Table 6 Ready biodegradability and simulation test conditions related to the relevance and stringency of the outcome

Test temperature

20–25 ℃

12 ℃

Inoculum source

Activated sludge/sewage effluent/mixture of soil and surface water

Environmental samples of soil, sediment, or water

Inoculum concentration

10⁴–10⁸ cells/l

Highly variable (based on environmental sample)

Test substance concentration

2 to > 100 mg/l

 < 1–10 μg/l (for OECD 309)

Test substance metabolism

Sole carbon source

Not the primary substrate, allowing for competing substrates and co-metabolism

Kinetics

Growth linked

First order or biphasic