MATERIALS | TESTING
produce large data sets that can then be used to develop artificial intelligence (AI)-driven modeling. “High-throughput testing will enable companies to design for biodegradability,” said Deconinck.
AI for biodegradability AI and machine learning are increasingly being used in materials discovery, where “in silico” models are used in place of lab experiments for initial screening of different polymer types to save time and cost in early research and development. Ohio-based start-up Aropha has developed
The ArophaAI model predicts the entire biodegradation curve. In this case, 91.6% biodegradation was predicted to be achieved in 180 days, which meets passing requirements Source: Aropha
sation. TÜV Austria can award the Seedling logo and the organisation’s OK Compost Industrial or Home labels.
Trends in testing Testing service provider Normec OWS sees increasing interest in home compostability testing and more requests for soil, freshwater and marine biodegradability testing. “While companies understand that in the real world, environmental conditions are highly variable and cannot be perfectly approximated by any one set of labora- tory conditions, they are still curious to understand how their bioplastics would perform if it were littered,” said Mahya Wood, North American Technical Sales Officer at Normec OWS. An evolution in the market is the desire to bring these end-of-life considerations to the beginning of product development rather than only testing after the product is designed, said Sam Deconinck, Business Development Director at Normec OWS. Because biodegradability tests are time-consuming and expensive, however, there is a need for new test methods. Normec OWS is meeting this need by introducing a High-Throughput Screening platform to accelerate R&D, with two pre-screening tests being launched in Q2 2025 and additional tests under development. The first test uses proprietary enzyme technol- ogy to amplify early biodegradation stages and predict product behavior. This accelerated method gives results in a few hours and can be used in early R&D to identify candidates for further devel- opment. The second test is a miniaturised, high- throughput biodegradation test and allows for analysing dozens of samples simultaneously under diverse environmental conditions. Both methods
44 COMPOUNDING WORLD | March 2025
ArophaAI, an advanced quantitative structure/ activity relationship (QSAR) model that the com- pany uses to predict material properties, including biodegradability and compostability, with an intent to expand into ecotoxicity. For example, a commer- cial PLA homopolymer was examined using ArophaAI with the parameters of ISO 14855, which is a standard test method for testing materials under industrial composting conditions. The polymer was predicted to achieve more than 90% biodegradation in 180 days. Some testing has shown that the predictive model generated results that were accurate compared to results generated later in the lab. “As we continue to further integrate our predic- tive models into our lab, we also aim to produce true digital twins that update predicted results as lab measurements are received throughout testing. This can provide a path to even quicker experimen- tal screening,” said Travis Johnston, Co-founder and CEO of Aropha.
Although the model can be used for screening, physical testing of actual parts is required to confirm the results and to provide certification. Aropha has an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited laboratory that performs tests according to national and international standards for biodegradation, compostability, and ecotoxicity (eg ASTM, ISO, OECD, and EN methods or specifications). “We are also coordinating with certification and ecolabel bodies in the compostability space to enhance how our customers can use our results,” said Johnston.
US centre In 2023, BASF opened a North American Biodegra- dability & Microplastics Center of Excellence in Wyandotte, MI that supports BASF’s customers with scientific studies and consulting. The new lab is supporting biodegradable product development in a range of industries, including compostable products for food service and packaging, which can be used to help divert organic waste from landfills. “The lab is an important tool, which enables us
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