biodegradability

(noun)

The capacity of a material to decompose over time as a result of biological activity, especially to be broken down by microorganisms

Related Terms

  • fermentation
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates

Examples of biodegradability in the following topics:

  • Petroleum Biodegradation

    • Biodegradation is the process in which living organisms, most often microorganisms, break down material into simpler components.
    • Oil tarballs are biodegraded slowly by species from the genera Chromobacterium, Micrococcus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Candida, Saccharomyces and others.
  • Aerobic Hydrocarbon Oxidation

    • Understanding how microbes digest hydrocarbons has started the field of microbial biodegradation, a type of bioremediation.
    • The use of chemicals for the treatment of a hydrocarbon polluted site may contaminate the environment with their by-products, whereas biological treatment may efficiently destroy pollutants, while being biodegradable themselves.
  • Bacterial Polyesters

    • These plastics are biodegradeable and are used in the production of bioplastics.
    • There are also applications for PHA produced by micro-organisms within the medical and pharmaceutical industries, primarily due to their biodegradability.
  • Mammalian Proteins and Products

    • Genetically engineered entities are biocompatible and biodegradable.
  • Tracking Cells with Light

    • Various applications of that reporter gene were documented and vary from being able to monitor microorganism's survival in complex biological systems such as activated sludge to biodegradation of chemical compounds in soil.
  • Microbes and Ecosystem Niches

    • In addition, microbial processes can be co-opted for biodegradation or bioremediation of domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastes, making the study of microbial ecology particularly important for biotechnological and environmental applications.
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