifier sludge at a waste-water treatment plant that treats
3. Terminology principally municipal waste is an acceptable active anaerobic
environment (available over a wide geographical area) in
3.1 Definitions:
which to test a broad range of plastic materials. This test
method may be considered an accelerated test with respect to
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste a typical anaerobic environment, such as landfill sites that
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.03 onTreatment,
plastics encounter in usual disposal methods because of the
Recovery and Reuse.
highly active microbial population of anaerobic-digester
Current edition approved Aug. 15, 1992. Published October 1992. Originally
sludge.
published as D 5210 – 91. Last previous edition D 5210 – 91.
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.
Withdrawn.
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D5210–92 (2000)
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 .
or other suitable devices for measuring gas volume such as a
S-2 KH PO 69.0 . 1.0
2 4
K HPO 88.0 . 1.0
2 4
pressure transducer.
(NH ) HPO 10.0 8 0.15
4 2 4
6.2 Gas Chromatograph, or other apparatus, equipped with
NH Cl 100.0 . 3.7
A
a suitable detector and column(s), shall be used to quantify
S-3 MgCl ·6H O 60.0 . 3.0
2 2
FeCl ·4H O 20.0 . 1.0
methane and carbon dioxide evolution using an analytical 2 2
KCI 10.0 . 1.3
procedure specific for these gases.
CaCl 10.0 . 0.90
6.3 Incubator, sufficient to store the test bottles at 356 2°C
KI 1.0 . 0.060
MnCl ·4H O 0.40 . 0.020
2 2
in the dark for the duration of the test.
CoCl ·6H O 0.40 40 0.017
2 2
6.4 Medium Handling Apparatus, suitable for maintaining
NiCl ,6H O 0.050 . 0.0021
2 2
anaerobic conditions during medium preparation and inocula- CuCl 0.050 . 0.0037
ZnCl 0.050 . 0.0037
tion (See Fig. 1).
H BO 0.050 . 0.0081
3 3
6.5 Serum Bottles, with sufficient capacity for the experi-
Na MoO ·H O 0.050 . 0.0018
2 4 2
ment, with butyl-rubber stoppers and crimp clamps to hold the NaIO ·nH O 0.050 . 0.0041
3 2
Na SeO 0.010 . 0.00054
2 3
rubber stoppers.
S-4 Na S·9H O 50.0 8 0.40
2 2
6.6 Analytical Balance, to weigh samples before and after
Bicarbonate NaHCO . 16.8 g 50.0
test.
A
S-3 may form a small amount of precipitate on standing, shake well before
6.7 Analytical Instrument, to measure soluble organic car-
using.
bon content of aqueous medium before and after test.
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 D 1193.
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.
7.4 Up to 1 mLof concentrated HCl may be added to Stock
Solution S-3 to improve the solubility of salts. Shake well NOTE 1—Precaution: This test method involves the use of sludge from
FIG. 1 Schematic Diagram of Apparatus Suitable for Maintenance of Anaerobic Conditions During Medium Preparation and Inoculation
D5210–92 (2000)
awaste-treatmentplant.Avoidcontactwiththesludgebyusingglovesand
11.2.2 Prepare the specimen bottles, blanks, and controls in
other appropriate protective equipment. Use good personal hygiene to
triplicate.
minimize exposure to potentially harmful microbiological agents.
11.2.3 Sample all bottles for analysis of soluble carbon
content.
9. Inoculum—Test Organisms
11.3 Filling the Test Bottles:
9.1 The inoculum consists of sludge from a well-operated
11.3.1 Transfer 100-mL portions of the inoculated medium
anaerobic-sludge digester with a total organic solids level of at
anaerobically into serum bottles with a total capacity of
least 1 to 2 % (W/V). The sewage treatment plant should
approximately 160 mL, or proportionally larger amounts if
receive no more than minimal effluent from industry and the
larger bottles are used to accommodate larger plastic samples.
solids retention time of the digester should be 15 to 30 days.At
Fig. 1 illustrates an apparatus suitable for maintaining anaero-
thetimeofcollection,filterthesludgethrougha2-mmsieveor
bic conditions during medium preparation and transfer. Other
one layer of cheese cloth.
suitable devices may be used. Valves V1 and V2 are used to
9.2 Fresh sludge may be used in this test, but it may be
control the transfer of the medium to the serum bottles. Draw
stored for up to two weeks at 4°C prior to use without
inoculated medium into the pipette by suction, then move the
significant loss of activity. Preferably, the sludge is anaerobi-
pipette and insert the tip into a serum bottle. During these
cally digested for another 7 to 14 days at 35°C to reduce
processes,continuouslyspargetheserumbottleandneckofthe
background activity, which may interfere with the test.
medium flask with a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide of
9.3 Take care to minimize exposure of the sludge to oxygen
composition previously indicated.
during collection, handling, and storage.
11.3.2 Discharge the medium in the pipette into the serum
bottle.
10. Test Specimen
11.3.3 Insert a new butyl-rubber serum-bottle stopper into
10.1 The test specimen should be of known weight and of
the neck of the bottle as the needle used to sparge the contents
sufficient carbon content to yield carbon dioxide and methane
with nitrogen and carbon dioxide is withdrawn. A small
volumes that can be adequately measured by the trapping
...
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