The definitions of biodegradation

There are many definitions of biodegradation, all of which include the same main principles. 

According to the French norm NFU 52001 Biodegradable materials in agriculture and horticulture - mulching films - AFNOR 2005, the definition of biodegradation is as follows  

The guide to vocabulary in the domain of degradable and biodegradable polymers and plastics. CEN/TR 15351 2006 proposes the following definitions  

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The definition of biodegradable has been assessed during the past decade. Some examples of definitions of biodegradable plastic are given below. 

Most of the definitions of biodegradation are based on the same concept the action of microorganisms on the material and its conversion into carbon dioxide or methane and water. 

For several years, there has been considerable debate and controversy on the definitions of biodegradable plastic (e.g. at International Workshops on Biodegradable Plastics, Toronto 1989, Tokyo ISBP 1990, Montpellier 1991, Osaka 1993, and elsewhere). While the concept of biodegradability is broadly accepted by many, most of the debate has focused on reducing the broad concept with all its ramifications to a narrow statement, which tends to be accepted by very few. 

Note 2 Usually, degradation results in the loss of, or deterioration in useful properties of the material. However, in the case of biodegradation (degradation by biological activity), polymers may change into environmentally acceptable substances with desirable properties (see Definition 3.1... 

This report uses the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) definitions of biodegradable and compostable plastics. 

In relation to various definitions of biodegradability, several standard tests have been developed by Standards Organizations all around the world. We will present the most dynamic ones and the standard tests that they propose. 

In this chapter, we have discussed polymer stmcture at the level of the repeating unit. The repeating unit not only has a specific chemical structure but also acts as the source of interaction at the molecular scale. With respect to this, now we will be introducing the concept of biodegradable polymer blends. A polymer blend is classically defined as a physical mixture of two or more polymers, which occurs on a macro scale. We are now going to also consider the science at molecular/nanometre scales, ie, taking polymer repeating unit into account rather than entire polymer chains. For the purposes of this book, the definition of a polymer blend is as follows ... 

The Definition of Degradation, Erosion, Biodegradation, Bioerosion and Elimination... 

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