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Biodegradation is the process by which organic substances are broken down by the enzymes produced by living organisms. An organic compound is any member of a large class of Chemical compounds whose Molecules contain Carbon. Decomposition (or spoilage) refers to the break down of tissue of a formerly living Organism into simpler forms of matter The term is often used in relation to ecology, waste management and environmental remediation (bioremediation). Ecology (from Greek grc οἶκος oikos, "house(hold" and grc -λογία -logia) is the scientific study of Waste management is the collection Transport, processing, Recycling or disposal of Waste materials See also Nature The natural environment, commonly referred to simply as the environment, is a terminology that is comprised of all living and Generally remediation means providing a Remedy, so environmental remediation deals with the removal of Pollution or Contaminants from environmental Bioremediation can be defined as any process that uses Microorganisms Fungi, green plants or their Enzymes to return the natural environment altered Organic material can be degraded aerobically, with oxygen, or anaerobically, without oxygen. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Anaerobic digestion is a series of processes in which Microorganisms break down Biodegradable material in the absence of Oxygen. A term related to biodegradation is biomineralisation, in which organic matter is converted into minerals. Biomineralisation is the process by which living organisms produce minerals often to harden or stiffen existing tissues

Biodegradable matter is generally organic material such as plant and animal matter and other substances originating from living organisms, or artificial materials that are similar enough to plant and animal matter to be put to use by microorganisms. Some microorganisms have the astonishing, naturally occurring, microbial catabolic diversity to degrade, transform or accumulate a huge range of compounds including hydrocarbons (e. A microorganism (also spelled micro organism or micro-organism and also called a microbe) is an Organism that is Microscopic (usually In Organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an Organic compound consisting entirely of Hydrogen and Carbon. g. oil), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pharmaceutical substances, radionuclides and metals. Polychlorinated biphenyls ( PCB s are a class of Organic compounds with 1 to 10 Chlorine atoms attached to Biphenyl which is a molecule composed Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAH s are Chemical compounds that consist of fused Aromatic rings and do not contain Heteroatoms or A radionuclide is an Atom with an unstable nucleus, which is a nucleus characterized by excess energy which is available to be imparted either to a newly-created Major methodological breakthroughs in microbial biodegradation have enabled detailed genomic, metagenomic, proteomic, bioinformatic and other high-throughput analyses of environmentally relevant microorganisms providing unprecedented insights into key biodegradative pathways and the ability of microorganisms to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Interest in the microbial biodegradation of Pollutants has intensified in recent years as mankind strives to find sustainable ways to cleanup contaminated environments A microorganism (also spelled micro organism or micro-organism and also called a microbe) is an Organism that is Microscopic (usually [1]

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Anaerobic biodegradation in landfill

Biodegradable waste in landfill degrades in the absence of oxygen through the process of anaerobic digestion. Biodegradable waste is a Type of waste, typically originating from Plant or Animal sources which may be broken down by other living organisms For other uses see Water treatment and Land reclamation. A landfill, also known as a dump (and historically as Anaerobic digestion is a series of processes in which Microorganisms break down Biodegradable material in the absence of Oxygen. The byproducts of this anaerobic biodegradation are biogas and lignin and cellulose fibres which cannot be broken down by anaerobes (anaerobic microbes)

Engineered landfills are designed with liners to prevent toxic leachate seeping into the surrounding soil and groundwater. See also Natural gas, Biofuel Biogas typically refers to a Gas produced by the biological breakdown of Organic matter in the An anaerobic organism is any Organism that does not require Oxygen for growth and may even die in its presence Leachate is the liquid that drains or 'leaches' from a Landfill; it varies widely in composition regarding the age of the landfill and the type of Waste that Soil, often typeset as SOiL, is a four piece rock band from Chicago Illinois United States founded by Shaun Glass Tom Schofield Tim King and Adam Zadel Paper and other materials that normally degrade in a few years degrade more slowly over longer periods of time. Biogas contains methane which has approximately 21 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. See also Natural gas, Biofuel Biogas typically refers to a Gas produced by the biological breakdown of Organic matter in the Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single In modern landfills this biogas can be collected and used for power generation. Electricity generation is the process of converting non-electrical Energy to Electricity.

Methods of measuring biodegradation

Biodegradation can be measured in a number of ways. The activity of aerobic microbes can be measured by the amount of oxygen they consume or the amount of carbon dioxide they produce. Biodegradation can be measured by anaerobic microbes and the amount of methane or alloy that they may be able to produce.

Measurement of aerobic decomposition

The DR4 test or 4-day dynamic respiration index test is a test to measure the biodegradability of a substance over 4 days. The substance is aerated by passing air through it. This definition is used to determine the method from those where aeration is by diffusion of air into and out of the test material which is referred to as the SRI or static respiration index test. [2] Microbes are introduced to the test material while incubating it under aerobic conditions by aerating the mixture in a vessel through which air is blown. The microbes degrade the material producing CO2 as the product of biodegradation. This CO2 production can be monitored as a measure of the biodegradability of the test material and converted into oxygen consumption units.

