Quantification of Carbon-Neutral

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Using ASTM D6866

Mauricio Larenas
Beta Analytic Inc.

1
 Overview
•Carbon-14 analysis overview

•ASTM D6866 application

•Use in international regulations

•Application in China

•Beta Analytic background

•Overview and Conclusion

2
 Carbon Neutral CO2
(Biogenic CO2)

 Recently respired CO2

Carbon-14 analysis
overview
 Plants recently removed it from the air

ASTM D6866
application
 A by-product of biomass incineration

Use in international
regulations
 Can be subtracted from GHG inventories

Application in China
 Has value in the trading markets

Beta Analytic
background

Conclusion

3
 Carbon-14

Carbon-14 analysis
overview

ASTM D6866
application

Use in international
regulations

Application in Naturally occurring

China
in all biomass,
Beta Analytic
background
absent in fossil fuels
Conclusion
ASTM D6866 measures it.
4
 Carbon-14 is ubiquitous in all living things.

Carbon-14 analysis
But it doesn’t stick around.
overview

ASTM D6866 It slowly and gradually decays away after death, so that by
application
50,000 years there’s none left.
Use in international
regulations
Coal and fossil-derived materials do not have any
Application in carbon-14 whereas biomass does.
China

Beta Analytic
background

Conclusion

5
 Take a good look, Identical?

Carbon-14 analysis
overview Carbon-14
ASTM D6866
application  Biomass CO2
Use in international
regulations Coal CO2
Application in China
No Carbon-14
Beta Analytic
background

Conclusion
They’re NOT the same!

6
 The Radiocarbon Cycle

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

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

Carbon-14 analysis
overview Radiocarbon immediately oxidizes Carbon dioxide (14 CO2)

ASTM D6866 The radiocarbon immediately starts to decay (T1/2 = 5730 years)
application

14
N+n 14
C
Use in international
regulations
“Constant” amount of radiocarbon
Application in China in the atmosphere as CO2
14
C Decay 14
CO2
Beta Analytic
background

Conclusion STEP 2: Radiocarbon is removed from the atmosphere by plants

STEP 3: Disequilibrium begins upon “death”

7
Carbon-14 analysis
overview

100% renewable
ASTM D6866
application
0% renewable
Use in international
regulations

Application in
China

Beta Analytic
background

Conclusion

0 Radiocarbon Decay Curve 50,000 yrs

8
 Conventional biomass – CO2 inventory accounting
(Stationary Combustion Sources – e.g. Cement, Co-firing, Biomass, Waste, etc.)

Complicated
physical
Carbon-14 analysis
characterization of
overview the feed stock
ASTM D6866 T
application O
N Sorting, cutting,
Use in international
regulations S sectioning, and
weighing raw fuel
Application in China

Beta Analytic
background
Labor intensive,
Conclusion expensive,
burdensome
CO2
9
 ASTM D6866 biomass – CO2 inventory accounting

Measure CO2 in the stack effluent

Complicated
)
physical

$
n ic
Carbon-14 analysis
oge
overview
l (b
i
characterization
tra
ASTM D6866 T ne
u of the feed stock
application O b on
r
Ca
N
Use in international
regulations S
Sorting, cutting,
sectioning, and
Application in China
HG
) weighing raw
G
il (
Beta Analytic F oss fuel
background

Conclusion
Labor intensive,
expensive,
CO2 burdensome
10
 ASTM-D6866 is a standardization of
radiocarbon dating methods used by
Carbon-14 analysis
overview
archaeologists to determine the age of
fossils.
ASTM D6866
application

Use in international
regulations
Methods that have been in use for 60 years
Application in China (mature technology)
Beta Analytic
background

Conclusion

11
 and being a mature industry . . .

