Designation:D5988−12StandardTestMethodforDeterminingAerobicBiodegradationofPlasticMaterialsinSoil1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationD5988;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope*1.1Thistestmethodcoversdeterminationunderlaboratoryconditionsofthedegreeandrateofaerobicbiodegradationofplasticmaterials,includingformulationadditives,incontactwithsoil.1.2Thistestmethodisdesignedtomeasurethebiodegrad-abilityofplasticmaterialsrelativetoareferencematerialinanaerobicenvironment.1.3Thistestmethodisdesignedtobeapplicabletoallplasticmaterialsthatarenotinhibitorytothebacteriaandfungipresentinsoil.1.4Claimsofperformanceshallbelimitedtothenumericalresultobtainedinthetestandnotbeusedforunqualified“biodegradable”claims.Reportsshallclearlystatethepercent-ageofnetgaseouscarbongenerationforboththetestandreferencesamplesatthecompletionofthetest.Resultsshallnotbeextrapolatedbeyondtheactualdurationofthetest.1.5ThevaluesstatedinSIunitsaretoberegardedasthestandard.1.6Thisstandarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthesafetyconcerns,ifany,associatedwithitsuse.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuserofthisstandardtoestablishappro-priatesafetyandhealthpracticesanddeterminetheapplica-bilityofregulatorylimitationspriortouse.AspecifichazardstatementisgiveninSection8.1.7ThisASTMtestmethodisequivalenttoISO17556.2.ReferencedDocuments2.1ASTMStandards:2D425TestMethodforCentrifugeMoistureEquivalentofSoilsD618PracticeforConditioningPlasticsforTestingD883TerminologyRelatingtoPlasticsD1193SpecificationforReagentWaterD1293TestMethodsforpHofWaterD2980TestMethodforVolumeMass,Moisture-HoldingCapacity,andPorocityofSaturatedPeatMaterialsD2989TestMethodforAcidity-AlkalinityofHalogenatedOrganicSolventsandTheirAdmixturesD4129TestMethodforTotalandOrganicCarboninWaterbyHighTemperatureOxidationandbyC...
