ASTM D6866, Beta Analytic

[Top Story] EPA Clarifies ASTM D6866 Use in Mandatory GHG Reporting Proposed Revisions

beta analytic — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:31:56 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is amending certain provisions of its Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule (MRR) to address issues raised after the MRR was first published in October 2009. Revisions will affect, among others, facilities combusting municipal solid waste or tires as fuels. These facilities no longer need to have continuous emission monitoring systems to use ASTM D6866 analysis.

In the first MRR, ASTM D6866 is used to quantify biogenic CO2 emissions from general stationary combustion units using MSW and heterogeneous fuels (a mix of biomass and fossil inputs).

The EPA has also provided a comprehensive list of materials that qualifies as municipal solid waste (MSW) as part of its proposed amendments. Other recommended changes include the option not to report biogenic carbon dioxide emissions from biomass combustion and recognition of tires as part biomass.

The proposed amendments were signed July 20, 2010. The 45-day public comment period begins after publication of the revised MRR in the Federal Register. The EPA expects to publish the final amended MRR before 2010 ends. Deadline for reporting of 2010 GHG emissions is on March 31, 2011.

Sources: MRR Technical Corrections; Preamble and Rule

ASTM D6866 Testing for Facilities with No CEMS

The EPA is proposing to lift restrictions limiting the use of ASTM D6866 analysis to facilities with continuous emission monitoring systems. The EPA would allow combustion units using a mix of biomass and fossil fuels, regardless of proportion, to measure their biogenic CO2 emissions on a quarterly basis via ASTM D6866 analysis. Even without a CEMS in place, gas sample collection is still to be done according to ASTM D7459. [Page 187 of the MRR Proposed Changes]

Sampling Frequency Recommendation

Gas sampling via ASTM D7459 is still required by the EPA in a quarterly basis. Under the MRR, sample collection is done for a minimum of 24 consecutive operating hours every calendar quarter.

In the proposed amendments, the EPA would allow collection of an integrated sample by taking 1-5 cubic centimeters of flue gas during every operating hour over the course of a calendar quarter to obtain a more representative sample for ASTM D6866 analysis. This will solve issues with alternative fuels like tires whose composition varies over time. According to the EPA, if the type of fuel combusted and their relative proportions are not consistent throughout the quarter, more frequent, periodic sampling of the flue gas should be considered. [Page 187 of the MRR Proposed Changes]

MSW Definition Clarified

The EPA has also clarified the meaning of municipal solid waste to include the solid phase of household, commercial/retail, and institutional waste. Materials not considered as MSW are used oil, wood pellets, clean wood, industrial process or manufacturing wastes, medical waste, motor vehicles, and construction/renovation/demolition waste. Yard waste, refuse-derived fuel, and motor vehicle maintenance materials like batteries and tires, are considered MSW. [Page 88 of the MRR Proposed Changes]

Tires are Partly Biogenic

In the first MRR, tires were classified as fossil fuel-derived fuels; thus, tire combustion emissions would have been reported as 100% fossil CO2. In the proposed changes, the EPA now recognizes used tires as “partly biogenic.”

For facilities that combust tires, separate reporting of biogenic CO2 emissions is optional. Measurement of biogenic CO2 is to be done via ASTM D6866. [Page 54 of the MRR Proposed Changes]

Ohio Enacts Law for Biobased Products

beta analytic — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 07:01:56 +0000

Ohio became the first state in the U.S. to establish a law requiring state agencies and state-supported colleges and universities to buy biobased products. Senate Bill 131, introduced in June 2009 by Ohio Senator Karen Gillmor (R-Tiffin), became effective May 31, 2010.

Under Ohio’s biobased product preference program, state agencies and institutions of higher learning are obligated to purchase products with the highest percentage of biobased content as determined via ASTM D6866. This new purchasing program was modeled after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s BioPreferred Program, which has already established required minimum biobased content for certain designated items.

Obligated parties may not prefer procurement of a biobased product if (a) it is not readily available within a reasonable period, (b) it does not meet performance standards, and (c) if its price is unreasonable, i.e. price is more than the fair market value of a substantially equivalent nonbiobased product.

