Bio-degradation assays were performed for bio-based plastics under environmentally relevant temperature between 5 and 30 °C using pH Stat titration. Suspensions of bio-based microparticles were incubated with different hydrolytic enzymes, a lipase from Candida antarctica, an esterase from Bacillus subtilis and a protease from Bacillus licheniformis. Rates of hydrolysis, as determined by counter-titration with a diluted base (NaOH), was recorded for two hours. The thermal profiles of plastic hydrolysis by all three enzymes were investigated. All measurements were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions.

The columns headings are abbreviated and mean the following. Min: Duration of the titration in minutes; ml: Volume of added NaOH. Unless otherwise specified, c = 10 mM; pH: pH value of the suspension, set to 8.2; °C: Temperature of the suspension.