 Expertise
Carbon-14 analysis
overview
 Laboratories
 Well-known sources of error
ASTM D6866
application  Supply Lines
Use in international
regulations
 Venders
 Instrumentation
Application in
China
 Raw materials
Beta Analytic
background
Complete pre-existing infrastructure
Conclusion

12
 C14 Dating is an internationally recognized verification method

• ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)

Carbon-14 analysis CEN (European Committee for Standardization)

overview
• US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
ASTM D6866 •
application ARB (California Air Resources Board)
•
Use in international TCR (The Climate Registry)
regulations

WCI (Western Climate Initiative)

Application in China

• Australia (National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Protocol)

Beta Analytic
background
• EU-ETS (European Union Emission Trading Scheme)
Conclusion
ROCs (Renewable Obligation program UK ) *Currently being
Approved

13
 California Air Resources Board (CARB) & AB 32

“Fuels like biomass and municipal solid waste (MSW) are so varied that fuel
analysis is impractical.”
Carbon-14 analysis
overview

ASTM D6866
“The proposed regulation requires emissions from biomass-derived fuels to be
application reported separately from fossil fuels.”

Use in international
regulations “Municipal solid waste facilities are required to use ASTM Method D6866 . . . ”

Application in
China
All stationary combustion facilities which co-fire a fossil fuel with a biomass-
derived fuel are recommended to use ASTM Method D6866.
Beta Analytic
background

Conclusion

14
 EPA Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule

“Carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of biogenic fuels

Carbon-14 analysis
shall be excluded from the calculations.”
overview

ASTM D6866
application “For a unit that combusts MSW, the owner or operator shall
use, for each quarter, ASTM Methods D6866 and D7459 … to
Use in international determine the relative proportions of biogenic and non-biogenic
regulations CO2 emissions when MSW is combusted.”
Application in China
“The owner or operator shall separate total CO2 emissions from
Beta Analytic MSW combustion into biogenic emissions and non-biogenic
background emissions, using the average proportion of biogenic emissions of
all samples analyzed during the reporting year.”
Conclusion

15
 ASTM D6866 and CEN 15747

~ ASTM D6866 is part of the mandatory reporting requirements of California's

AB 32, Western Climate Initiative, The Climate Registry and the EPA’s GHG
Carbon-14 analysis
overview protocol.

ASTM D6866 ~ The European Union allows the use of ASTM D6866 for monitoring various
application types of heterogeneous fuels.

Use in international ~ The Australian government has recommended the use of ASTM D6866 for
regulations blended fuels.

Application in ~ The Renewable Obligation Certificate program in the United Kingdom is

China
also considering this method for monitoring biomass energy production.

Beta Analytic ~ CEN 15747 is used to monitor refuse-derived fuels for the European
background
Union's Emission Trading Scheme.
Conclusion

16
 UN CDM- AM0025
Avoided emissions from organic waste through alternative waste
treatment processes

United Nations Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

Carbon-14 analysis
overview
The UN CDM has developed AM0025 – a methodology applicable
ASTM D6866 to solid waste management projects
application

Use in international Version 11 released in 2008

regulations

Application in
China ASTM D6866 – required testing to estimate faction of fossil carbon
in total carbon of waste type such as municipal solid waste
Beta Analytic
background
As a minimum, sampling should be undertaken four times per year.
Conclusion

17
 ASTM D7459
Standard Practice for Collection of Integrated Samples for the Speciation of
Biomass (Biogenic) and Fossil-Derived Carbon Dioxide Emitted from
Stationary Emissions Sources

Established for the EPA Proposed Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule
Carbon-14 analysis
overview

ASTM D6866 Outlines the proper technique in collecting gas samples from stacks
application

Use in international Specifically developed for ASTM D6866

regulations

Application in
China Included as a requirement in AM0025

Beta Analytic
background Used as basis for international ISO standard under development

Conclusion

18
 ISO 13833
“Stationary source emissions -- Determination of the ratio of biomass (biogenic)
and fossil-derived carbon dioxide -- Radiocarbon sampling and determination”

