Anaerobic is a word coming from the Greek word "αναερόβιος" (comprising from the words αν=without, αέρας=air and βίος=life) which literally means living without air, as opposed to aerobic.
In wastewater treatment the absence of oxygen is indicated as anoxic; and anaerobic is used to indicate the absence of a common electron acceptor such as nitrate, sulfate or oxygen.
Anaerobic may refer to:
- Anaerobic adhesive, a bonding agent that does not cure in the presence of air
- Anaerobic clarigester, is a form of anaerobic digester
- Anaerobic contact process, is a type of anaerobic digester
- Anaerobic digestion, (AD) is the naturally occurring process of anaerobic decomposition harnessed and contained to manage waste and/or release energy.
- Anaerobic environment, an aquatic environment with little available oxygen - see Hypoxia (environmental)
- Anaerobic exercise, a form of exercise
- Anaerobic filter
- Anaerobic lagoon, used to dispose of animal waste, particularly that of cows and pigs
- Anaerobic organism, any organism whose redox metabolism does not depend on free oxygen
- Anaerobic respiration, oxidation of molecules in the absence of oxygen
- Anaerobic ammonium oxidation, anammox, the microbial process combining ammonium and nitrite.