Measuring and Reporting Biodegradability

Glucose/C-bioplastic------- 2 lactate------ 3CO2T+ 3CH4T AG° = -47 kcal/mol 

there is a lag phase during which the microbial population adapts to the available test C-substrate. Then, there is the biodegradation phase during which the adapted microbial population begins to utilise the carbon substrate for its cellular life processes, as measured by the conversion of the carbon in the test material to CO2. Finally, the output reaches a plateau when all of the substrate is completely utilised. 

Linear or any other form of data extrapolation from these complex biological systems is not acceptable and is very misleading as credible scientific substantiation for the extrapolation model does not exist. 

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The term fully decompose into elements found in nature equates to the complete abiotic and biotic breakdown of the plastic to CO2, water and cell biomass. This is discussed in detail earlier in the Section 16.3 on Measuring and Reporting Biodegradability . 

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