Review of experimental approaches and analytical methods for biodegradability and persistence assessment

CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS

A global consortium wanted to better understand the current methods used for the biodegradation and persistence assessment of water-soluble polymers (WSP), a common ingredient used in cosmetics. These polymers often end up released into natural environments, raising concerns about their environmental persistence and sustainability. Current biodegradation assessment frameworks have not been designed for WSP, so may not adequately address the unique challenges posed by polymers.  The client asked Ricardo to evaluate the current methods used for WSP under existing persistence frameworks.

RICARDO SOLUTION

Ricardo worked with the collaborators in industry and academia to investigate the suitability of existing methods for the assessment of WSP persistence. The approach included a review of available methods, literature on the persistence of polymers, and an assessment of the unique challenges associated with polymers. Novel methods were tested for WSP to see if some test modifications could ensure higher accuracy and relevance for WSP persistence assessments.

CUSTOMER BENEFIT

The customer will receive a report outlining the problems associated with WSP persistence assessment under current test guidelines and recommendations for test modifications to make persistence testing applicable to WSPs, and a detailed explanation of the future directions of polymer assessment. The results of the research will be published in a peer-review paper, raising awareness about the knowledge gaps of polymer testing and suggesting alternatives for more accurate persistence assessment frameworks.