Other Biodegradation Tests

Several other tests have been used also to demonstrate or to evaluate biodegradation. Some of these tests were originally developed to verify resistance against biodeterioration or biofouling. Examples are ASTM G21-90 (resistance to fungi) [72], ASTM G22-76 (resistance to bacteria) [73], NF ENISO11721-1 [74] and NF ENISO 846 [75]. These tests 

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Other simple tests include the soil burial test used to demonstrate the biodegradabiUty of polycaprolactone (25), following its disappearance as a function of time, and the clear 2one method which indicates biodegradation by the formation of a clear 2one in an agar medium of the test polymer or plastic as it is consumed (26). The burial test is still used as a confirmatory test method in the real-world environment after quantitative laboratory methods indicate bio degradation. 

Other biodegradable chelants were not taken to wash testing following the peracid screening results. 

The Acyclic Aliphatic and Monocyclic Aromatic models were developed during an evaluation of other biodegradation prediction models. As Table 12.6 indicates, the two models were developed with seven structural fragments (acyclic aliphatic) and nine structural fragments (monocyclic aromatic) by means of discriminant analysis with MITI test data. 

In addition to primary and ready1 tests, within legislative compliance there are two other types of ultimate biodegradability tests. Inherent and simulation tests provide valuable information on the level of biodegradability expected if the test material does not meet the ready1 criteria. This provides essential information when carrying out risk assessments particularly on surfactants which can have high levels of ecotoxicity. 

Residue/shine, foam, disinfectancy, and surface safety tests are done as described in the section under all-purpose cleaning. Grease cleaning tests may also be performed with bathroom cleaners, as bathroom soils such as lipstick and bath oils have an oily component. The other nonperformance tests (eye irritancy, biodegradability, etc.) are also outlined in the section on all-purpose cleaners. 

Only biodegradation tests, preferably normative, can conclude that a given material is biodegradable, but they carmot conclude, in any case, its eco-compatibility. In an attempt to approach this, other tests must complement those that determine the biodegradability of materials, such as chemical analyses and ecotoxicity studies. This is the focus of other norms based on those devoted to studying biodegradability and are supplemented by new tests. Thus, we answer the question posed in the article title in fact, biodegradabihty tests are ultimately only part of certification standards, whether this may be NF EN 13432, or NF U 52001 or all other equivalent norms. 

As described above, esterquats differ structurally from DTDMACs by the presence of ester linkages in the alkyl chains. These linkages allow a rapid and complete biodegradation of esterquats. For example, DEEDMACs reached about 80% CO2 evolution in the modified Sturm test. With respect to the other criteria, DEEDMACs can be classified as readily biodegradable. In addition, a rapid and high anaerobic biodegradability of DEEDMACs was found (22). Similar results were reported from biodegradation tests with esterquats, DEQs and DTIEs. There was almost a complete mineralization and stable metabolites were not formed. 

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