Beta Analytic - World Leader in ASTM D6866

ASTM D6866 Fast Facts:

• The standard is able to determine the renewable carbon content of any solid, liquid, or gas sample.
• It is an accurate and precise monitoring and verification tool for carbon credit and carbon offsetting strategies.
• The method is a straightforward approach in quantifying biogenic CO2 emissions
• Relevant to these industries: waste-to-energy (energy-from-waste), electricity generation, coal co-firing, steel, cement and lime, and other energy-intensive industries burning a mix of biomass and fossil fuels

ASTM D6866 for Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Waste Fuels

ASTM D6866 is the most accurate verification tool for carbon credit and carbon offsetting strategies. The method can determine the renewable carbon content of any type of material including waste fuels and their CO2 emissions.

ASTM D6866 is recommended and sometimes even required as the method for the quantification of biogenic CO2 in various regulations and protocols including those of the US EPA, EU-ETS (European Union Emission Trading Scheme), California’s AB32, the Western Climate Initiative, The Climate Registry, and the UN Clean Development Mechanism.

Fuels Tested: Municipal Solid Waste, Refuse-Derived Fuels, Solid Recovered Fuels, Tire-Derived Fuels, Sewage Sludge

Industries Served: Cement and Lime, Steel, Water Treatment, Waste-to-Energy, Pulp and Paper, Secondary Fueling, Co-firing, Electricity Generation and Co-generation

CEN 15747 for Waste Fuel Testing in Europe

CEN 15747 is a standard used in Europe specifically for solid recovered fuels. The method is the European equivalent of ASTM D6866.

The Role of ASTM D6866 in Regulatory Compliance

To reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, government agencies and other organizations around the world are implementing protocols requiring companies to monitor and report their GHG inventories. The US EPA, Western Climate Initiative, California AB32, and The Climate Registry have incorporated ASTM D6866 in their reporting rules. Details found in our Regulations Summary page.

Using ASTM D6866 to Obtain Carbon Credits

In response to Kyoto treaty obligations, governments throughout the world, including several states in the U.S., are setting up cap-and-trade systems that allow buying, selling, and trading of carbon credits. Of particular importance to these systems are CO2 and CH4 (methane) emissions.

Instruments such as the Emission Reduction Units (ERU) of the European Union allow industries to (a) offset their emissions by buying carbon credit certificates, and (b) monetize their emissions by selling carbon credits. Companies obtain carbon credits if their emission levels are below the established limits. If they go beyond the acceptable levels, they need to acquire carbon credits from the market. Companies can also obtain credits via the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism.

ASTM D6866 is used to attest the percentage of biogenic CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere. Biogenic CO2 is deductible from GHG inventories, and knowing its exact percentage enables companies to report relatively lower emission levels.

Beta Analytic: ASTM D6866 and CEN 15747 Services Provider

Beta Analytic, a private carbon 14 dating laboratory, has led the initiative of using radiocarbon dating in the field of climate change. The company performs ASTM D6866 or CEN 15747, whichever is more applicable, with a 1-week turnaround. Rush service (results released after 48 hours) is available within the U.S.

Using ASTM D6866 is straightforward. Simply submit a solid, liquid, or gas sample (see Shipping Instructions), and you will receive a precise percent determination of biogenic vs fossil CO2.

Beta Analytic Results

Although actual measurement uncertainty is 1% or less (relative standard deviation), results are presented with the absolute uncertainty of 3% as cited in ASTM D6866. This uncertainty is designed to include indeterminate error associated with local variations and utilization of materials of some age (respiring carbon to 1996, one decade past). Standard deviation of at least 0.5% is possible based on a study commissioned by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) of New Zealand wherein the percentage of modern biological component in biofuel blends was determined through radiocarbon dating.