What is anaerobic degradation?

Anaerobic biodegradation is the breakdown of organic contaminants by microorganisms when oxygen is not present.

 

Some anaerobic bacteria use nitrate, sulfate, iron, manganese, and carbon dioxide as their electron acceptors, and break down organic chemicals into smaller compounds, often producing carbon dioxide and methane as the final products. This general mechanism of anaerobic biodegradation is an example of anaerobic respiration. Alternatively some anaerobic microorganisms can break down organic contaminants by fermentation. Fermentation is where the organic chemical acts as an electron acceptor.