BPC® Blue
BPC® Blue helps laboratories determine the aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability of plastics, polymers, packaging materials and organic substances. The system supports compost related workflows and combines automated respirometric measurement, real time biodegradability calculation and browser based data handling.
- Aerobic and anaerobic workflows
- 9 or 18 channels
- Compostability testing
A clearer way to study biodegradation and compostability
BPC® Blue is designed for laboratories that need to evaluate how materials break down under controlled aerobic and anaerobic conditions. It helps users compare samples, follow biodegradation over time and reduce manual handling in routine and research based testing.
In aerobic workflows, BPC® Blue follows biodegradation through oxygen demand using a closed respirometer setup. In anaerobic workflows, it monitors gas production under oxygen free conditions. For compostability related studies, the system can support controlled compost and home compost related workflows depending on the selected setup and method.
Aerobic, anaerobic or composting
Choose the configuration that fits your test setup.
9 or 18 channels
Run samples, controls and replicates in parallel.
Aurora™ included
Set up, monitor and export data in the browser.
Features
Real time biodegradation data
Calculate and review biodegradability as the experiment progresses.
Parallel testing
Run samples, blanks, controls and replicates across 9 or 18 channels.
Browser based software
Use Aurora™ to set up, monitor, store and export experiment data in the browser.
Modular maintenance
The modular design makes it easier to exchange many parts without sending the full system for service.
Controlled incubation and mixing
Maintain stable test conditions with thermostatic incubation and adjustable mechanical agitation.
Easy data export
Export experiment data as spreadsheet files with a uniform time axis for further analysis and reporting.
Compostability workflows
Evaluate biodegradation behaviour under controlled composting or home composting related conditions, depending on method and setup.
Automated compensation
Real time pressure, temperature and moisture compensation helps normalise gas volume and flow data to standard conditions.
Why choose BPC Blue?
Built for material biodegradability testing
BPC® Blue is designed for laboratories working with plastics, polymers, packaging materials, chemicals and organic substances in biodegradability and compostability studies.
Configurations for different workflows
Choose BPC® Blue Aerobic for aerobic testing, BPC® Blue Anaerobic for anaerobic testing or BPC® Blue Premium for laboratories that need both.
Less manual work
After experiment preparation and setup, BPC® Blue automates measurement, data recording and biodegradability calculation throughout the test period.
Structured data handling
Test settings, measurement data and exported results are handled in one workflow through Aurora™ software.
Flexible incubation options
BPC® Blue can be used with a thermostatic water bath or paired with BPC® Air for controlled air incubation, including lower temperatures.
Anaerobic Biodegradability Protocols
ISO 14853:2016
Anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in an aqueous system
ISO 13975:2019
Anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in controlled slurry digestion systems
ISO 15985:2004
Anaerobic biodegradation and disintegration under high-solids anaerobic digestion conditions
ISO 11734:1995
Anaerobic biodegradability of organic compounds in digested sludge
ASTM D5511-18
Anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under high-solids anaerobic digestion
ASTM D5210-92
Anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in the presence of municipal sewage sludge
ASTM D5526-18
Anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under accelerated landfill conditions
OECD Guidelines 311
Anaerobic biodegradability of organic compounds in digested sludge
Aerobic Biodegradability Protocols
ISO 14851:2019
Aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in an aqueous system
ISO 17556:2019
Aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in soil
ISO 18830:2016
Aerobic biodegradation of non-floating plastic materials in a seawater/sandy sediment interface
ISO 22404:2019
Aerobic biodegradation of non-floating materials exposed to marine sediment
ISO 19679:2020
Aerobic biodegradation of non-floating materials exposed to marine sediment
ISO 14852:2018
Aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous medium
ISO 23977-1:2020
Determination of aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials exposed to seawater — Part 1
ISO 23977-2:2020
Determination of aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials exposed to seawater — Part 2
OECD 301C & F
Ready biodegradability of chemical materials in aerobic aqueous medium
Compostability Protocols
ISO 14855-1:2012
Aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting thermophilic conditions
ASTM D5338-15 (2021)
Aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions, incorporating thermophilic temperatures
AS 5810-2010
Biodegradable plastics suitable for home composting
Get a quote
within 48 hours
Request a quote from our sales team for BPC® Blue or other respirometry systems. Share your application, expected sample throughput and the type of gas measurement you need. Our product specialists can help you choose the right BPC® Blue configuration and suitable accessories for your laboratory.
Powering leading teams globally
Aurora™ Software inlcuded
Aurora™ is the experiment software included with BPC® Blue. It is accessed through a web browser and gives users a clear way to set up tests, follow biodegradation progress, store data and export results without installing software on an external computer.
