ASTM D6866-16
Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis

Standard No.

ASTM D6866-16

Release Date

2016

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Status

Be replaced

Replace By

ASTM D6866-18

Latest

ASTM D6866-24

Scope

4.1 This testing method provides accurate biobased/biogenic carbon content results to materials whose carbon source was directly in equilibrium with CO₂ in the atmosphere at the time of cessation of respiration or metabolism, such as the harvesting of a crop or grass living its natural life in a field. Special considerations are needed to apply the testing method to materials originating from within artificial environments. Application of these testing methods to materials derived from CO₂ uptake within artificial environments is beyond the present scope of this standard.

4.2 Method B utilizes AMS along with Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) techniques to quantify the biobased content of a given product. Instrumental error can be within 0.1-0.5 % (1 relative standard deviation (RSD)), but controlled studies identify an inter-laboratory total uncertainty up to ±38201;% (absolute). This error is exclusive of indeterminate sources of error in the origin of the biobased content (see Section 22 on precision and bias).

4.3 Method C uses LSC techniques to quantify the biobased content of a product using sample carbon that has been converted to benzene. This test method determines the biobased content of a sample with a maximum total error of ±38201;% (absolute), as does Method B.

4.4 The test methods described here directly discriminate between product carbon resulting from contemporary carbon input and that derived from fossil-based input. A measurement of a product’s8201;¹⁴C/¹²C or ¹⁴C/¹³C content is determined relative to a carbon based modern reference material accepted by the radiocarbon dating community such as NIST Standard Reference Material (SRM) 4990C, (referred to as OXII or HOxII). It is compositionally related directly to the original oxalic acid radiocarbon standard SRM 4990B (referred to as OXI or HOxI), and is denoted in terms of f_M, that is, the sample’s fraction of modern carbon. (See Terminology, Section 3.)

4.5 Reference standards, available to all laboratories practicing these test methods, must be used properly in order that traceability to the primary carbon isotope standards are established, and that stated uncertainties are valid. The primary standards are SRM 4990C (oxalic acid) for8201;¹⁴C and RM 8544 (NBS 19 calcite) for8201;¹³C. These materials are available for distribution in North America from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and outside North America from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria.

4.6 Acceptable SI unit deviations (tolerance) for the practice of these test methods is ±58201;% from the stated instructions unless otherwise noted.

1.1 This standard is a test method that teaches how to experimentally measure biobased carbon content of solids, liquids, and gaseous samples using radiocarbon analysis. These test methods do not address environmental impact, product performance and functionality, determination of geographical origin, or assignment of required amounts......

ASTM D6866-16 Referenced Document

• ASTM D883 Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics

ASTM D6866-16 history

• 2024 ASTM D6866-24 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
• 2022 ASTM D6866-22 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
• 2021 ASTM D6866-21 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
• 2020 ASTM D6866-20 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
• 2018 ASTM D6866-18 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
• 2016 ASTM D6866-16 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
• 2012 ASTM D6866-12 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
• 2011 ASTM D6866-11 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
• 2010 ASTM D6866-10 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
• 2008 ASTM D6866-08 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
• 2006 ASTM D6866-06a Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Natural Range Materials Using Radiocarbon and Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry Analysis
• 2006 ASTM D6866-06 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Natural Range Materials Using Radiocarbon and Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry Analysis
• 2005 ASTM D6866-05 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Natural Range Materials Using Radiocarbon and Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry Analysis
• 2004 ASTM D6866-04a Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Natural Range Materials Using Radiocarbon and Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry Analysis
• 2004 ASTM D6866-04 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Natural Range Materials Using Radiocarbon and Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry Analysis