Biodegradation

Biodegradation

Our environmental products specialize in measuring biodegradation, the natural process by which microorganisms break down organic substances into simpler compounds in compost, marine water, landfills, soil, and wastewater. Tier 1 screening for biodegradation testing involves initial, rapid assessments to determine a substance's potential biodegradability. Understanding how biodegradation operates within these settings is crucial for implementing effective waste management strategies and safeguarding our planet's delicate balance.

Glossary

Compost

Organic waste transforms into nutrient-rich soil as the matter breaks down, temperatures rise, microbes multiply, and the compost pile becomes a hotbed of microbial activity. Common test standards that determine if a material is compostable are ASTM D6400 and EN 13432.

Marine Water

Ocean water biodegradation is the natural process by which organic pollutants and debris in marine environments break down through microbial activity. Water temperature, oxygen levels, and nutrient availability influence its efficacy. Common test standards ASTM D6691 and ISO 14593 evaluate biodegradation in marine environments.

Landfill

Landfill biodegradation occurs when organic materials undergo anaerobic decomposition in an oxygen-limited environment, releasing methane and carbon dioxide gases as byproducts. ASTM D5511 and ISO 15985 are common test standards for screening landfill materials.

Soil

In soil biodegradation, microbial communities within the soil matrix tirelessly decompose various materials, from plant-based residues to biodegradable plastics—the ASTM D5988 and ISO 17556 tests gauge material biodegradability in soil.

Wastewater

Wastewater treatment relies on biodegradation. Diverse microbial communities break down organic pollutants and contaminants present in wastewater streams. ASTM D5210, ISO 11734, and OECD test methods, such as OECD 301 and OECD 302, assess biodegradation in wastewater. 

How the Micro-Oxymax Can Benefit Material Screening for Biodegradation

The Columbus Instruments’ Micro-Oxymax system is a highly adaptable general-purpose closed-circuit respirometer. The system monitors the concentration of gas contained within an enclosed head space into which the material being monitored is respiring. Periodic sensing of the gas concentration, along with an equally accurate measurement of the volume of the head space, allows calculations of incremental and accumulated values for consumption and production. The Micro-Oxymax design principle provides a sensing threshold near 2 x 10-7 liter per hour. The system can be configured for single or multiple gas sensing. Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and a variety of other gases can be sensed over specially selected ranges to meet almost any application.

The Micro-Oxymax is a modular system that can support testing biodegradability in all environments. An initial configuration for basic investigations can be expanded later to include additional gases and/or chambers. The software automates many aspects of the test with a single set of sensors to calibrate, it takes only a few minutes to begin a test. The system automatically compensates for changes in pressure and temperature and converts evolved carbon dioxide to STP for easy conversion into milligrams.