ISO 14855/ ASTM D5338

Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions – Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide.

With the increasing use of plastics, their recovery and disposal have become a major issue. As a priority, recovery should be promoted. Complete recovery of plastics, however, is difficult. For example, plastic litter, which comes mainly from consumers, is difficult to recover completely. Biodegradable plastics are now emerging as one of the options available to solve such environmental problems. Plastic materials, such as products or packaging, which are sent to composting facilities should be potentially biodegradable. Therefore, it is very important to determine the potential biodegradability of such materials and to obtain an indication of their biodegradability in natural environments.

ISO 14855-1:2005 specifies a method for the determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastics, based on organic compounds, under controlled composting conditions by measurement of the amount of carbon dioxide evolved and the degree of disintegration of the plastic at the end of the test. This method is designed to simulate typical aerobic composting conditions for the organic fraction of solid mixed municipal waste.

ECHO Instruments developed a multi-channel system that matches the standard and offers an easy and economical solution for measuring the biodegradability of bioplastic and plastic products. The system is designed for low maintenance and offers know-how for precise aeration control and humidifying function. The software offers an online graphical presentation of measuring results and remote operation with Internet access.

ECHO Instruments respirometer is used by accreditation institutions, bioplastic raw material and products manufacturers, institutes, universities, and research organizations for plastic, bioplastic, and polymer research.

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ISO 14852

Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous medium – Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide

For the measurements in aqueous samples, we developed an upgrade to our classical respirometer for solid samples. This innovative solution offers users a lot of flexibility for measuring in solid or liquid samples with one instrument.

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Anaerobic digestion

Anaerobic digestion is a collection of processes by which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. The process is used for industrial or domestic purposes to manage waste or to produce fuels. Much of the fermentation used industrially to produce food and drink products, as well as home fermentation, uses anaerobic digestion. With the ECHO respirometer, the user can monitor the process and measure the concentration and production of CH₄. Anaerobic conditions are achieved with flushing the vessels with nitrogen.