Biogas, biodegradability and compostability protocols
Explore summaries and application notes for widely used VDI, ISO, ASTM and OECD protocols covering biogas, biodegradability and compostability testing. Compare methods by test environment, material type and measurement principle, and see how BPC instruments can be configured for each workflow.
Biogas Protocols
VDI 4630 (2016)
Fermentation of organic materials – characterisation of the substrate, sampling, collection of material data, fermentation tests.
Biochemical methane potential (BMP)
Anaerobic batch fermentation assay for the evaluation of biogas and biomethane yield
Specific methanogenic activity (SMA)
Assessment of the methane production capability of a sludge and the performance of operational conditions
Residual gas potential (RGP)
Evaluation of the remaining biogas production capacity and methane emissions
Anaerobic Biodegradability Protocols
ISO 14853:2016
Anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in an aqueous system
ISO 13975:2019
Anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in controlled slurry digestion systems
ISO 15985:2004
Anaerobic biodegradation and disintegration under high-solids anaerobic digestion conditions
ISO 11734:1995
Anaerobic biodegradability of organic compounds in digested sludge
ASTM D5511-18
Anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under high-solids anaerobic digestion
ASTM D5210-92
Anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in the presence of municipal sewage sludge
ASTM D5526-18
Anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under accelerated landfill conditions
OECD Guidelines 311
Anaerobic biodegradability of organic compounds in digested sludge
Aerobic Biodegradability Protocols
ISO 14851:2019
Aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in an aqueous system
ISO 17556:2019
Aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in soil
ISO 18830:2016
Aerobic biodegradation of non-floating plastic materials in a seawater/sandy sediment interface
ISO 22404:2019
Aerobic biodegradation of non-floating materials exposed to marine sediment
ISO 19679:2020
Aerobic biodegradation of non-floating materials exposed to marine sediment
ISO 14852:2018
Aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous medium
ISO 23977-1:2020
Determination of aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials exposed to seawater — Part 1
ISO 23977-2:2020
Determination of aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials exposed to seawater — Part 2
OECD 301C & F
Ready biodegradability of chemical materials in aerobic aqueous medium
Compostability Protocols
ISO 14855-1:2012
Aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting thermophilic conditions
ASTM D5338-15 (2021)
Aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions, incorporating thermophilic temperatures
ASTM D5929-18
Aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled mesophilic composting conditions
AS 5810-2010
Biodegradable plastics suitable for home composting