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biodegradable |
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biodegradableCapable of being broken down by living organisms, principally bacteria and fungi. In biodegradable substances, such as food and sewage, the natural processes of decay lead to compaction and liquefaction, and to the release of nutrients that are then recycled by the ecosystem. This process can have some disadvantageous side effects, such as the release of methane, an explosive greenhouse gas. However, the technology now exists for waste tips to collect methane in underground pipes, drawing it off and using it as a cheap source of energy. Nonbiodegradable substances, such as glass, heavy metals, and most types of plastic, present serious problems of disposal. |
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Most landfills are fundamentally anaerobic because they are compacted so tightly that any biodegradation takes place very slowly. Processors at the show were treated to an eyeful of new colorants and additives of all types--antistats, nucleating and foaming agents, compatibilizers, lubricants, fillers, reinforcements, purging agents, mold releases, slip agents, and biodegradation promoters. For instance, where there is a potential risk to soil, tests would be conducted to determine the drug's biodegradation in soil, its toxicity to soil invertebrates, and its acute effects on plants and soil microorganisms. |
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biodegradation
