2006-12-04 21:06:40 · 9 answers · asked by gil g 1 in Environment
Biodegradation is the process by which organic substances are broken down by other living organisms. The term is often used in relation to ecology, waste management, environmental remediation (bioremediation) and to plastic materials, due to their long life span. Organic material can be degraded aerobically, with oxygen, or anaerobically, without oxygen. A term related to biodegradation is biomineralisation, in which organic matter is converted to into minerals.
Biodegradable matter is generally organic material such as plant & animal matter and other substances originating from living organisms.
You could get more information from the link below...
2006-12-04 21:12:08 · answer #1 · answered by catzpaw 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As you can see from the answers given, except as "breaks down over some time period under some conditions" biodegradable has no meaning. Several responders said "plastic" is not biodegradable (mostly true by most definitions), yet companies sell biodegradable plastic and much research is being done in that area. The definition is all in the eye of the teller and the beholder. Many chemicals are called very biodegradable when they break down in 30 days. In the meantime, they can be toxic to life in a river within 24 hours. When you see the term, look how it is being used and the circumstances.
The reference given will discuss Ready biodegradability, Rapid biodegradability, and Inherent biodegradability. There is also 5-day, 30-day, and ulimate biodegradability. There is aerobic, anaerobic, extended, and oxidative biodegradability. As a single word, there is no meaning for biodegradability. Even plastic will have an "ultimate" biodegradability. You have to dig deeper.
2006-12-05 07:48:36 · answer #2 · answered by Peter Boiter Woods 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BIODEGRADABLES is matter that recycles quickly into the ecosystem. Feces is Biodegradeable, plastic is not.
It also means that some sort of life can soon consume and process it.
Everything eventually decays.
So it's a human judgement if something is or isn't Biodegradable.
Cleaning agents that are biodegradable definitely save water pollution!!!-VERY IMPORTANT
2006-12-05 05:11:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Biodegradation is the process by which organic substances are broken down by other living organisms.
2006-12-05 05:12:21 · answer #4 · answered by Fifa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
biodegradable..that can b broken down by nature;microorganisms..it can b recycled,it is eco friendly..
2006-12-05 05:13:15 · answer #5 · answered by lUnJ@ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To put it simply material that will break down into the earth. Just rot away. Unlike some plastics that last forever.
2006-12-05 05:09:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
substances degrade into simpler forms by the action of micro-organisms. If the substances remaian as they are for a long time without the action of micro-organisms then they are non-biodegradable.biodegradable substances are eco-friendly.
2006-12-05 07:22:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
bidegradable matter can be anything that decomposes or breaks down into harmless substances such as paper, human waste and animal protein and dead bodies of animals and humans (animal protein)
2006-12-05 05:18:17 · answer #8 · answered by cutiepie_4ever 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it can be recycled
2006-12-05 05:09:49 · answer #9 · answered by piercedgal 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