Initial ratings and photos of newly unwrapped 2-ply square toilet paper coupons. The toilet paper coupons were immersed in a solution, either a product/autoclaved minimal media or a control of Deionized (DI) water/ autoclaved minimal media mixture, and incubated at 30°C for 240 hours (10 days). Three evaluators rated the visual degradation at 0hr, 24 hr, 48hr, 144hr, 192hr, and 240hr after shaking the flasks manually for five seconds at each time point using the following rating key:
| Rating
|
Description
|
| 1
|
Completely degraded
|
| 2
|
Mostly degraded
|
| 3
|
Partially degraded
|
| 4
|
Slight degradation
|
| 5
|
No degradation
|
Protocol for 1L of Minimal Media:
- 7.50 g Bacto peptone media
- 3.27g Bushnell Hass Broth
- 1 Liter DI Water
Over the span of 240 hours (10 days), the Instant Power RV & Marine Holding Tank Treatment increased in turbidity and the degraded toilet paper became black. Similar in turbidity and toilet paper color, the Instant Power Septic Shock and Roebic K-37 Septic Treatment were both visibly degraded by 240 hours. The Roebic RV & Marine Holding Tank Treatment degraded only a little more than the control and was not as cloudy as the other products or control after 192 hours.
Instant Power RV & Marine Holding Tank Treatment
| Hour
|
Evaluation Ratings
|
Average Rating
|
| 0
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
| 24
|
5
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
4.7
|
| 48
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
| 144
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
| 192
|
2
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
2.3
|
| 240
|
1.5
|
2
|
2
|
1.8
|
Roebic RV & Marine Holding Tank Treatment
| Hour
|
Evaluation Ratings
|
Average Rating
|
| 0
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
| 24
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
| 48
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
| 144
|
3.5
|
3.5
|
3.5
|
3.5
|
| 192
|
3.5
|
3.5
|
3.5
|
3.5
|
| 240
|
3.5
|
3.5
|
3.5
|
3.5
|
Instant Power Septic Shock
| Hour
|
Evaluation Ratings
|
Average Rating
|
| 0
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
| 24
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
| 48
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
| 144
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
2
|
1.7
|
| 192
|
1
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
1.3
|
| 240
|
1
|
1
|
1.5
|
1.2
|
Roebic K-37 Septic Treatment
| Hour
|
Evaluation Ratings
|
Average Rating
|
| 0
|
4.5
|
5
|
5
|
4.8
|
| 24
|
3.5
|
4
|
4
|
3.8
|
| 48
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
| 144
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
| 192
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
| 240
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
Control (DI Water/Minimal Media)
| Hour
|
Evaluation Ratings
|
Average Rating
|
| 0
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
| 24
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
| 48
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
| 144
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
| 192
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
| 240
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
Overall, the product with the best 2-ply toilet paper degradation after 240 hours was the Instant Power Septic Shock (1.2), the Roebic K-37 Septic Treatment came in second (1.5), and the Instant Power RV & Marine Holding Tank Treatment (1.8) in third. The least effective product at degrading the 2-ply toilet paper was the Roebic RV & marine Holding Tank Treatment (3.5).