1. Scope

Keywords

Rationale

The potential for persistence of biodegradable plastics in aquatic environments has raised concerns, and given that aquatic temperatures are generally much lower than other natural environments, Multiple stakeholders (industry, academia, government, regulators, & consumers) require a standard that estimates time for complete biodegradability of plastics designed for use in aquatic environments. The potential for persistence of biodegradable plastics in aquatic environments has raised concerns given that the aquatic temperatures are much lower. It is not practical from a time and cost perspective to conduct biodegradation experiments at lower temperatures because the rate of reaction will be significantly slower. In this standard fundamental reaction kinetics principles are applied to experimental biodegradation data obtained using ASTM/ISO standard test methods to estimate time required for complete removal of polymer carbon (complete biodegradation) at lower temperatures found in aquatic environments.