scope:

This International Standard specifies a method for determining the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in soil by measuring the oxygen demand in a closed respirometer or the amount of carbon dioxide evolved. The method is designed to yield an optimum degree of biodegradation by adjusting the humidity of the test soil. If a non-adapted soil is used as an inoculum, the test simulates the biodegradation processes which take place in a natural soil environment; if a pre-exposed soil is used, the method can be used to investigate the potential biodegradability of a test material.