No single solution is possible for destroying all types of wastes due to the diversity of the chemical properties of the waste components. Other processes use chemical reactions to transform the waste into less toxic by products. Chemical transformations can be induced by a number of very different processes, however, the basic chemical pathways can be of a limited number of types. Oxidative and reductive pathways are the major routes for the transformation of many organic wastes into less toxic byproducts.
Biological processes use the metabolism of entire cells to degrade contaminants.
These metabolic pathways are in turn catalyzed by specific biochemical catalysts, namely individual enzymes. Biological processes have the advantage of being highly specific, however they are generally very slow and require a fairly narrow range of operating conditions. Non-biological processes may use inorganic catalysts or high temperatures in various environments to speed up various chemical reactions. Incineration is an example of a high temperature oxidation process whereby most organic compounds are oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. Another diverse class of waste treatment methods is lumped under the heading of advanced oxidation processes.