The most comprehensive approach to biodegradation studies in the industry
Ready Biodegradation Testing:
Ready Biodegradation Testing determines if a compound rapidly biodegrades to carbon dioxide in the environment - whether it be a waste water treatment facility, a receiving water body or a field of crops. The criteria needed to meet the status of ‘Ready Biodegradability” according to the OECD 301 Guideline Series is a compound that converts to 60% CO2 within a 10-day window of reaching 10% biodegradation inside a 28-day study. Smithers provides a full suite of Ready Biodegradation Tests including:
Inherent and simulation biodegradation research in activated sludge
For compounds that do not pass ready biodegradability standard, inherent biodegradability testing is performed to further investigate any environmental degradation pathway. Smithers provides standard OECD 302 inherent biodegradability testing and the activated sludge simulation test under the OECD 303A Guideline using the porous pot test design as well as the more current OECD 314B: Biodegradation in Activated Sludge
The OECD 314B design uses an increased inoculum density similar to that found in most waste water treatment facilities and also recommends using radiolabeled test substances to facilitate lower detection limits.
Biodegradation in Seawater
Seawater biodegradation studies can be conducted with local coastal waters collected either from the Massachusetts south coast which catches the warmer seas from the Gulf Stream or collected from the Massachusetts Cape Cod Bay which catches the cooler seas from Canada. Both test designs described in the OECD 306 Guideline and are conducted in our Wareham, MA facility.
The EFSA guidance document on the impact of water treatment processes on residues of active substances or their metabolites in water abstracted for the production of drinking water covers the identification and exposure assessment of transformation products (TPs) of Biocidal and Plant Protection Products (PPPs) using experimental and in silico methods. Smithers scientists can conduct studies using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRAM) with (U)HPLC to perform non-targeted identification, using available tools such as instrument automation and software interrogation on samples derived from water treatment processes.
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