For aerobic workflows, Aurora™ uses oxygen consumption measurements to calculate biodegradability in real time. For anaerobic workflows, it helps users monitor gas production and review how anaerobic biodegradation occurs throughout the test period.
- Experiment setup in the browser
- Real time biodegradability calculation
- Local data storage on the instrument
- Spreadsheet export for further analysis
- Remote access from computer, tablet or smartphone
Choose the configuration that suits your workflow
Choose your incubation setup
BPC® Blue can be used with either a thermostatic water bath or BPC® Air, depending on your laboratory setup, test duration and preferred incubation method.
BPC® Air
BPC® Air is an air based incubation unit for BPC respirometer systems, including BPC® Blue. It provides both cooling and heating from 10 to 60 °C and can be configured for aerobic and anaerobic workflows.
By using air as the heating and cooling medium, BPC® Air removes the need for water refills during operation. Its floor standing design with wheels also makes it easier to position and move in the laboratory.
Thermostatic water bath
The thermostatic water bath is the traditional incubation setup for BPC® Blue workflows. It provides water based temperature control and remains a suitable option for laboratories that already work with this type of configuration or prefer water based incubation.
Technical Specifications
Incubation unit (Thermostatic water bath)
The sample incubation unit keeps reactors at a controlled temperature during testing, with optional mechanical stirring for consistent sample mixing. It supports 9 or 18 reactors and is available with different reactor volumes to match the needs of each experiment. Not included with BPC® Air configurations.
Maximum number of reactors per system
18 or 9
Reactor material
Glass
Standard reactor volume
1000 mL (with option for 500 mL) and 2000 mL
Type
Thermostatic water bath
Dimensions
56 x 68 x 32 cm
Temperature control
Up to 60 °C (203 °F) with a precision of 0.2 °C
Mixing in the reactor
mechanical agitation with brushless DC motors (adjustable interval, speed and rotation directions), max. speed 200 rpm
Power supply
–
Incubation unit (BPC® Air)
BPC® Air is a dedicated incubation unit for BPC respirometer systems, including BPC® Blue. It uses air as the heating and cooling medium, with a temperature range of 10 to 60 °C, which makes it suitable for both aerobic and anaerobic BPC® Blue workflows.
Unlike a traditional water bath, BPC® Air requires no water refills during operation. It also has a floor standing design with wheels, so it can be moved and positioned more freely in the laboratory.
Maximum number of reactors per system
18 or 9
Standard reactor volume
1000 mL (with option for 500 mL) and 2000 mL
Type
Air to air incubation
Dimensions
117 x 77 x 90 cm (182 with tubing rack)
Weight
51.6 kg
Temperature control
10-60 oC
Mixing in the reactor
mechanical agitation with brushless DC motors (adjustable interval, speed and rotation directions), max. speed 200 rpm
Power supply
100-240 V & 50-60 Hz
Noise level
87.1 dBA / 86.2. dBC
Housing
Stainless steel, compact laminate and plastic
Operating humidity:
10-90 % RH non-condensing
Aerobic configuration
The aerobic configuration uses in situ gas absorption attachments to create a closed respirometer setup for oxygen demand measurement. CO₂ is absorbed during the test, allowing BPC® Blue to follow aerobic biodegradation as the experiment progresses. Only included with Premium or Aerobic configurations.
*Absorption liquid is not included with the instrument
Gas bag quantity and type
3 x 20 L
In-situ gas absorption attachments
18 or 9
Volume of in-situ gas absorption attachment
100 mL
Dimensions
Recommended absorption liquid*
3 M NaOH with pH indicator* Absorption efficiency: >98%
Detection unit
The detection unit records gas production from up to 18 channels using liquid displacement and buoyancy. Built-in sensors and onboard electronics support stable, automated measurement, with data accessed via Aurora™ software for monitoring, analysis and export.
Working principle
Liquid displacement and buoyancy
Number of flow cell units
18 or 9
Dimension of unit
55 x 19 x 17 cm
Housing
Aluminium and plastic
Built-in sensors
Temperature, Pressure, Hall, Accelerometer
Connections
Up to 60 °C (203 °F) with a precision of 0.2 °C
Display
OLED 2.8” 256 x 64 white
Power supply
12 V DC / 1.0 A with 100-240 VAC
Measurement medium
Deionised or distilled water
Operation temperature
0 – 50o C
Operation pressure
-50 – 50 mbar
Gas connector diameter
ID: 2.4 – 2.6 mm; OD: 4.2-4.7 mm
Recommended tubing size
ID: 4 mm; OD: 6 mm
Measuring resolution
9 mL (standard) with 2 mL as option
Detection capacity
10 million data points
Measuring range
1 to 6000 mL/h for 9 ml flow cell and 0.2 to 1500 mL/h
Repeatability
CV ≤ 1% for 9 ml flow cell and CV ≤ 3% for 2 ml flow cell
Gases
Non aggressive gases (e.g. CH4 , CO2 , H2 , N2 ,…)
Downloads
Download product brochures and comparison documents.
