1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the degree and rate of anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in high-solids anaerobic conditions. The test materials are exposed to a methanogenic inoculum derived from anaerobic digesters operating only on pretreated household waste. The anaerobic decomposition takes place under high-solids (more than 30 % total solids) and static non-mixed conditions.

1.2 This test method is designed to yield a percentage of conversion of carbon in the sample to carbon in the gaseous form under conditions found in high-solids anaerobic digesters, treating municipal solid waste (1, 2, 3, 4) . This test method may also resemble some conditions in biologically active landfills where the gas generated is recovered and biogas production is even actively promoted, for example, by inoculation (codeposition of anaerobic sewage sludge, anaerobic leachate recirculation), moisture control in the landfill (leachate recirculation), and temperature control (short-term injection of oxygen, heating of recirculated leachate) (5, 6, 7) .

1.3 This test method is designed to be applicable to all plastic materials that are not inhibitory to the microorganisms present in anaerobic digesters operating on household waste.

1.4 The values given in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

1.5 This test method is equivalent to ISO DIS15985.

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. Specific hazards are given in Section 8.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing

D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics

D1293 Test Methods for pH of Water

D1888 Methods Of Test for Particulate and Dissolved Matter in Water

D2908 Practice for Measuring Volatile Organic Matter in Water by Aqueous-Injection Gas Chromatography

D3590 Test Methods for Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen in Water

D4129 Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Water by High Temperature Oxidation and by Coulometric Detection

E260 Practice for Packed Column Gas Chromatography

E355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Relationships

APHA-AWWA-WPCF Standards

ISO Standard

Keywords

anaerobic biodegradation; anaerobic digestion; biodegradation; high-solids digestion; landfill; plastics test method;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 13.030.99 (Other standards related to wastes)

DOI: 10.1520/D5511-02

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.