Biodegradability of Packaging Materials: Quantitative Evaluation by an Automated Respirometric Method Applied to their Insoluble Constituents as Starch
✍ Scribed by H. Derradji; G. Bureau; Y. Couturier
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1996
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 976 KB
- Volume
- 9
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0894-3214
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✦ Synopsis
An automated headspace method t o measure the C 0 2 evolved is described and developed into a biodegradation test procedure for insoluble substrates. The test system consists of a bioreactor with a working volume o f 1.51, fitted with temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen partial pressure control. These parameters enable us t o work a t t h e optimal growth conditions for Bacillus amylolicheniformis MIR-41. The study was carried out under continuous aerated conditions a t 0.5 and 1.Ov.v.m. Glucose was used as a reference compound because it is completely assimilated by Bacillus amylolicheniformis MIR-41. The percentage o f carbon converted into C 0 2 was the parameter used to determine t h e optimal aeration conditions f o r the biodegradability of wheat starch, a possible packaging material component. The present method was adapted t o insoluble substrates at high concentrations for the first time. The reliability of this method was tested by simultaneous measurement o f the biomass produced. The carbon content of the biomass is closely correlated with t h e carbon of the evolved COz. It was also found that production of a-amylase was correlated with C02 evolution during exponential growth. Finally, these study validates C02 measurement as an assessment o f t h e extent of biodegradation o f insoluble substrates, even at high concentrations.