What does degraded mean

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mooyong

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All waste constituents are not equally degraded or converted to gas through anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic bacteria do not degrade lignin and some other hydrocarbons.

Those mean to be treat or not ?
 
In this context, which seems to be scientific, then to degrade = to break down into component parts, to decay. It can be used transitively or intransitively.


There is also a more figurative meaning of debasing, or lowering in dignity/esteem - but I think it's the scientific meaning you want here ;)
 
:up: ... though I'm not sure of the meaning of 'Those mean to be treat or not ?' Anaerobic digestion affects some materials but not others; they are left undigested. The verb 'treat' doesn't fit in here. (If someone is using anaerobic digestion as a treatment, you could say that 'the process leaves some substances untreated'.)

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