Measurement of anaerobic decomposition

BMP100 test, 100 day biogenic methane potential test, is a test method that determines the potential biodegradability of biodegradable wastes under anaerobic conditions by measuring the production of biogas. Biodegradable waste is a Type of waste, typically originating from Plant or Animal sources which may be broken down by other living organisms The test has not been peer-reviewed by the international community and no known official publication exists for it. Other published tests that accomplish this in shorter time are the GB21 protocol (DIN 38414).

Under anaerobic methanogenic conditions the decomposition of organic carbon proceeds by producing biogas (containing methane and carbon dioxide)from the organic carbon. Methanogenesis or biomethanation is the formation of Methane by Microbes known as Methanogens Organisms capable of producing methane have been The amount of biogas production therefore measures directly the carbon which is mineralised. The test is set up in a small vessel containing the test substrate, a mineral aqueous medium and an inoculum of methanogenic bacteria taken from an active anaerobic digester. Inoculation is the placement of something to where it will grow or reproduce and is most commonly used in respect of the introduction of a serum Vaccine, or antigenic substance The Bacteria ( singular: bacterium) are a large group of unicellular Microorganisms Typically a few Micrometres in length bacteria have Anaerobic digestion is a series of processes in which Microorganisms break down Biodegradable material in the absence of Oxygen. The test is monitored by collecting and measuring the biogas produced. The test is incubated for an extended period until gas production ceases which may be up to 100 days or more; for all practical purposes most organic materials reach the majority of decomposition in less than 45 days. By being run so long, however, the BMP100 test therefore measures the complete degradation of the waste.

Plastics

Biodegradable plastics made with plastarch material (PSM), and polylactide (PLA) will compost in an industrial compost facility. Biodegradable plastics are Plastics that will Decompose in the natural environment. Plastarch Material ( PSM) is a Biodegradable, Thermoplastic resin Polylactic acid or polylactide ( PLA) is a Biodegradable, Thermoplastic, Aliphatic Polyester derived from renewable resources There are other plastic materials that claim biodegradability, but are more often (and possibly more accurately) described as 'degradable' or oxi-degradable; It is claimed that this process causes more rapid breakdown of the plastic materials into CO2 and H2O.

Indicative lengths of degradation

The following table should be read with the above comments in mind, and care should be taken before accepting claims of biodegradability in view of the (dubious) claims being made. This is how long it takes for some commonly used products to biodegrade: (from http://www.worldwise.com/biodegradable.html)

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ Diaz E (editor). For the fruit see Banana. For other meanings see Banana (disambiguation. Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon printing upon or packaging A rope is a length of Fibers twisted or Braided together to improve strength for pulling and Connecting. An orange —specifically the sweet orange —is the Citrus fruit Citrus sinensis ( syn Wool is the fiber derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles of animals in the Caprinae family principally sheep, but the hair of certain species A sock is a knitted or Woven type of Hosiery garment for enclosing the human foot A cigarette ( French "small Cigar " from cigar + -ette) is a product consumed through Smoking and manufactured A cigarette filter has the purpose of reducing the amount of smoke tar, and fine particles inhaled during the Combustion of a Cigarette. Tetra Pak is a multinational Food processing and Packaging company of Swedish origin A plastic bag or pouch is a type of flexible Packaging made of thin flexible plastic film Leather is a material created through the Tanning of hides and Skins of Animals primarily Cattlehide The Tanning process A shoe is an item of Footwear. Shoes may vary from a simple Flip-flop to a complex Boot. Overview Nylon is a Thermoplastic silky material first used commercially in a nylon- Bristled Toothbrush (1938 followed more famously by Plastic is the general common term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic organic solid materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products "Nappy" redirects here For other uses see Nappy (disambiguation and Diaper (disambiguation. A sanitary towel, sanitary pad, sanitary napkin, Maxi pad ( U A tin can, also called a tin (especially in British English) or a can, is an air-tight container for the distribution or storage of A beverage can (or drinks can) is most often an Aluminum Can manufactured to hold a single serving of a Beverage. A plastic bottle is a container constructed of Plastic, with a neck that is narrower than its body and an opening at the top Styrofoam is a trademark for polystyrene Thermal insulation, a material manufactured by Dow Chemical Company. Anaerobic digestion is a series of processes in which Microorganisms break down Biodegradable material in the absence of Oxygen. Biodegradability prediction is Biologically-inspired computing and attempts to predict Biodegradability of Anthropogenic materials in the environment Polyethylene or polythene film is usually stable and resistant to degradation For information on plastics which are biodegradable see Biodegradable plastic. Bioremediation can be defined as any process that uses Microorganisms Fungi, green plants or their Enzymes to return the natural environment altered Decomposition (or spoilage) refers to the break down of tissue of a formerly living Organism into simpler forms of matter Landfill gas monitoring is the process by which gases that are released from Landfill are electronically monitored The Natural environment, commonly referred to simply as the environment, is all living and non-living things that occur naturally on Earth or some part Interest in the microbial biodegradation of Pollutants has intensified in recent years as mankind strives to find sustainable ways to cleanup contaminated environments (2008). Microbial Biodegradation: Genomics and Molecular Biology, 1st ed. , Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-17-2.  
  2. ^ Biodegradability Testing Environment Agency (2005) Guidance on monitoring MBT and other pre-treatment processes for the landfill allowances scheme (England and Wales)

Dictionary

biodegradation

-noun

  1. The decomposition of any material by microorganisms.
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