Due to their increased production and waste, the permanence of plastic materials has surfaced widely faced environmental problem. And because of this, we now have effective biodegradable plastics to replace them. ISO 14855 provides a systematic scientific methodology to evaluate these materials’ biodegradability on the basis of composting conditions. These tests establish whether a specific plastic can actually be processed well in industrial composting facilities, for the activators to support end-of-waste, environmental organizations, and producers work towards waste reduction goals as well as sustainable development objectives.
ISO 14855 Test Method
This test is divided into two sections: the first uses respirometry to measure the amount of CO2 formed during the biodegradation process in order to determine the biodegradability; the second part, which is also known as ISO 14855-2, measures the amount of CO2 evolved in a laboratory-scale test.
| Test procedure for the general carbon dioxide emission method | In this test, the biodegradability is assessed by respirometry to quantify CO2 formed throughout the process of biodegradation. CO2 and H2O are the primary end-products of breakdown in plastic material, and coupling the CO2 production to measure how good the test material biodegrades. Regardless of what duration, you can very easily measure percentage degradation in a given time frame by determining the theoretical amount of CO2 produced. |
| Test procedure for the Gravimetric method | The ISO 14855-2 testing method regulates the temperature, aeration ratio, and humidity in the composting vessel to produce the best rate of biodegradation of plastic materials in mature compost. Using an absorption column loaded with soda talc and lime and an electronic balance, the mass of evolved CO2 is measured regularly to determine the degradation rate. |