Note: Added by the 128th General Assembly File No. 20, SB 131, § 1, eff. 5/31/2010

How ASTM D6866 Measures Biobased Content

ASTM D6866 determines the percentage of a product that came from renewable sources by measuring the quantity of carbon-14 present in a material. Carbon-14 is only present in living and recently expired matter from renewable sources. Fossil materials no longer have carbon-14 in them. Thus, it is easy to correlate a material’s carbon-14 and biobased content.

A product wholly made from plants has a biobased content of 100%, while a product from fossil inputs has a biobased content of 0%. A product with both plants and fossil inputs has a biobased content greater than 0% but lesser than 100%. The value will depend on the percentage of the product that came from renewable sources.

Beta Analytic Participates in 4th Global Fuels Conference & Exhibition

beta analytic — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:05:43 +0000

Beta Analytic director Thierry Sam Tamers joined the 4th Global Alternative Fuels Conference for Cement and Lime to introduce the benefits of ASTM D6866 testing for facilities using alternative fuels. The conference was held in Washington, DC, from May 26-27, 2010.

The conference was attended by cement and lime manufacturers and those from allied industries like equipment vendors, emissions brokers, fuel procurement managers, and chemical engineers. Main topics included fuel supply and pricing trends, fuels handling and storage, emissions trading, fuel processing, process efficiency of fuels, combustion efficiency, and reducing electrical consumption.

The Global Fuels Conference & Exhibition aims to bring together all parties interested in fuels for the cement and lime industries. The next conference is slated for April 2011 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

ASTM D6866 Testing for Cement and Lime Plants

Cement and lime manufacturers that use alternative fuels can have their combustion emissions tested for biomass content. Since carbon dioxide emissions that came from renewable sources or biomass is considered carbon neutral and therefore not reportable under most regulations, companies can decrease their greenhouse gas inventories and, at the same time, obtain carbon credits if they are part of cap-and-trade programs.

Beta Analytic Introduces ASTM D6866 to WasteEng10 Conference Participants

beta analytic — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:09:42 +0000

Beta Analytic representative Mauricio Larenas talked about the significance of ASTM D6866 testing for facilities that use waste as fuel during the 3rd International Conference on Engineering for Waste and Biomass Valorisation held in Beijing, China, from May 17 to May 19, 2010. Fuming “Steven” Liu, Beta Analytic’s China Operations Manager, also joined the conference.

Better known as WasteEng, the conference aims to promote sustainable valorisation of waste and biomass by the generation of energy and other useful materials through processes with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Materials featured in the conference includes municipal, mining, wastewater, electronic, wood and paper, sludge, agricultural, forest, and construction and demolition wastes.

ASTM D6866 Testing for Waste-Derived Fuels

Companies that use waste as alternative fuel can reduce their greenhouse gas inventories by measuring the percentage of their carbon dioxide emissions that came from biomass. Called biogenic CO2, emissions that came from biomass or renewable sources are deductible from GHG inventories because they are carbon neutral. Through ASTM D6866, the exact biomass fraction of the combustion emissions or the solid waste can be determined.

Municipal solid waste and used tires have been known to have significant amount of biomass. Sewage sludge, often assumed to be 100% biomass, has proved to have a significant amount of non-biomass components like the surfactants in shampoos and plastic materials. ASTM D6866 allows companies to measure their biogenic vs. non-biogenic emissions.

Beta Analytic Presentation

Mauricio Larenas’ presentation during WasteEng10 in Beijing, China (May 2010):

Download Presentation (English)
Download Presentation (Japanese)

Vincotte’s OK Biobased Program Awards First Four-Star Rating

beta analytic — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:38:11 +0000

Vincotte has awarded its first OK Biobased four-star rating to a product with 99% biobased content. NatureWorks received the rating for all 40 grades of its Ingeo biopolymer resins, which are used in the plastics and fiber industries. According to Vincotte, the four-star rating is in recognition of Ingeo’s renewable carbon content.

Measuring the Renewable Carbon Content

The quantity of renewable carbon present in any given product is measured via a standard analytical method called ASTM D6866, which measures the biobased content versus the fossil content of a material by carbon-14 analysis. ASTM D6866 is an application of radiocarbon dating without the use age equations.

Products that are from renewable sources have a well-characterized amount of carbon 14 in them and are 100% biobased. Those products that are purely fossil have no carbon 14 and therefore 0% biobased. Materials with both fossil and renewable inputs have a biobased content greater than 0% but lesser than 100%.

