Citation:
Wagland, S.T., Godley, A.R., Frederickson, J., Tyrrel, S.F. and Smith, R. Comparison of a novel enzymatic hydrolysis test method with microbial degradation methods. Communications in Waste and Resource Management, 2008, Vol 9(3), pp80-86
Abstract:
A novel enzymatic hydrolysis test (EHT) has been evaluated as a surrogate for
conventional microbial biodegradability methods, using 37 assorted organic waste
samples collected from diverse sources. The results of the EHT method are
compared with those obtained from two conventional tests; the 4 day aerobic DR4
and 100 day anaerobic BM100 test methods currently applied in England and Wales.
The EHT is based on the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic materials and can be
completed in less than 24 hours. Linear regression for 37 samples against the
BM100 data showed the DR4 provided a correlation coefficient of r = 0.58; the
EHT method gave a correlation of r = 0.62 for the total DOC release; and r =
0.77 for the DOC released from enzymatic hydrolysis. The correlations suggest
that the EHT method may be better suited to a wider range of waste types when
correlating with anaerobic BM100 test results since it more closely mimics the
full extent of decomposition rather than that from the readily biodegradable
fraction.
