Greenhouse gases are reported to be a major contributor to global warming. Since “biomass CO₂” emitted from combustion devices represents a net-zero carbon contribution to the atmosphere (that is, plants remove CO₂ from the atmosphere and subsequent combustion returns it), it does not contribute additional CO₂ to the atmosphere. The measurement of biomass (biogenic) CO₂ allows regulators and stationary source owners/operators to determine the ratio of fossil-derived CO₂ and biomass CO₂ in developing control strategies and to meet federal, state, local and regional greenhouse gas reporting requirements.

The distinction of the two types of CO₂ has financial, control and regulatory implications.

1.1 This practice defines specific procedures for the collection of gas samples from stationary emission sources for subsequent laboratory determination of the ratio of biomass (biogenic) carbon to total carbon (fossil derived carbon plus biomass or biogenic carbon) in accordance with D 6866.

1.2 This practice applies to stationary sources that burn municipal solid waste or a combination of fossil fuel (for example, coal, oil, natural gas) and biomass fuel (for example, wood, wood waste, paper, agricultural waste, biogas) in boilers, combustion turbines, incinerators, kilns, internal combustion engines and other combustion devices.

1.3 This practice applies to the collection of integrated samples over periods from 1 hour to 24 hours, or longer.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.