ASTM D6691-09
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in the Marine Environment by a Defined Microbial Consortium or Natural Sea Water Inoculum
Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in the Marine Environment by a Defined Microbial Consortium or Natural Sea Water Inoculum
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The use of plastics aboard ships is on the rise and the use of the sea as a trash dumping site is no longer a possibility; consequently, the disposal of plastic materials while at sea remains a major issue. It is possible that biodegradable plastics will help to allay public concern by allowing for the safe disposal of plastic materials at sea. This test method has been developed to assess the rate and degree of aerobic biodegradation of plastics exposed to marine microorganisms. Aerobic biodegradation is determined by measuring the amount of biogas (carbon dioxide) produced during such an exposure.
It is acceptable to use the degree and rate of aerobic biodegradability of a plastic under the conditions of this test method to estimate the persistence of that plastic in biologically active marine environments, for example, seashore and open-ocean. However, it shall be recognized that predicting long-term environmental fate and effects from the results of short-term exposure to a simulated marine environment is difficult. Thus, caution shall be exercised when extrapolating the results obtained from this or any other controlled-environment test to disposal in the natural environment.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is used to determine the degree and rate of aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials (including formulation additives) exposed to pre-grown population of at least ten aerobic marine microorganisms of known genera or the indigenous population existing in natural seawater. The test method is conducted under controlled laboratory conditions.
1.2 This test method is designed to index polymer materials that are possibly biodegradable, relative to a positive reference material, in an aerobic environment.
1.3 This test method is applicable to all polymer materials containing at least 20 % carbon that are not inhibitory to the microorganisms present in a marine environment.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.5 There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
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.
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Designation:D6691 −09
Standard Test Method for
Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in
the Marine Environment by a Defined Microbial Consortium
1
or Natural Sea Water Inoculum
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6691; 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 D4129 Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Water
by High Temperature Oxidation and by Coulometric
1.1 Thistestmethodisusedtodeterminethedegreeandrate
Detection
of aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials (including for-
mulationadditives)exposedtopre-grownpopulationofatleast
3. Terminology
ten aerobic marine microorganisms of known genera or the
indigenous population existing in natural seawater. The test 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard—
Definitions of terms applying to this test method appear in
method is conducted under controlled laboratory conditions.
Terminology D883.
1.2 This test method is designed to index polymer materials
that are possibly biodegradable, relative to a positive reference
4. Summary of Test Method
material, in an aerobic environment.
4.1 This test method consists of the following:
1.3 This test method is applicable to all polymer materials
4.1.1 Selecting and characterizing (carbon content, molecu-
containing at least 20 % carbon that are not inhibitory to the
lar weight) plastic materials for testing,
microorganisms present in a marine environment.
4.1.2 Preparing a uniform inoculum of various isolated
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
marine microorganisms, or obtaining a natural sea water
standard.
sample (with added inorganic nutrients) for the test relying on
the microbes present as the inoculum.
1.5 There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
4.1.3 Exposing the test materials to the inoculum,
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1.4 Using a respirometer to measure the total biogas
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
(CO ) produced as a function of time, and
2
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4.1.5 Assessing the degree of biodegradability.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4.2 Biodegradability is assessed by determining the propor-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
tion of polymer-C converted to biogas-C. The percent of
theoretical gas production, expressed as a fraction of the
2. Referenced Documents
2 measured or theoretical carbon content of the test material, is
2.1 ASTM Standards:
reported as a function of time.
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
5. Significance and Use
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
5.1 Theuseofplasticsaboardshipsisontheriseandtheuse
D2593 Test Method for Butadiene Purity and Hydrocarbon
of the sea as a trash dumping site is no longer a possibility;
Impurities by Gas Chromatography
consequently, the disposal of plastic materials while at sea
remains a major issue. It is possible that biodegradable plastics
will help to allay public concern by allowing for the safe
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics
disposal of plastic materials at sea. This test method has been
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmentally
Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products.
developed to assess the rate and degree of aerobic biodegra-
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2009. Published December 2009. Originally
dation of plastics exposed to marine microorganisms. Aerobic
approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as D6691 - 01. DOI:
biodegradation is determined by measuring the amount of
10.1520/D6691-09.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or biogas (carbon dioxide) produced during such an exposure.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.2 It is acceptable to use the degree and rate of aerobic
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. biodegradability of a plastic under the conditions of this test
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D6691−09
TABLE 1 Components of Minimal Marine Solution
method to estimate the persistence of that plastic in biologi-
cally active marine environments, for example, seashore and Substance Formula MW, Concentration,
g/mol g/L
open-ocean. However, it shall be recogni
...
This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:D6691–01 Designation: D6691 – 09
Standard Test Method for
Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in
the Marine Environment by a Defined Microbial Consortium
1
or Natural Sea Water Inoculum
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6691; 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 test method is used to determine the degree and rate of aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials (including
formulation additives) exposed to pre-grown population of at least ten aerobic marine microorganisms of known genera or the
indigenous population existing in natural seawater. The test method is conducted under controlled laboratory conditions.
1.2 This test method is designed to index polymer materials that are possibly biodegradable, relative to a positive reference
material, in an aerobic environment.
1.3 This test method is applicable to all polymer materials containing at least 20 % carbon that are not inhibitory to the
microorganisms present in a marine environment.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.5 There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D3593 NO TITLE 2593 Test Method for Butadiene Purity and Hydrocarbon Impurities by Gas Chromatography
D4129 Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Water by High Temperature Oxidation and by Coulometric Detection
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard—Definitions of terms applying to this test method appear in Terminology
D883.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 This test method consists of the following:
4.1.1 Selecting and characterizing (carbon content, molecular weight) plastic materials for testing,
4.1.2Preparing a uniform inoculum of various isolated marine microorganisms,
4.1.2 Preparing a uniform inoculum of various isolated marine microorganisms, or obtaining a natural sea water sample (with
added inorganic nutrients) for the test relying on the microbes present as the inoculum.
4.1.3 Exposing the test materials to the inoculum,
4.1.4 Using a respirometer to measure the total biogas (CO ) produced as a function of time, and
2
4.1.5 Assessing the degree of biodegradability.
4.2 Biodegradability is assessed by determining the proportion of polymer-C converted to biogas-C. The percent of theoretical
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmentally Degradable
Plastics.
Current edition approved June 10, 2001. Published August 2001. DOI: 10.1520/D6691-01.on Environmentally Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products.
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2009. Published December 2009. Originally approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as D6691 - 01. DOI:
10.1520/D6691-09.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM 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.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D6691 – 09
gas production, expressed as a fraction of the measured or theoretical carbon content of the test material, is reported as a function
of time.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The use of plastics aboard ships is on the rise and the use of the sea as a trash dumping site is no longer a possibility;
consequently, the disposal of plastic materials while at sea remains a major issue. BIt is possible that biodegradable plastics
maywill help to allay public concern by allowing for the safe disposal of plastic materials at sea. This test method has been
developed to assess the rate and degree of aerobic biodegradation of plastic
...
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