The eutrophication potential EP can be calculated for any compound that contains only C, H, N, and O, according to the following equation:

 

EP = \({(V / mw) \over (V_{ref} / mw_{ref})}\)

 

V = P + \({N \over 16}\) + \({ThOD \over 138}\)

 

ThOD = C + \({H - 3N \over 4}\) - \({O \over 2}\)

 

where :

The equation for eutrophication potential was obtained from:

 

J. B. Guinee. Handbook on life cycle assessment: operational guide to the ISO standards. Springer, 2004. (ISBN 9781280608483)

 

The relevant equations are on page 607. They require knowledge of chemical oxygen demand, which we substituted with theoretical oxygen demand. Theoretical oxygen demand was calculated using the equation found in 10.1016/S0043-1354(98)00231-0