Last Updated: October 25, 2022
Requirements
Total fluorine (F) analysis is required for approval or certification by Compost Manufacturing Alliance (CMA) to determine if food service and yard waste packaging does not exceed CMA’s maximum allowance for F content.
Each sample should be a finished product prepared for testing as noted below. For testing, the product must be ground to less than 20 mesh size to homogenize the sample; sample preparation may be performed by a lab provided below if necessary.
It is critical that a large enough sample size (required 1.0 g or greater) is used for digestion to obtain a reproducible result with an acceptable minimum detection limit. Digestion/combustion must also be performed in a closed vessel such as a Paar bomb or oxygen bomb.
Additional samples may be needed as outlined below:
- If any fluorine-containing dry end sizing or release agents are used, an additional sample should be submitted with the dry end sizing or release agents wiped off or with the additional sample prepared without the release agent or dry end sizing. Please identify whether this sample was prepared by wiping the surfaces or by not using the typical release agent or dry end sizing during production. The specific supplier, brand and grade of the dry end sizing or release agent must be provided.
- If the product formulation includes minerals, then each mineral from the same batch or lot as used in the provided packaging sample ground to less than 20 mesh size must be submitted for analysis. Sample preparation may be performed by a lab provided below if necessary. The specific suppliers, brands and grades of the minerals must be provided; also provide location of mines or plants that produces the minerals if not able to be identified by the other information. Lastly, the percent loading of each mineral in the material formulation must be provided.
Sample Preparation
The following labs will grind and digest samples, coordinate the total F testing at an approved analysis lab and provide a testing summary report. If minerals are reported to be present, these labs will also perform ash testing to confirm mineral content. Please contact one of the following if the sample needs to be prepared.
Advanced Materials Center
125 Swanson St
Ottawa, IL 61350
Ron Walling- President
815-433-1495
Ideopak, LLC.
1131 Food Sciences Building
536 Farmhouse Lane
Ames, IA 50011
Greg Curtzwiler- Partner
510-299-0721
info@ideopak.com
Soil Control Lab
42 Hangar Way
Watsonville, CA 95076
Mike Galloway- President
831-724-5422
Analysis
To ensure proper testing for total F content, the testing must be performed at one of the labs listed below. Please note any special testing requirements listed for a lab.
Chem-Bac Laboratories
PO Box 19198
Charlotte, NC 28219
704-394-6381
James T. Ward- Supervising Chemist
Soil Control Lab
42 Hangar Way
Watsonville, CA 95076
Mike Galloway- President
831-724-5422
Ideopak, LLC.
1131 Food Sciences Building
536 Farmhouse Lane
Ames, IA 50011
Greg Curtzwiler- Partner
510-299-0721
info@ideopak.com
QC Metallurgical
17048 215th St
Davenport, IA 52906
563-386-7827
Todd Bloodworth- Director
