Pat Patodia's Presentation

Measuring the Biobased Content of Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Chemicals and BiofuelsRenewable Chemicals and Biofuels

Pat PatodiaBeta Analytic Inc.

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Measuring the Biobased Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Content of Renewable Chemicals and BiofuelsChemicals and Biofuels

November 21-23, 20112011 Pacific Rim Summit

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Overview

Background of Biobased

Background of ASTM D6866

Use in Product Certification

Application of ASTM D6866

Beta Analytic background

Conclusion

•Background of Biobased

•Background of ASTM D6866

•Use in certification of Biobased products

•Applications of ASTM D6866

•Background of Beta Analytic

•Conclusion


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Conclusion

What is “Biobased” ?

US Department of Agriculture’s definition:

• ASTM-D6866 results are to be consistent with this definition

• Carbonates of natural mineral origin are to be excluded

• Mass of component is factored out

Renewably Sourced Carbon

Total Organic Carbon

• A single value is applicable across industries

Premise: Use less petroleumMeasuring the Biobased Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Content of Renewable Chemicals and BiofuelsChemicals and Biofuels

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Conclusion

Naturally occurringin all biomass,

absent in fossil fuels

ASTM D6866 measures it.

Carbon-14Measuring the Biobased Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Content of Renewable Chemicals and BiofuelsChemicals and Biofuels

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Conclusion

Carbon-14 is ubiquitous in all living things.

But it doesn’t stick around.

It slowly and gradually decays away after death, so that by 50,000 years there’s none left.

Coal and fossil-derived materials do not have any carbon-14 whereas biomass does.


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Conclusion

• Biomass CO2

• Fossil Fuel CO2

Take a good look, Identical?

Carbon-14

They’re NOT the same!

No Carbon-14


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Conclusion

STEP 1: Ongoing formation and decay of radiocarbon within the atmosphere

Nitrogen ( 14N ) + cosmic neutrons Radiocarbon (14C)

Radiocarbon immediately oxidizes Carbon dioxide (14CO2)

The radiocarbon immediately starts to decay (T1/2 = 5730 years)

14N + n 14C

14C Decay 14CO2

“Constant” amount of radiocarbon

in the atmosphere as CO2

STEP 2: Radiocarbon is removed from the atmosphere by plants

STEP 3: Disequilibrium begins upon “death”

The Radiocarbon Cycle


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Conclusion


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Conclusion

0 50,000 yrs

If it were 100% petroleum derived

If it were 50 % corn-based &50% petroleum derived

Regardless of the percentage of total carbon in the product


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Conclusion

ASTM-D6866 is a standardization of

radiocarbon dating methods used by

archaeologists to determine the age of fossils.

Methods that have been in use for 60 years(mature technology)


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Conclusion

• Expertise

• Laboratories

• Supply Lines

• Venders

Complete pre-existing infrastructure

• Well-known sources of error

• Raw materials

• Instrumentation

and being a mature industry . . .and being a mature industry . . . Measuring the Biobased Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Content of Renewable Chemicals and BiofuelsChemicals and Biofuels

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Conclusion

USDA BioPreferred Program

• Federal Procurement

– Program began in 2005

– Mandatory purchasing of biobased products by government agencies

– Biobased minimums enforced for each product category

– ASTM D6866 used to determine if products meet minimums

More information: www.biopreferred.gov


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Conclusion

USDA BioPreferred Program

• BioPreferred Voluntary Labeling Program

– Began February 2011

– Consumer product label

– Minimum biobased content 25%(Not BioPreferred procurement products)

– Biobased % listed on label

– ASTM D6866 used to determine percentage

More information: www.biopreferred.gov


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Conclusion

Vinçotte OK Biobased (Belgium)

• 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

Japan BioPlastics Association BiomassPla

• BiomassPla certification and labeling system certifies biomass-based plastic products.• Plastic products must contain biomass-derived components measured using ASTM D6866 to qualify.

EcoLogo (Canada)

• Program certifies a broad range of commercial products.• Standard for hand sanitizers CCD-170 requires biobased content testing via ASTM D6866.

Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative

• Released a list of purchasing specifications called BioSpecs.• Food service ware must be at least be 95% biobased according to ASTM D6866 to qualify for a rating.

ICC Evaluation Service, Inc.

• 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.

