Biodegradability Test Device OxiTop

basic information

- Inexpensive screening of the biodegradability of prototypes - Compact design Multiple sets can be installed inside the incubator - Displays time-dependent changes during measurement Can be interrupted even if the test fails - Simultaneous measurement of up to 100 samples N=3 or more for each sample is desirable for accuracy management - Measurement period can be selected from 30 minutes to 180 days

Price range

Delivery Time

Applications/Examples of results

Biodegradability tests of various chemical products (biodegradable plastics, fibers, resins, rubber, paints, adhesives, functional materials, cosmetics, microbeads)

Detailed information

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  What is a biodegradability test? Biodegradation is the process of breaking down organic matter into water and carbon dioxide with the help of microorganisms. A biodegradability test examines the extent to which organic matter decomposes under certain conditions. This test is gaining attention in many fields, including the development and improvement of new products.

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  **Familiar Plastics** In daily life, plastic is a very familiar material, and due to its convenience, its production volume is high, with approximately 8 million tons flowing into the oceans worldwide each year, as announced by the Ministry of the Environment. Since July 2020, Japan has been promoting a transformation towards an environmentally conscious lifestyle, such as bringing reusable bags due to the introduction of paid plastic bags. However, there are estimates that by 2050, the weight of plastic waste in the oceans will exceed the weight of fish.

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  【Drifting and Stranding in the Marine Environment】 Due to factors such as wind, plastic that was on land can drift into rivers and the sea, or it may flow in from wastewater treatment plants where it could not be completely removed. Examples: Tire wear from asphalt and scrub materials contained in facial cleansers. Plastic drifting in rivers and the sea gradually gets broken down by ultraviolet rays from the sun and tidal currents, and those that become smaller than 5 millimeters in diameter are referred to as microplastics. Microplastics are considered difficult to collect.

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  **Impact on Marine Life** Plastic waste also has a negative impact on organisms living in the marine environment. Fishing lines and nets can become entangled around their bodies, and ingestion of plastic can lead to death. When small fish consume microplastics, and larger fish eat those small fish, a food chain is created, raising concerns about biological magnification. Additionally, there are still many unknowns regarding how not only plastic but also the chemicals added to plastic affect marine life.

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  **Impact on Humans** It is believed that fish consumed by humans also incorporate plastic into their bodies. The effects of plastic and plastic-derived chemicals being absorbed into the human body, as well as their relationship to various diseases, remain largely unexplored, and research is ongoing.

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  **What is OxiTop: Measurement Principle & Examples of Measurement** The OxiTop system uses a pressure sensor to measure the phase pressure changes (decompression) of gas in a sealed container at a constant temperature. The carbon dioxide produced during the respiration of microorganisms breaking down organic matter is absorbed by the CO2 absorbent set in the measurement system, resulting in a decrease in pressure within the container. The calculation of the oxygen uptake rate (OUR) and the generation of carbon dioxide is based on the measurement of pressure drop. There are delivery records in a wide variety of fields, including polymer materials such as resin, paints, films (Tsuchiya, Kousuke, et al., 2019), and detergents (Katam, Keerthi, et al., 2018).

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