International Organization for Standardization

Carbon-14 analysis
overview Radiocarbon Dating-Based Standard for Stationary Sources Emissions

ASTM D6866
application Combines concepts of ASTM D6866 and D7459

Use in international
regulations
Requires Proportional sampling

Application in
China
Internationally recognized
Beta Analytic
background
Committee draft to be completed Summer 2010
Conclusion

19
 Reporting

Carbon-14 analysis Simple Visual Report

overview

ASTM D6866
application
Easy Inter-comparison
Use in international
regulations

Application in
China Instinctively Obvious
Beta Analytic
background

Conclusion

20
 Time and Cost

How long does it take to get a result?

Carbon-14 analysis
overview One week, but as little as 2-3 days

ASTM D6866
application

Use in international
regulations How much does it cost?

Application in
China
$595 per analysis

Beta Analytic
background

Conclusion

21
 ISO 17025

Highest level of recognized quality any testing laboratory can attain

Carbon-14 analysis
overview
Recognized by the China National Accreditation Service for
ASTM D6866 Conformity Assessment (CNAS)
application

Use in international
regulations Beta Analytic was awarded the ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 accreditation

Application in
China
Only provider of radiocarbon determinations in the world with ISO
17025 Accreditation
Beta Analytic
background

Conclusion

22
 LSC Counter Room

Carbon-14 analysis
overview

ASTM D6866
application

Use in international
regulations

Application in
China

Beta Analytic
background

Conclusion

23
 One of the Chemistry Line Rooms

Carbon-14 analysis
overview

ASTM D6866
application

Use in international
regulations

Application in
China

Beta Analytic
background

Conclusion

24
 Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Room

Carbon-14 analysis
overview

ASTM D6866
application

Use in international
regulations

Application in
China

Beta Analytic
background

Conclusion

25
 Company Background

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

Carbon-14 analysis
overview - Fast turn-around times (as little as 24 hours)

ASTM D6866
- Confidentiality of all results
application
- Large throughput operation [52 LSC counters, 2 mass
Use in international spectrometers, 2 accelerator mass spectrometers (4 ions
regulations
sources), 16 chemistry lines]
Application in
China
- 18 dedicated full-time professionals, no part-time students
learning on your samples
Beta Analytic
background - ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited

Conclusion

26
 Conclusion

Carbon-14 present in biomass and absent in fossil fuels

Carbon-14 analysis
overview ASTM D6866 recognized internationally as method to regulate CO2
emissions
ASTM D6866
application

Use in international Method can be used on solid, liquid, and gas

regulations

Application in
China Carbon Dating a mature industry

Beta Analytic
background
AM0025 CDM methodology for Waste to Energy requires ASTM
Conclusion D6866

27
 WWW.BETALABSERVICES.COM

Beta Analytic Inc. 中国代表处 —北京 :

4985 SW 74 Court Beta Analytic Inc. 
Miami, Florida 33155 北京市海淀区科学院南路 2 号融科资
Carbon-14 analysis USA 讯中心 C 座南楼 5 层
overview Tel: +1 (305) 662-7760 邮编： 100190 
Fax: +1 (305) 663-0964 Tel: +86 10 8418 1950     
ASTM D6866 Info@betalabservices.com Fax: +86 (10) 5982 2196     
application Email: info@radiocarbon.cn 

Beta Analytic Limited

Use in international
regulations The London BioScience
Innovation Centre
2 Royal College Street
Application in London NW10NH
China
United Kingdom
Tel: (44) 207 617 7490
Beta Analytic Fax: (44) 207 160 5350
background Info@betalabservices.com
Chikyu Kagaku Kenkyusho Corp.
1-608 Ueda-Honmachi
Tenpaku-ku
Nagoya 468-0007
Japan
Tel: (81) 52 802 0703
Fax: (81) 52 805 6383

Conclusion
Mauricio Larenas
Mlarenas@betalabservices.com

28