Biodegradability is at the heart of environmental issues, especially when assessing the risks linked to chemical substances. But the tests used to evaluate these substances’ biodegradation are complicated and time-consuming. The collaborative project Evabio has come up with a methodological and technological breakthrough solution that aims to use automated measurement equipment to facilitate biodegradation assessment. The University of Nantes was involved in the project and collaborated with CAPACITÉS to develop the equipment.
Key words
Linked expertises
Developing an automated device for measuring the biodegradation of chemical substances
Following encouragement from Tronico in 2014, the University of Nantes (GEPEA laboratory), L’Oréal and CAPACITÉS have made innovations in evaluating biodegradability. The collaborative project, called Evabio, aims to make assessing the biodegradation of chemical substances easier by using an automated measuring device.
CAPACITÉS’ role as an engineering affiliate of the University of Nantes was to develop the prototype of the bioreactor designed and manufactured by Tronico. It also had to account for technical issues, including durability, airtightness, and signal transmission.
The experts on this collaborative project defined the built-in sensors on the automated device and then tested and
approved their ability to support real working conditions and carry out different measurements (pressure, temperature, O2, CO2, etc.). Digital simulations of certain parameters completed these tests.
The research conducted resulted in a prototype that complied with project expectations; the apparatus developed can simultaneously measure up to 24 reactions of biodegradation in chemical substances, and the measurements are entirely automated.
To successfully complete this project, the CAPACITÉS’ experts benefited from support and technical equipment from the GEPEA laboratory, joint research unit of the University of Nantes, Oniris, IMT Atlantic and CNRS (The French National Centre for Scientific Research).
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The client concerned is a leading player in the specialty ingredients sector for health and beauty. In 2019, it reaffirmed its confidence in Capacités and the GEPEA laboratory by requesting that their teams assess a new polymer’s ecotoxicity.
L’Oréal called upon the experts at the GEPEA Laboratory and Capacités in order to assist in bridging this methodological gap. The resulting new process has served to assist L’Oréal in developing methods for evaluating the biodegradability of their products, thus allowing them to better adhere to the strict regulatory requirements.
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