For more than a decade, the CAIS has developed and applied methods and analytical techniques for the emerging field of biobase product determination and biofuel content. Biobased products are those derived from renewable resources such as sugar cane, rapeseed, corn and other biogenic materials rather than from fossil-fuels such as petroleum, coal or natural gas. These commercial or industrial products, unlike those tested at the Center’s food and flavor authenticity program, are not used for food and feed.
The CAIS are leaders in the development of radiocarbon and stable isotope techniques applied to the “Federal Biobased Products Preferred Procurement Program” in collaboration with the Center for Sustainable Environmental Technologies at Iowa State University. Mandated by the 2002 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act to require federal agencies to preferentially purchase biobased products, those made from renewable-carbon, instead of their petroleum or fossil-carbon equivalent, the USDA published its final ruling on guidelines to identify and evaluate biobased products. From this, the ASTM D6866 method for biobased content, originally D6866-06 and now in its latest version D6866-22, was developed.
The CAIS continues its development of biobase product research and is instrumental in the continuance of the ASTM D6866 method, with involvement as a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the USDA Biobased Labelling Program.
The CAIS offers the most current ASTM D6866 Method B using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry with stable isotope correction. Method C using scintillation counting is no longer available. Contact the Biobased Product Testing Facility for more information.
ANALYTICAL FEES
| Analytes | Turnaround* | New Price (Effective July 1, 2022) |
|---|---|---|
14C and δ13C | Standard TAT | $280 |
| 14C and δ13C | 7-Business Day Rush Service | $490 |
| 14C and δ13C | 4-Business Day Rush Service | No longer Offered |
| Biopreferred | Fee | $20 |
| >1% Inorg C | Fee | $50 |
| >50% Water | Fee | $50 |
*Please contact biobase@uga.edu regarding possible additional turnaround times for submission including greater than 12 samples in one batch
Biobased Product Testing Submission Form
The Center for Applied Isotope Studies is and always has been a tracer-free facility: we do not accept, handle, graphitize or count samples containing Tracer or Labeled (Hot) 14C due to the risk of cross-contamination.
