Title: compost
Long Title: IUPAC Gold Book - compost
DOI: 10.1351/goldbook.13954
Status: current

Definition
Solid product resulting from the decomposition of organic wastes by fermentation.

Note
A compost is generally processed in personal composters or industrially to be used as fertilizer. In the latter case, specifications in structure and quality are to be provided.

Source
- PAC, 2012, 84, 377. 'Terminology for biorelated polymers and applications (IUPAC Recommendations 2012)' on page 404 (https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-10-12-04)

Other Outputs
- html: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/13954/html
- json: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/13954/json
- xml: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/13954/xml

Citation: Citation: 'compost' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. 10.1351/goldbook.13954
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Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.
Accessed: 2026-05-08T09:05:07+00:00