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Radiocarbon analysis of mixed-sources plastic: Implementing approach at LAPA14C-UFBA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 January 2026

Francis Carneiro Damasio ,
Gabriel Cotinguiba Sibuya ,
Renata Magalhães Jou Open the ORCID record for Renata Magalhães Jou [Opens in a new window] ,
José Marques Lopes ,
Alexandre Barreto Costa ,
Eduardo do Nascimento ,
Jéssica da Silva Sarpa ,
Fabiana Monteiro de Oliveira Open the ORCID record for Fabiana Monteiro de Oliveira [Opens in a new window] ,
Carla Carvalho Open the ORCID record for Carla Carvalho [Opens in a new window]  and
Maria do Rosário Zucchi Open the ORCID record for Maria do Rosário Zucchi [Opens in a new window]
Francis Carneiro Damasio
Affiliation:
LAPA14C-UFBA, Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal da Bahia, R. Barão de Jeremoabo s/n, Salvador, 40301-110, BA, Brazil
Gabriel Cotinguiba Sibuya
Affiliation:
LAPA14C-UFBA, Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal da Bahia, R. Barão de Jeremoabo s/n, Salvador, 40301-110, BA, Brazil
Renata Magalhães Jou*
Affiliation:
LAPA14C-UFBA, Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal da Bahia, R. Barão de Jeremoabo s/n, Salvador, 40301-110, BA, Brazil
José Marques Lopes
Affiliation:
LAPA14C-UFBA, Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal da Bahia, R. Barão de Jeremoabo s/n, Salvador, 40301-110, BA, Brazil Laboratório de Detecção e Instrumentação Nuclear (LDIN), Instituto Militar de Engenharia, Rio de Janeiro, 22290-270, Brazil
Alexandre Barreto Costa
Affiliation:
LAPA14C-UFBA, Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal da Bahia, R. Barão de Jeremoabo s/n, Salvador, 40301-110, BA, Brazil
Eduardo do Nascimento
Affiliation:
LAPA14C-UFBA, Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal da Bahia, R. Barão de Jeremoabo s/n, Salvador, 40301-110, BA, Brazil
Jéssica da Silva Sarpa
Affiliation:
LAPA14C-UFBA, Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal da Bahia, R. Barão de Jeremoabo s/n, Salvador, 40301-110, BA, Brazil
Fabiana Monteiro de Oliveira
Affiliation:
LAC-UFF, Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Av. Gal. Milton Tavares de Souza s/n, Niterói, 24210-346, RJ, Brazil Programa de Pós-graduação em Química, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Outeiro São João Batista, s/n, Niterói, 24210-141, Brazil
Carla Carvalho
Affiliation:
LAC-UFF, Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Av. Gal. Milton Tavares de Souza s/n, Niterói, 24210-346, RJ, Brazil Programa de Pós-graduação em Geoquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Outeiro São João Batista, s/n, Niterói, 24210-141, Brazil
Maria do Rosário Zucchi
Affiliation:
LAPA14C-UFBA, Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal da Bahia, R. Barão de Jeremoabo s/n, Salvador, 40301-110, BA, Brazil
*
Corresponding author: Renata Magalhães Jou; Email: renatajou@gmail.com
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Abstract

In Brazil, laws are being adopted prohibiting the use and distribution of non-recyclable plastic bags and encouraging the use of recyclable, biodegradable and bioplastic bags. However, there is no specific standard method in Brazil to inspect the carbon content of bioplastics. This work aims to implement the sample preparation for radiocarbon biogenic fraction determination in bioplastics in the new radiocarbon laboratory at the Federal University of Bahia (LAPA14C-UFBA). Six plastic samples from Brazilian markets with bio-based seals were collected in regular Brazilian markets, four bags and two tubes. All samples were combusted and graphitized in the LAPA14C-UFBA and the graphites were measured at the Radiocarbon Laboratory (LAC-UFF). The biogenic fraction analysis followed the Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis (ASTM D6866-24). Since the bioplastic manufactured in Brazil is derived from sugarcane, a C4 plant where δ13C values are different from those of petroleum-derived plastic, the biogenic fraction was obtained via the isotopic mixture equation. The results showed a robust direct correlation (r=0.998) between the fractions obtained by the two methods, indicating that δ13C analysis can be used, in this case, as an alternative in determining the biogenic fraction of plastics. From the results obtained, four out of the six samples analyzed showed biogenic fraction values below the 51% required by the I’m Green label, with values ranging from 4% to 43%, according to the δ3C and 14C analysis, showing the efficiency of both techniques in determining the biogenic fraction.

Keywords

AMSbio-based carbon contentbioplastic bags14Cδ13C

Information

Type
Conference Paper
Information
Radiocarbon , First View , pp. 1 - 8
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of University of Arizona

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Footnotes

Selected Papers from the 4th Radiocarbon in the Environment Conference, Lecce, Italy, 23–27 Sept. 2024

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