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ASTM D6866 and radiocarbon analysis

Thursday 2 February 2023

CIRAM Laboratories explain in detail the ASTM D6866 standard to be followed to measure the biobased carbon content of your ingredients or your suppliers’ products.

Carbon-14 (or radiocarbon) analysis is widely used in our laboratory analysis and is also used for research and analysis of bio-based products.

WHAT IS ASTM D6866?

ASTM D6866 is a test method developed by ASTM International. This protocol describes precisely how to experimentally measure the biobased carbon content of solid, liquid and gaseous samples using radiocarbon (also known as Carbon-14) analysis.  

Radiocarbon analysis for industry

Raw materials or products from your suppliers, radiocarbon analysis is mainly used for industrialists.

CIRAM laboratories analyse the content of bio-based products in materials at each stage. We evaluate products in R&D, under development, as well as finished products, ready to be marketed. Measuring the carbon-14 in your products allows you to define the quantity and proportion of bio-based and petro-based materials.

Radiocarbon analysis to measure the content of bio-based products

It is important to differentiate between two types of carbon:

  • Modern carbon: the current biomass (cereals, oils, algae, organic waste) used to manufacture biobased molecules contains exclusively so-called modern” carbon;