How biodegradation works
Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA): decontamination technique

During the biodegradation of hydrocarbon pollution (e.g. alkanes, alkenes, cycloalkanes, aromatics, etc.) by biological (catalytic) oxidation, the pollution is consumed by microbiological organisms, generating energy for metabolic processes and cell growth. Electrons are transferred from energy-rich electron donors (e.g. hydrocarbons, which are oxidized) to electron acceptors (which are reduced).

Hydrocarbon degradation by microbiological organisms can be represented by the following reaction:

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