ASTM_D_6003_-_96.pdf

Designation:D 6003 96Standard Test Method forDetermining Weight Loss From Plastic Materials Exposed toSimulated Municipal Solid-Waste(MSW)Aerobic CompostEnvironment1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6003;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method is used to determine the degree and rateof aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials exposed to acontrolled composting environment.Aerobic composting takesplace in an environment where temperature,aeration,andhumidity are closely monitored and controlled.1.2 The test is designed to determine the biodegradability ofplastic materials,relative to that of a standard material,in anaerobic environment.Aeration of the test reactors is maintainedat a constant rate throughout the test and reactor vessels of asize no greater than 4-L volume are used to ensure that thetemperature of the vessels is approximately the same as that ofthe controlled environment chamber.1.3 Biodegradability of the plastic is assessed by determin-ing the amount of weight loss from samples exposed to abiologically active compost relative to the weight loss fromsamples exposed to a“poisoned”control.1.4 The test is designed to be applicable to all plasticmaterials that are not inhibitory to the bacteria and fungipresent in the simulated Municipal Solid Waste(MSW).1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard.1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.NOTE1There is no similar or equivalent ISO method.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:D 618 Practice for Conditioning of Plastics and ElectricalInsulating Materials for Testing2D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics2D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water3D 1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics2D 2973 Test Method for Total Nitrogen in Peat Materials4D 2974 Test Methods for Moisture,Ash,and Organic Mat-ter of Peat and Other Organic Soils4D 2976 Test Method for pH of Peat Materials4D 2980 Test Method for Volume Weights,Water-HoldingCapacity,and Air Capacity of Water-Saturated Peat Mate-rials4D 3593 Molecular Weight Averages and Molecular WeightDistribution of Certain Polymers by Liquid Size ExclusionChromatography(Gel Permeation Chromatography)5D 4129 Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Waterby High-Temperature Oxidation and Coulometric Detec-tion6D 5338 Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegrada-tion of Plastic Materials under Controlled CompostingConditions7D 5509 Practice for Exposing Plastics to a Simulated Com-post Environment7D 5512 Practice for Exposing Plastics to a Simulated Com-post Environment Using an Externally Heated Reactor72.2APHA-AWWA-WPCF Standards:2540 G Total,Fixed,and Volatile Solids in Solid andSemi-Solid Samples3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsDefinitions of terms applying to this testmethod appear in Terminology D 883 and Practice D 5509.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 The test method consists of the following:4.1.1 Selecting plastic materials for exposure in a controlledaerobic composting environment;4.1.2 Preparing and characterizing a simulated compostwith the proper C:N ratio,pH,water holding capacity,porosity,and inoculum to establish and maintain a high biologicalactivity;1This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D-20 on Plasticsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on EnvironmentallyDegradable Plastics.Current edition approved Aug.10,1996.Published February 1997.2Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 08.01.3Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 11.01.4Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 04.08.5Discontinued,1993.Replaced by Test Method D 5296.6Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 11.02.7Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 08.03.1Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959,United States.4.1.3 Exposing the test materials to the compost undercontrolled,aerobic conditions;4.1.4 Removing the test specimens for cleaning;and4.1.5 Assessing the degradability of the plastics by measur-ing weight loss from the test specimens.5.Significance and Use5.1 Aerobic composting represents an attractive alternativeto the disposal of solid wastes in landfills.Composting bybiologically mediated oxidative decomposition produceshighly stable organic matter that may be used for landapplications or horticulture.However,the degradation ofplastics within a compost can affect the decomposition ofmaterials enclosed by the plastic,other non-plastic materials inthe compost,and the resulting composition and appearance ofthe compos