ABSTRACT
Prediction of the environmental fate of organic chemicals requires a realistic evaluation of their susceptibility to mineralisation, that is their conversion to biomass, carbon dioxide, water and various inorganic compounds. Whilst physical and chemical processes play a role in the degradation of some chemical moieties, they are rarely capable of complete destruction of the compound. Mineralisation is usually accomplished as a consequence of microbial activity. Thus, tests of degradability are designed to measure susceptibility to biological attack, or biodegradation.