OK Biobased Rating System

The OK Biobased rating system uses stars to indicate the biobased content or amount of renewable carbon in a product. A product with a one-star rating has a biobased content between 20%-40% while those with two stars have biobased content between 40%-60%. Three stars are given to products with 60%–80% renewable carbon, and those with more than 80% biobased content will receive a four-star rating.

[Top Story] US EPA Amended Renewable Fuel Standard Requires ASTM D6866 Testing for MSW-Derived Biofuels

beta analytic — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:30:56 +0000

The US EPA’s amended Renewable Fuel Standard, also called RFS2, requires ASTM D6866 testing to determine the biogenic fraction of transportation fuels derived from municipal solid waste (MSW), where the renewable portion of the fuel cannot be determined based on the relative energy content of the renewable biomass and fossil feedstock. ASTM D6866 can also be used to measure the biogenic fraction of partially renewable fuels, which are produced by simultaneously co-processing renewable biomass and non-renewable feedstock. Knowing the biogenic fraction of these partially renewable fuels is necessary in generating their Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs).

The RFS2 applies to entities that produce, distribute, or sell transportation fuels within the U.S. during a compliance period. Producers and importers of fuels not designated or intended for use as a transportation fuel, heating oil, or jet fuel may not generate RINs for their products.

A copy of the amended RFS2 was first published in the EPA website on February 3, 2010. The official version of the RFS2 will be published in the Federal Register. The amended RFS2 is effective on July 1, 2010.

Renewable Fuels from Municipal Solid Waste

Under the RFS2, the EPA allows producers using MSW-derived feedstock to generate RINs for the renewable fraction of the fuel. The biogenic portion of the renewable fuel is determined through the ASTM D6866 test. Producers of partially renewable fuel can use their ASTM D6866 test results for generating RINs. Alternatively, they can calculate the renewable portion of the fuel based on the relative energy content of the renewable biomass and fossil feedstock. Regardless of their chosen approach, the biofuel producers must separately verify that their renewable feedstocks meet the EPA’s definition of renewable biomass.

The biofuel producers and importers will assign a D code of 3 in their RIN for the biogenic portion of their MSW-derived fuels. In establishing this D code, the EPA presumes that the biogenic fraction is 100% cellulosic, which is the predominant component of MSW.

Source: Page 14876 of the RFS2

ASTM D6866 Testing of Transportation Fuels

Biofuel producers opting for ASTM D6866 testing are required by the EPA to apply the test to every batch of fuel or to a composite sample consisting of fuels taken from every batch produced within one calendar month. For composite samples, the EPA says that the resulting renewable fraction will be applied to all batches of fuel produced in the next month to determine the appropriate number of RINs that must be generated. For the first month, the producer can estimate the non-fossil fraction and then make a correction as needed in the second month. The producer will be required to recalculate this renewable fraction for the subsequent months.

The EPA has also added a provision in the RFS2 for exporters of renewable fuels that are in the form of a blend with gasoline or diesel. Exporters may determine the amount of renewable fuel in a blend by obtaining the information from their supplier, using ASTM D6866 to determine the renewable content of the fuel, or by assuming the maximum concentration of the renewable fuel in the blend as allowed by law and/or regulation.

Source: Page 14880 of the RFS2

USDA Proposes to Add 9 More Product Categories to BioPreferred Program

beta analytic — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:15:34 +0000

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing to add another nine product categories that can be afforded federal procurement preference under its BioPreferred Program. The nine items are disposable tableware, expanded polystyrene foam recycling products, heat transfer fluids, ink removers and cleaners, mulch and compost materials, multipurpose lubricants, office paper, topical pain relief products, and turbine drip oils.

This is the sixth round of item designation for the BioPreferred Program. Round 5 has added 9 item designations and more than 1,000 biobased products to the USDA BioPreferred Catalogue effective October 2010. The USDA will accept public comments on Round 6 item designations until April 12, 2010.

