ASTM_D_5271_-_02.pdf

Designation:D 5271 02Standard Test Method forDetermining the Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materialsin an Activated-Sludge-Wastewater-Treatment System1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5271;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 designed to index plastic materialswhich are more or less biodegradable relative to a standard inaerobic activated-sludge-treatment systems.1.2 This test method is designed to be applicable to allplastic materials that are not inhibitory to the bacteria presentin the activated sludge.Compounds with toxic properties maydelay or inhibit the degradation process.1.3 This test method measures the degree and rate of aerobicbiodegradation of plastic materials(including formulationadditives which may be biodegradable)on exposure toactivated-sludge biomass in the concentration range from 0.1to 2.5 g/L mixed-liquor volatile suspended solids(MLVSS)under laboratory conditions.1.4 The high MLVSS concentration relative to other bio-degradation tests has the advantage of improved repeatabilityand increased likelihood of more rapid adaptation or acclima-tion of the biomass.1.5 This test method allows for the determination of bio-logical nitrification and the oxidation of other non-carboncomponents of the plastic.1.6 This test method does not purport to determine whetheror not a plastic material will pass through primary treatment tothe aeration basin of an activated-sludge wastewater-treatmentplant.The size or density of the plastic material may exclude itfrom the secondary-treatment stage of a treatment facility.1.7 This test method is equivalent to ISO 14851.1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety problems,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.For a specifichazards statement,see Section 8.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics2D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water3D 1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics4D 2579 Test Methods for Total and Organic Carbon inWater5D 3593 Test Method for Molecular Weight Averages andMolecular Weight Distribution of Certain Polymers byLiquid Size-Exclusion Chromatography(Gel PermeationChromatography GPC)Using Universal Calibration6D 5209 Test Method for Determining the Aerobic Biodeg-radation of Plastic Materials in the Presence of MunicipalSewer Sludge72.2APHA-AWWA-WPCF Standards:82540D Total Suspended Solids Dried at 103105C2540E Fixed and Volatile Solids Ignited at 550C2.3ISO Standard:ISO 14851 Determination of the Ultimate Aerobic Biode-gradability of Plastic Materials in an Aqueous Medium-Method by Measuring the Oxygen Demand in a ClosedRespirometer93.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 Definitions of terms applying to this test methodappear in Terminology D 883.1This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plasticsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on EnvironmentallyDegradable Plastics.Current edition approved March 10,2002.Published May 2002.Originallypublished as D 5271 92.Last previous edition D 5271 93.2Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 08.01.3Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 11.01.4Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 08.02.5Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 11.02.6Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 08.02.7Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 08.03.8Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater,AmericanPublic Health Association-American Water Works Association-Water PollutionControl Federation,17th Edition,1989.9Available from American National Standards Institute,25 W.43rd St.,4thFloor,New York,NY 10036.1Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959,United States.3.1.2 biological nitrificationthe process by which organicnitrogen or ammonia salts are oxidized to nitrite(NO2)ornitrate(NO3),or both,by means of the metabolic pathways ofmicroorganisms.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 mixed liquid volatile suspended solids(MLVSS)theVSS in a completely mixed activated sludge reactor.3.2.2 soluble organic carbon(SOC)the TOC that is ca-pable of passing through a 0.45-m pore-size filter.3.2.3 theoretical biochemical oxygen demand(BODT)theamount of oxygen required for complete biochemical oxidationof a compound.3.2.4 total organic carbon(TOC)the concentration ex-pressed in milligrams per litre of carbon atoms in solution asdetermined by Test Methods D 2579.3.2.5 volatile suspended solids(VSS)the concentration ofsolids expressed in milligrams per litre in solution as definedby APHA-AWWA-WPCF Standard Method 2540D