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ASTM D 6776 Document Information:
Title
Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradability of Radiolabeled Plastic Materials in a Laboratory-Scale Simulated Landfill Environment
ASTM International
Publication Date:
Mar 10, 2002
Scope:
This test method is designed to measure the anaerobic biodegradability
of a material under
conditions that simulate accelerated decomposition in a municipal
solid waste (MSW) landfill. The
test method requires the use of a 14C-labeled material so that
biodegradability can be determined
by monitoring for methane (14CH) and gaseous and aqueous carbon
dioxide (14CO2(G) and 14CO2(aq)),
which are the terminal end products of methanogenic decomposition.
Methanogenic conditions
typically control decomposition in landfills.
NOTE 1 - A more complete description of this decomposition is found in
Reference (3).
This method could be applied to landfills that contain materials other
than MSW.
14C-Radiolabeled material will be added to compost such that between
25 μci and 75 μci
activity per 2 litres of test refuse results.
NOTE 2 - Adding more radiolabel is desirable because, if the material
biodegrades, there will be
little residual radiolabel left at the end of the decomposition
experiment, which is when the
refuse is removed from a reactor and analyzed for residual radiolabel
to perform a mass balance. In
addition, if insufficient radiolabel is added, then CH and CO2(g)
production from the added refuse
will dilute the 14CH4 and 14CO2(g) from decomposition of the test
material, and the
labeled gases may not be detected in the reactor offgas.
This measure of anaerobic biodegradability in the laboratory
represents what will ultimately occur
in a landfill over a long period. The test conditions specified here
are designed to accelerate
refuse decomposition such that the entire decomposition cycle can be
completed in six months.
NOTE 3 - This cycle may require decades in a landfill depending upon
the actual environmental
conditions (moisture content, pH, temperature).
The measured biodegradability obtained here is compared to the
biodegradability of both pure and
lignified cellulose, which are chemically similar to office paper and
newsprint, both of which are
routinely buried in landfills.
NOTE 4 - The degradability of the referenced compounds is described in
References (2) and (5).
At this time, there is no standard concerning the extent to which a
compound must biodegrade under
the test conditions described here to be considered biodegradable.
Thus, this test is most
appropriately used to measure biodegradability relative to pure and
lignified cellulose.
The safety problems associated with refuse and radio-activity are not
addressed in this standard.
It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish
appropriate safety and health
practices. It is also incumbent on the user to conform to all the
regulatory requirements,
specifically those that relate to the use of open radioactive sources.
NOTE 5 - There are no corresponding ISO standards.
Keywords:
- anaerobic biodegradation
- biodegradability
- landfills
- methane production
- radiolabeled method
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