Other Product Certification Programs


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Conclusion

ASTM International• Standardized through ASTM D6866

CEN (European Committee for Standardization)• Standardized through CEN 15440 (CEN 15747)

EU-ETS (EU Emission Trading Scheme)• Recommends CEN 15747 for refuse-derived fuels

ROCs (Renewable Obligation Program UK) • Program based on energy instead of CO2. • Calculation being evaluated by OFGEM for each project application

US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)• Required to report carbon-neutral CO2 in waste and blended alternative fuels• Required for waste derived biofuels and recommended for imported blended biofuels

ARB (California Air Resources Board) • Required to report carbon-neutral CO2 in waste and blended alternative fuels

TCR (The Climate Registry)• Measuring biogenic emissions from biofuels, waste fuels, and biomass co-firing.

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.

Alternative fuel biomass determination: C14 Dating internationally recognized


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Conclusion

The manufacturer submitted 3 samples

Radiocarbon Dating Results were . . .

69 % BiobasedProduct A

78 % BiobasedProduct B

70 % BiobasedProduct C

After the analyses, the manufacturer informed the lab that A, B, & C were all the same product and an error must be present in the result for Product B

BA C

ASTM-D6866 determined the biobased content & revealed a quality control issue.

Working Example : SurprisesMeasuring the Biobased Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Content of Renewable Chemicals and BiofuelsChemicals and Biofuels

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Conclusion

“This product contains 50% less petroleum than our previous formulas”

• Immediately understood by the public

• Positive public image and reception

• Brings value to your assemblers, distributors and retailers

50 % biobased also means 50% less petroleum carbon.

– consider this in the marketing of your biobased products

MARKETING PERSPECTIVEMeasuring the Biobased Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Content of Renewable Chemicals and BiofuelsChemicals and Biofuels

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Conclusion

LEGAL PERSPECTIVE – PRODUCT DEFENSE

If you are doing any kind of product discovery, product market protection, or any purpose that may entail commercial or legal repercussions, we recommend 3-4 analyses per material.

If you are submitting materials to the USDA’s BioPreferred Program or other certification, we recommend 2 analyses per material for better credibility and averaging.

If you are doing R&D or product development, generally one measurement is fine.

An ASTM-D6866 analysis is routine, but complex – it is a “one off measurement”


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Conclusion

Considerations in using ASTM-D6866

• Ensure a representative sample is analyzed

• Consider the homogeneity of your product

• The reported result will be unique to the actual material analyzed

• All carbon components must be either fossil or contemporary (respiring carbon within last 10 years)

• If carbonates of natural mineral origin account for > 3% of the total carbon in the product, it must be subtracted out of the “Biobased Content”.


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Conclusion

Easy Inter-comparisonEasy Inter-comparison

Simple Visual ReportSimple Visual Report

Instinctively ObviousInstinctively Obvious

ReportingMeasuring the Biobased Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Content of Renewable Chemicals and BiofuelsChemicals and Biofuels

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Conclusion

How long does it take to get a result?

4-7 Business Days

How much does it cost?

$595 per analysis

Time and CostMeasuring the Biobased Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Content of Renewable Chemicals and BiofuelsChemicals and Biofuels

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Conclusion

ISO 17025

• Highest level of recognized quality any testing laboratory can attain

• Recognized by every major certification program

• Beta Analytic was awarded the ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 accreditation

• Only provider of radiocarbon determinations in the world with ISO 17025 Accreditation


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Conclusion

• 30 years in business, considered the leader of our field

• Fast turn-around times (as little as 24 hours)

• Confidentiality of all results

• Large throughput operation [52 LSC counters, 3 mass spectrometers, 4 accelerator mass spectrometers, 16 chemistry lines]

• 20 dedicated full-time professionals, no part-time students learning on your samples

• ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited

Company BackgroundMeasuring the Biobased Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Content of Renewable Chemicals and BiofuelsChemicals and Biofuels

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Conclusion

• Biobased materials are derived from renewable biological resources

• Carbon-14 is present in biobased materials and absent in fossil fuel-derived materials

• ASTM D6866 can be used on any material type (solid, liquids, gases)

• ASTM D6866 is used in major certification programs including the USDA BioPreferred Voluntary Label for Biobased Products

• Biobased content testing is an offsite analysis; results reported as % biobased versus % fossil-derived

ConclusionMeasuring the Biobased Measuring the Biobased Content of Renewable Content of Renewable Chemicals and BiofuelsChemicals and Biofuels

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Conclusion

Pat [email protected]


U.K. & E.U.London, UK

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+(55) 11-3958-8586

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+(61) 282-053-107

WWW.BETALABSERVICES.COM

HeadquartersMiami, Florida USA+(1) 305-667-5167

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Pat Patodia's Presentation