Minimum Biobased Content Requirements

The USDA has also proposed a minimum biobased content for each of the Round 6 Item Designations:

(1) Disposable tableware (one-time-use drink ware and dishware excluding cutlery) must be at least 72% biobased.
(2) Expanded polystyrene foam recycling products – 90%
(3) Heat transfer fluids – 89%
(4) Ink removers and cleaners – 79%
(5) Mulch and compost materials – 95%
(6) Multipurpose lubricants – 88%
(7) Office paper – 95%
(8) Topical pain relief products – 91%
(9) Turbine drip oils – 87%

Source: Federal Register Volume 75, Number 27 (February 10, 2010)

Biobased Content Measurement via ASTM D6866

Measurement of a product’s biobased content is done through ASTM D6866, a standard developed at the request of the USDA specifically for the BioPreferred program. The USDA needed a standard method that could be used as a tool to verify the biobased content claims of manufacturers and vendors who wanted their products listed in the BioPreferred Catalogue.

ASTM D6866 measures the biobased content of a product by quantifying its carbon 14 content. Carbon 14 is a naturally occurring carbon isotope that is present in materials from renewable sources and absent in those that are fossil in nature. Thus, a product’s carbon 14 content can be easily correlated to its biobased content or fraction that came from renewable sources like plants.

Beta Analytic – ASTM D6866 Service Provider

ISO 17025-accredited Beta Analytic provides ASTM D6866 testing to the biobased industry. Based in Miami, Florida, the company also provides radiocarbon dating services. Beta Analytic is not affiliated with the USDA or the BioPreferred Program.

EcoLogo Standard for Instant Hand Antiseptic Products Requires ASTM D6866 Testing

beta analytic — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:52:14 +0000

Manufacturers and distributors who want their instant hand antiseptic products to be certified by Canada’s EcoLogo need to comply with the program’s environmental standard CCD-170, which requires the products to be at least 73% biobased. The biobased content of the products is determined through ASTM D6866 testing. Products that comply with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s BioPreferred Program are also elegible for an EcoLogo if they meet the CCD-170′s other criteria.

Eligible Products

The CCD-170 standard is applicable to waterless hand sanitizers, waterless hand antiseptics, or professional hygienic hand rubs and other antiseptic-containing drug products that are applied on the skin to prevent infection or cross-contamination. The scope of the standard includes “antiseptic-containing preparation designed for frequent application without a water rinse and which reduces the number of microorganisms on intact skin.”

Products not covered by the CCD-170 include disinfectant soaps, hand sanitizing products that require rinsing, patient preoperative skin preparations, surgical hand scrubs, and aerosols or wipes. The use of EcoLogo-certified instant hand antiseptic products is restricted to the “away from home market.”

The CCD-170 Standard

This environmental standard certification criteria document published by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing Inc. for the EcoLogo program outlines general and product specific requirements and details substances that should not be part of the formulation. The environmental hazards, performance and safety requirements, labeling requirements, verification, and conditions for EcoLogo Use are also specified in the standard.

The CCD-170 was initiated in March 2009. The final version was first published on February 10, 2010, and is scheduled for review in February 2013. More information about the standard is found here.

Beta Analytic Renews ISO 17025 Accreditation

beta analytic — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:24:47 +0000

Miami, FL – January 25, 2010 – Beta Analytic, Inc. has recently been granted its ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 testing re-accreditation. Beta Analytic’s ISO accreditation demonstrates unparalleled commitment to deliver high quality ASTM D6866, CEN 15747, and radiocarbon dating services.

Founded in 1979, Beta Analytic provides accurate ASTM D6866 and CEN 15747 testing in a timely manner. Reliable results, fast turnaround, and excellent client service have made Beta Analytic the leader in its industry. The lab has now produced more than 275,000 radiocarbon measurements for at least 10,000 researchers worldwide.

“We feel that going forward, this accreditation will allow us greater opportunities to expand our business worldwide by providing the instant recognition associated with ‘ISO Quality.’ It will continue to nurture, sustain, and verify our commitment to quality and technical expertise in all areas that we work,” says Darden Hood, President of Beta Analytic.

Beta Analytic Continues Excellence

Beta Analytic is the recognized world leader for radiocarbon and groundwater dating as well as ASTM D6866 and CEN 15747 testing of biofuels, biobased products, biogenic CO2 emissions, and waste fuels. Based in Miami, Florida, the company provides its scientific expertise through a network of offices and representatives in London, UK; Nagoya, Japan; and Beijing, China.

The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) recognize the ISO 17025 accreditation as proof that the Beta Analytic lab (a) meets the technical competence requirements necessary for it to consistently deliver valid test results and calibrations, and (b) conforms to the principles of ISO 9001: 2008, the international standard for quality management systems.

