Effect of Incubation Time of Activated Vermiculite on the Biodegradation of Microcrystalline Cellulose

This study examined the impact of the preparation method and incubation time of activated vermiculite on the biodegradation of microcrystalline cellulose. Vermiculite was pre-incubated for 1–4 days using compost extract or a commercial organic fermentation agent before use as inoculum. Results showed highest percentage biodegradation (64.9%) after 15 days with 1-day pre-incubation using compost extract. With the commercial agent, the highest rate (45.3%) was achieved after 3 days. The study provided insights into optimizing vermiculite preparation for reliable biodegradation tests, indicating the need to distinguish validity criteria for vermiculite and compost inoculum.