Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous medium - Method by measuring the oxygen demand in a closed respirometer

 

This method is suitable for the following substances:

• Natural and/or synthetic polymers, copolymers, or mixtures thereof
• Plastics containing additives such as plasticizers, colorants, or other compounds
• Water-soluble polymers

It is based on measuring the biological degradation of organic substances by aerobic microorganisms in an aqueous medium. The measured parameter in this case is the carbon dioxide emitted by the organisms during degradation according to the principle of OECD 301F. The sole source of carbon and energy for the microorganisms is the test item, except for the components of the inoculum.

Test duration

The measurement is carried out over a period of at least 2 months and may be extended to a maximum test duration of 6 months.

Requirement

The average particle size of the test material shall not exceed 250 µm (e.g., microplastics).