Editing Biodegradation (section)

{{Short description|Decomposition by living organisms}}
{{For|the journal|Biodegradation (journal){{!}}''Biodegradation'' (journal)}}
[[File:Slime.mold.jpg|thumb|Yellow [[slime mold]] growing on a bin of wet paper]]

'''Biodegradation''' is the breakdown of [[organic matter]] by [[microorganism]]s, such as [[bacteria]] and [[fungi]].{{efn| The [[International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry|IUPAC]] defines biodegradation as "degradation caused by [[Enzyme|enzymatic]] process resulting from the action of [[Cell (biology)|cells]]" and notes that the definition is "modified to exclude [[abiotic]] enzymatic processes."<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Vert M, Doi Y, Hellwich KH, Hess M, Hodge P, Kubisa P, Rinaudo M, Schué F|title=Terminology for biorelated polymers and applications (IUPAC Recommendations 2012)|journal=[[Pure and Applied Chemistry]]|year=2012|volume=84|issue=2|pages=377–410|doi=10.1351/PAC-REC-10-12-04|s2cid=98107080|doi-access=free}}</ref>}}<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Young|first=Reginald|title=Improved, reference quality genome sequence of the plastic-degrading greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella|url=https://academic.oup.com/g3journal/advance-article/doi/10.1093/g3journal/jkae070/7639139?login=true|journal=G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics|date=2024|volume=14 |issue=6 |doi=10.1093/g3journal/jkae070|doi-access=free|pmid=38564250|pmc=11152082}}</ref> It is generally assumed to be a natural process, which differentiates it from [[compost]]ing. Composting is a human-driven process in which biodegradation occurs under a specific set of circumstances.

The process of biodegradation is threefold: first an object undergoes biodeterioration, which is the mechanical weakening of its structure; then follows biofragmentation, which is the breakdown of materials by microorganisms; and finally assimilation, which is the incorporation of the old material into new cells.

In practice, almost all chemical compounds and materials are subject to biodegradation, the key element being time. Things like vegetables may degrade within days, while [[glass]] and some [[plastic]]s take many millennia to decompose. A standard for biodegradability used by the [[European Union]] is that greater than 90% of the original material must be converted into {{CO2}}, water and minerals by biological processes within 6 months.