Something that is biodegradable breaks down or decays naturally without any special scientific treatment, and can therefore be thrown away without causing pollution. a natural and totally biodegradable plastic. materials, chemicals etc that are biodegradable are changed naturally by bacteria into substances that do not harm the environment non biodegradable
when a substance is able to be broken down by microorganisms into basic elements like carbon dioxide and water (See "decompose ")
Able to be broken into simpler chemical compounds by microorganisms Organic materials are biodegradable
the term given to a substance that can be broken down, i e biodegrades, by the natural processes of decomposition Top
The ability of a substance to be broken down physically and/or chemically by natural biological processes, such as by being digested by bacteria or fungi
A product that has the ability to break down, safely and relatively quickly, by biological means, into the raw materials of nature These products can be solids which break down into soil (composting)), or liquids which break down into water For example, biodegradable plastic is intended to break up when exposed to microorganisms (a natural ingredient such as cornstarch or vegetable oil is added to achieve this result) -
Capable of being broken down by micro-organisms which utilise the substance as a source of energy and bring about its destruction Usually referred to biological processes in soil, water, sewage but also to man-made organic compounds such as pesticides
waste material composed primarily of naturally-occurring constituent parts, able to be broken down and absorbed into the ecosystem Wood, for example, is biodegradable, for example, while plastics are not
capable of being broken down by living organisms, principally bacteria and fungi [return to top]
(biodégradable) Capable of being broken down by living organisms into inorganic compounds
Capable of being decomposed by biological means (e g metabolic processing by microorganisms)
adj: Able to be broken down into simpler substances (elements and compounds) by naturally occuring decomposers Essentially, anything that can be ingested by an organism without causing that organism harm 2 Nontoxic and able to be decomposed in relatively short period even on a human time scale
material are any organic material that can be broken down by microorganisms into simpler, more stable compounds Most organic waste such as foods, paper, etc are biodegradable
Capable of being broken down by microorganisms Breakdown products can often be re-used by other organisms as food and energy sources
Organic materials such as food scraps, paper and grass clippings that are capable of being broken down by microorganisms into simple compounds such as carbon dioxide, water or minerals
measured by mixing the product with seawater in a closed container and monitoring oxygen depletion over time As the product is degraded by seawater organisms, carbon is converted to CO2, and oxygen concentration declines "Ready biodegradability," our goal, applies to products that degrade by 60% within 28 days
the susceptibility of a substance to decomposition by microorganisms; specifically, the rate at which compounds may be chemically broken down by bacteria and/or natural environmental factors
Capacity of a material to decompose by biological action. The term usually refers to the environmental breakdown of waste by microorganisms. Generally, plant and animal products are biodegradable, whereas mineral substances (e.g., metals, glass, plastics) are not. Local conditions, especially the presence or absence of oxygen, affect biodegradability. Disposal of nonbiodegradable waste is a primary source of pollution. Surgical materials made to be absorbed by the body are also called biodegradable
The chemical breakdown of materials by living organisms in the environment The process depends on certain microorganisms, such as bacteria, yeast, and fungi, which break down molecules for sustenance Certain chemical structures are more susceptible to microbial breakdown than others; vegetable oils, for example, will biodegrade more rapidly than petroleum oils Most petroleum products typically will completely biodegrade in the environment within two months to two years
1) The reduction in concentration of a chemical or physical agent through naturally occurring microbial activity 2) The process of an organic molecule becoming transformed by biological means