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ASTM D5338 is a standard biodegradation test for measuring the aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions.
Situ Biosciences has currently suspended testing under ASTM D5338 due to complications associated with the mandatory COVID-19 containment.This ASTM biodegradation test method is an aerobic biodegradation test in which materials are introduced into a mixed bacterial and fungal environmental inoculum and respirometry is used to measure biodegradation.
The standard test for ASTM D5338 is a minimum of 90 days in an aerobic and controlled composting environment.
When the test sample is exposed to inoculum from the municipal waste stream, the material will (ideally) biodegrade in a representative environment commonly found in standard composting facilities.
ASTM D5338 is a core component of the ASTM D6400 compostability test method, which is recognized by many municipalities, regulatory agencies, and the Federal Trade Commission as a requirement for making biodegradability claims on products or materials.Given the specific conditions required for aerobic biodegradation and the wide range of composting facilities, ASTM D5338 is primarily used for materials that have not yet been introduced into the waste stream. Since ASTM D5338 is a core component of the composting portion of the test ASTM D6400, the limitations on the types of samples tested and the material challenges are the same.
ASTM D5210 - Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in Municipal Sewage Sludge
ASTM D5210 is very similar to OECD 311 for evaluating the biodegradability of organic chemicals under anaerobic conditions. The test method simulates conditions similar to those of an anaerobic digester, a biological reactor typically used to digest sewage sludge after water treatment. Residual chemicals that do not degrade in standard aerobic treatment tanks typically end up in anaerobic digesters as a final treatment option before being discharged to the environment.
ASTM D5338 - Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials under Controlled Composting Conditions, Including Thermophilic Temperature
ASTM D5338 evaluates the biodegradation of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions. Controlled composting conditions are considered to be those in which the oxygen, temperature, moisture and pH levels of the compost are maintained at optimum levels. Commercial composting facilities are the relevant disposal chambers for materials evaluated under this type of test method. Testing can take up to 180 days. For certification purposes, explicit thresholds or classifications based on method language are not allowed.
ASTM D5864 - Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Aquatic Biodegradation of Lubricants or their Components
ASTM D5864 evaluates the aerobic biodegradation of lubricants or lubricant components in aqueous solutions of low concentration inoculums. The test objective is to simulate the environmental exposure of the lubricant during release to a non-wastewater treatment environment. Various inoculants from soil, surface water and other similar matrices are used. The duration of the test is 28 days or until a plateau of biodegradation is reached. For certification purposes, explicit thresholds or classifications based on method language are not allowed.
ASTM D5988 - Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials or Residual Plastic Materials in Soil after Composting
ASTM D5988 evaluates aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in soil. This method can be used as a supplement to ASTM D5338 to determine if residual materials that have not degraded in the D5338 time frame can be further degraded after composting into the soil environment. The maximum duration of the test is 6 months. For certification purposes, explicit thresholds or classifications based on the language of the method are not allowed.
This method is also used to understand the biodegradation of non-compostable materials under natural soil conditions.
ASTM D6400 - Standard Specification for Compostable Plastics
ASTM D6400 is the specification that provides the standard for "compostable" claims. The specification involves testing plastic materials for (1) decomposition (2) biodegradation and (3) ecological impact. Heavy metal analysis is also performed to ensure that the material is within the standards provided for healthy composting. Disintegration tests and biodegradation tests were conducted simultaneously. Disintegration was assessed by sieving the compost-plastic mixture after a set time to measure the amount of plastic passing through the sieve. Biodegradation is a measure of the conversion of organic carbon to carbon dioxide under aerobic, thermophilic composting conditions. astm D5338 is the test method used to evaluate biodegradation. Ecological impacts are assessed through OECD 208, a plant growth test. Residual compost is mixed with soil in specific proportions to assess the ability of standard plant types to thrive in the compost residue. The specification allows for the classification of compostable plastic materials if all threshold criteria are met.