To request a copy of Beta Analytic’s ISO 17025 testing accreditation, please contact Mauricio Larenas at info@betalabservices.com or +1- 305-662-7760.

Vincotte Names ASTM D6866 as Method, Announces 3 OK Biobased Licensees

beta analytic — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:16:27 +0000

Vinçotte has identified ASTM D6866 as part of the methodology for its OK Biobased certification program, which applies to all products made from renewable sources. A product’s biobased content percentage is determined through ASTM D6866, and this is indicated on the OK Biobased logo through a star system.

Novamont (Italy), NatureWorks LLC (US), and Wuhan Huali (China) are the first batch of OK Biobased licensees. A list of their products that now carry the OK Biobased logo are found here.

The OK Biobased logo uses stars to indicate the percentage in a product that came from renewable sources. A certified product with one star in the logo means that it is between 20% to 40% biobased, two stars – between 40% to 60% biobased, 3 stars – between 60% to 80% biobased, and four stars – more than 80% biobased.

Vinçotte’s OK Biobased program aims to aid manufacturers and vendors make a verifiable claim on their products’ renewable origin. The program, launched in September 2009, initially accepted raw material producers only. As of January 2010, OK Biobased is open to manufacturers and distributors of intermediates and finished products.

About Vinçotte

Based in Volvoorde, Belgium, Vinçotte provides specialised inspection, monitoring and certification services. It has more than 2,000 employees around the world. Its other offices are in France, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Oman, UAE, Algeria, Japan, and India.

Sustainable Packaging Metrics Framework Include ASTM D6866 for Bioplastics

beta analytic — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:52:10 +0000

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) has released a comprehensive guide that aims to standardize the way companies measure progress in their packaging sustainability efforts. There are eight performance categories identified in the document; one of which is Material Use, which looks into factors like usage of renewable or recycled source materials.

The guide, called Sustainable Packaging Indicators and Metrics Framework Version 1.0, is available here.

Renewable Material Use

The SPC defines Renewable Material Use as the “ratio of renewable material (virgin and recycled) used to total material used in substrates, packaging components, or units of packaging.” ASTM D6866 is identified as a guide for measuring renewability of bioplastics.

The metric for Renewable Material Use is “percent of total material used that is renewable material per functional unit of substrate, packaging components, packaging, or time.” Examples are (1) percent total material used over metric tons of substrate, (2) percent total material used over 1000 units of packaging, and (3) percent total material used per year (based on production rate).

Renewable Material Use is a supplemental indicator in the Metrics Framework as it provides a more specific or detailed measure of the core indicator Total Material Use.

About the SPC

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition is a working group consisting of around 200 companies across the packaging supply chain. It is a project of GreenBlue, a non-profit organization working with the private sector to develop practical design and business opportunities implementing sustainability.

SBC’s BioSpecs Uses ASTM D6866 for Organic Carbon Content Measurement

beta analytic — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:27:56 +0000

The Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative has released purchasing specifications for consumers who want to buy environment-friendly, biobased food service ware. The specifications entitled “BioSpecs for Food Service Ware: Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Specifications for Compostable Biobased Food Service Ware” require ASTM D6866 testing to determine the organic carbon content of products.

Through BioSpecs, the SBC aims to provide buyers a framework by which they can assess the sustainability of compostable biobased food service ware in all stages of the product’s life cycle – from production to waste disposal (end of product life). By achieving selected criteria in each stage of the cycle, manufacturers can claim recognition for their products at the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels, with Gold as the highest level of performance. The three-tiered rating system was developed by the SBC together with the Business-NGO Working Group for Safer Chemicals and Sustainable Materials.

ASTM D6866 in BioSpecs

One of the criteria that must be met to gain a Bronze rating is for the product to contain at least 95% organic carbon. To get a higher rating, a product must be 100% biobased. ASTM D6866 certification is required as proof of biobased content. According to BioSpecs, “documentation must provide the radiocarbon data and explicitly reference ASTM D6866.”

BioSpecs used data from an extensive market survey conducted in 2008 that was participated by 22 food service ware manufacturers. BioSpecs is still under review, and the SBC is soliciting public comments until January 15, 2010. The final version of the BioSpecs will be available in February 2010. A copy of the BioSpecs is found here.