Key terms & definitions

A chemical reaction or series of reactions taking place within living organisms.

A material’s ability to be broken down by microorganisms under suitable environmental conditions.

Able to be decomposed by microorganisms.

Capable of being broken down by microorganisms.

Able to be broken down by microorganisms under suitable conditions.

A polymer that microorganisms can break down naturally under suitable environmental conditions.

The breakdown of a material by living organisms such as fungi and bacteria.

A liquid biofuel processed from vegetable oils, animal fats or used cooking fats, used to fuel suitable diesel engines.

The variety of living organisms in an area.

The variety of all the different species of organisms on Earth or within a particular ecosystem.

The variety of different living organisms in an area or across Earth.

The variety of different living organisms in an area.

The variety of living organisms in an environment.

The variety of living organisms in an area.

The variety of living organisms in an environment.

Energy obtained from biological material, including solid biomass, biogas and liquid biofuels.

Material from living or recently living organisms that can be used as an energy resource.

A fuel made from recently living biological material, such as plants or their waste.

Fuel made from biological material, such as crops, which can be used to provide energy.

A fuel made from recently living biological material, such as a crop.

Fuel made from recently living plant or animal material; it can be renewable when its supply is replaced at least as quickly as it is used.

A fuel made from recently living biological material, such as crops.

A fuel made from recently living biological material, such as wood or crops.

A fuel mixture produced by anaerobic decay of biological waste; it contains methane that can be burned.

An account of a person’s life, often organised to reveal their character as well as describe their actions.

An account of a person’s life written by someone else.

An account of a person’s life which selects events and anecdotes to portray their character.

A biological extraction method in which bacteria help produce a leachate solution containing dissolved metal compounds.

A method of extracting metals using bacteria to produce a solution containing dissolved metal compounds from an ore.

The use of a living organism, such as a predator or parasite, to reduce the number of a pest species.