Looking for manuals or other technical documentation?
You can find them in BPC Academy, our customer resource and training centre.
13 MB
Related spare parts
-
Aerobic Standard Maintenance Package
Recommended price
€6 160,00 -
Anaerobic Standard Maintenance Package
Recommended price
€4 290,00 -
Brushless DC Motor Kit 18
Recommended price
€3 630,00 -
Gas Absorption Attachment (GAA) Unit, Package 5
Recommended price
€495,00
Common questions about BPC® Blue
Find answers to common questions about BPC® Blue configurations, aerobic and anaerobic workflows, compostability testing, incubation options and data handling.
What is BPC® Blue used for?
BPC® Blue is used for aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability analysis of materials such as plastics, polymers, packaging materials, chemicals and organic substances. It can also support compostability related workflows depending on method, configuration and test setup.
What is the difference between BPC® Blue Aerobic, Anaerobic and Premium?
BPC® Blue Aerobic is used for aerobic biodegradability tests based on oxygen demand measurement. BPC® Blue Anaerobic is used for anaerobic biodegradability tests based on gas production. BPC® Blue Premium supports laboratories that need both aerobic and anaerobic workflows.
Which biodegradability standards can BPC® Blue support?
BPC Blue supports workflows based on several ISO, ASTM, AS and OECD methods for aerobic biodegradability, anaerobic biodegradability and compostability testing. Examples include ISO 14851, ISO 14853, ISO 14855, ISO 17556, ISO 15985, ASTM D5338, ASTM D5511, ASTM D5526, AS 5810, OECD 301 and OECD 311.
Does BPC® Blue measure CO₂?
In aerobic workflows, BPC® Blue is not positioned as a CO₂ measurement system. It follows biodegradation through oxygen demand (consumption) in a closed respirometer setup, where CO₂ is absorbed in situ. In anaerobic workflows, the system monitors gas production from oxygen free biodegradation tests.
Can BPC® Blue be used for compostability testing?
Yes. BPC® Blue can support compostability related workflows, including controlled composting and home composting related test setups depending on the selected method and configuration.
Can BPC® Blue be used for both aerobic and anaerobic testing?
Yes. BPC® Blue Premium is designed for laboratories that need both aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability workflows.
How many measurement channels are available?
BPC® Blue is available in 18 channel Standard versions and 9 channel Light versions.
What incubation options are available?
BPC® Blue can be used with a thermostatic water bath or with BPC® Air. BPC® Air is an incubation unit for controlled temperature conditions.
When should I choose BPC® Air?
BPC® Air is a good option for laboratories that want a dedicated incubator for controlled temperature conditions, especially during long running biodegradability or compostability tests, or for protocols where room temperature or lower temperatures are required.
Does BPC® Blue require an software installation on an external computer?
No. BPC® Blue has embedded software and local data storage. Aurora™ is accessed through a web browser, so no software installation on an external computer is required.
Scientific References
-
Changes in physical properties of growing media constituents according to biodegradation
Durand, S., Michel, J.-C.Frontiers in Horticulture (2026) 5
BiodegradabilityJournal article2026 -
Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Algal Bioplastics and Polylactic Acid
Lin, M.-Y., Colwell, R. D., Campbell, I. R., Liao, K., Roumeli, E.ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering (2026) 14:4
Biodegradability, BioplasticsJournal article2026 -
Lignin-Sourced Aromatics for Biodegradable Flexible Copolyesters Mimicking Poly(Butylene Adipate-co- Terephthalate)
Nguyen, T. T., Gonzalez, M. N. G., Engqvist, J., Wahlberg, J. Liu, G., Liu, J., Jannasch, P., Zhang, B. ChemSusChem (2025) 18
BiodegradabilityJournal article2025
Talk to a an expert about BPC® Blue
Share your material type, test method, sample throughput and whether your workflow is aerobic, anaerobic or both. Our product specialists can help you choose the right BPC® Blue configuration, incubation setup and accessories.
"*" indicates required fields