Biomass carbon ratio of polymer composites included biomass or petroleum origin resources

The biomass carbon ratios of various polymer composites were studied. The biomass carbon ratios of polymer composites were estimated by the ratios of C-14 to C-12 measured by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) based on ASTM D 6866-08. The pretreatment conditions of the polymer composite of each constituent for the AMS measurement are described. The repeatability and accuracy of the biomass carbon ratio evaluation by AMS for the polymer composites with an inorganic filler, which are biomass-based plastics with mineral calcium carbonate and petroleum-based plastics with biobased calcium carbonate, such as shell powder or an organic filler, are discussed. The standard deviation of the polymer composite was less than 1%, and it was sufficiently lower compared with the limit of the AMS measurement (0.12%). Also, the biomass carbon ratio of each constituent of the polymer composite including the inorganic filler was significant based on the AMS measurement by changing the pretreatment conditions. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.