Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels Pat Patodia Beta Analytic Inc. November 21-23, 2011 2011 Pacific Rim Summit 1
Overview Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels Background of • Background of Biobased Biobased Background of • Background of ASTM D6866 ASTM D6866 • Use in certification of Biobased products Use in Product Certification • Applications of ASTM D6866 Application of ASTM D6866 • Background of Beta Analytic Beta Analytic background • Conclusion Conclusion 2
What is “Biobased” ? Premise: Use less petroleum Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels Background of Biobased Renewably Sourced Carbon US Department of Agriculture’s Background of ASTM D6866 definition: Total Organic Carbon Use in Product Certification Application of ASTM D6866 • ASTM-D6866 results are to be consistent with this definition Beta Analytic • Mass of component is factored out background • A single value is applicable across industries Conclusion • Carbonates of natural mineral origin are to be excluded 3
Carbon-14 Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels Background of Biobased Background of ASTM D6866 Use in Product Certification Application of ASTM D6866 Naturally occurring Beta Analytic background in all biomass, Conclusion absent in fossil fuels ASTM D6866 measures it. 4
Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels Carbon-14 is ubiquitous in all living things. Background of Biobased But it doesn’t stick around. Background of ASTM D6866 Use in Product It slowly and gradually decays away after death, so that by Certification 50,000 years there’s none left. Application of ASTM D6866 Coal and fossil-derived materials do not have any Beta Analytic carbon-14 whereas biomass does. background Conclusion 5
Take a good look, Identical? Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels Carbon-14 Background of Biobased Background of ASTM D6866 • Biomass CO2 Use in Product Certification • Fossil Fuel CO2 Application of ASTM D6866 Beta Analytic background No Carbon-14 Conclusion They’re NOT the same! 6
The Radiocarbon Cycle Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable STEP 1: Ongoing formation and decay of radiocarbon within the atmosphere Chemicals and Biofuels Nitrogen ( 14 N ) + cosmic neutrons Radiocarbon ( 14 C) Background of Biobased Radiocarbon immediately oxidizes Carbon dioxide ( 14 CO 2 ) Background of ASTM D6866 The radiocarbon immediately starts to decay (T 1/2 = 5730 years) Use in Product Certification 14 N + n 14 C Application of ASTM D6866 “Constant” amount of radiocarbon in the atmosphere as CO 2 Beta Analytic 14 C Decay background 14 CO 2 Conclusion STEP 2: Radiocarbon is removed from the atmosphere by plants STEP 3: Disequilibrium begins upon “death” 7
Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels Background of Biobased Background of ASTM D6866 Use in Product Certification Application of ASTM D6866 Beta Analytic background Conclusion 8
Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels Background of Biobased Background of If it were 50 % corn-based & ASTM D6866 50% petroleum derived Use in Product Certification Application of ASTM D6866 If it were 100% petroleum derived Beta Analytic background Conclusion 0 50,000 yrs Regardless of the percentage of total carbon in the product 9
Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels ASTM-D6866 is a standardization of Background of Biobased radiocarbon dating methods used by Background of archaeologists to determine the age of ASTM D6866 fossils. Use in Product Certification Application of ASTM D6866 Methods that have been in use for 60 years Beta Analytic background (mature technology) Conclusion 10
and being a mature industry . . . Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels • Background of Expertise Biobased • Laboratories Background of ASTM D6866 • Well-known sources of error Use in Product • Supply Lines Certification • Venders Application of ASTM D6866 • Instrumentation Beta Analytic background • Raw materials Conclusion Complete pre-existing infrastructure 11
USDA BioPreferred Program Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels • Federal Procurement Background of Biobased – Program began in 2005 Background of ASTM D6866 – Mandatory purchasing of biobased products by Use in Product Certification government agencies Application of ASTM D6866 – Biobased minimums enforced for each product category Beta Analytic background – ASTM D6866 used to determine if products meet Conclusion minimums More information: www.biopreferred.gov 12
USDA BioPreferred Program Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels • BioPreferred Voluntary Labeling Program Background of Biobased – Began February 2011 Background of ASTM D6866 – Consumer product label Use in Product Certification – Minimum biobased content 25% Application of (Not BioPreferred procurement products) ASTM D6866 Beta Analytic – Biobased % listed on label background Conclusion – ASTM D6866 used to determine percentage More information: www.biopreferred.gov 13
Other Product Certification Programs Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Vinçotte OK Biobased (Belgium) Chemicals and Biofuels • Eco- label which indicates a product’s biobased content – the more stars in the logo, the higher biobased content. • Products must be at least 20% biobased according to ASTM D6866 results to obtain the OK Biobased logo Background of Biobased Japan BioPlastics Association BiomassPla Background of • BiomassPla certification and labeling system certifies biomass-based plastic products. ASTM D6866 • Plastic products must contain biomass-derived components measured using ASTM D6866 to qualify. EcoLogo (Canada) Use in Product Certification • Program certifies a broad range of commercial products. • Standard for hand sanitizers CCD-170 requires biobased content testing via ASTM D6866. Application of Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative ASTM D6866 • Released a list of purchasing specifications called BioSpecs. Beta Analytic • Food service ware must be at least be 95% biobased according to ASTM D6866 to qualify for a rating. background ICC Evaluation Service, Inc. Conclusion • Issued a guideline outlining the requirements for obtaining an ICC-ES Verification of Attributes Report. • The Evaluation Building materials are recommended to have ASTM D6866 measurements. Green Electronics Council EPEAT Program • Aids purchasers assess and select electronic products based on environmental attributes. • Verification of the biobased content is determined with ASTM D6866. 14
Alternative fuel biomass determination: C14 Dating internationally recognized Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable ASTM International Chemicals and Biofuels • Standardized through ASTM D6866 Background of CEN (European Committee for Standardization) Biobased • Standardized through CEN 15440 (CEN 15747) EU-ETS (EU Emission Trading Scheme) Background of • Recommends CEN 15747 for refuse-derived fuels ASTM D6866 ROCs (Renewable Obligation Program UK) Use in Product • Program based on energy instead of CO2. Certification • Calculation being evaluated by OFGEM for each project application US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Application of • Required to report carbon-neutral CO2 in waste and blended alternative fuels ASTM D6866 • Required for waste derived biofuels and recommended for imported blended biofuels ARB (California Air Resources Board) Beta Analytic • Required to report carbon-neutral CO2 in waste and blended alternative fuels background TCR (The Climate Registry) • Measuring biogenic emissions from biofuels, waste fuels, and biomass co-firing. Conclusion WCI (Western Climate Initiative) • For combustion units using mixed fuels and waste-derived fuels Australia Greenhouse and Energy Reporting • Determine the amounts of each kind of fuel in blended liquid or solid fuels. 15
Working Example : Surprises Measuring the Biobased The manufacturer submitted 3 samples Content of Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels Radiocarbon Dating Results were . . . Background of Product A 69 % Biobased Biobased Product B 78 % Biobased Background of ASTM D6866 Product C 70 % Biobased Use in Product A B C Certification Application of ASTM D6866 Beta Analytic background After the analyses, the manufacturer informed the lab that A, B, & C were all Conclusion the same product and an error must be present in the result for Product B ASTM-D6866 determined the biobased content & revealed a quality control issue. 16
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