Journal profile · Environmental Sciences
International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation
ISSN 0964-8305 · eISSN 1879-0208 · Elsevier Ltd · ENGLAND · Bimonthly · Founded 1992
International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation: CAS Zone 3 · Environmental Science & Ecology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 4.41; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,870; review about 83 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: about 50%; 216 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation is published by Elsevier Ltd and is in Zone 3 of Environmental Science & Ecology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants, Building materials and conservation and Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal, together about 26.7% of its articles. Its main subfields are Pollution. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The Official Journal of the International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation SocietyInternational Biodeterioration and Biodegradation publishes original research papers and reviews on the biological causes of deterioration or degradation.– The causes may be macro– or microbiological, whose origins may be aerial, aquatic, or terrestrial.– The effects may include corrosion, fouling, rotting, decay, infection, disfigurement, toxification, weakening or processes that liquefy, detoxify, or mineralize.– The materials affected may include natural, synthetic or refined materials [such as metals, hydrocarbons and oils, foodstuffs and beverages, pharmaceuticals, cellulose and wood, plastics and polymers, fibres, paper, leather, waste materials or any other material of commercial importance]; and structures or systems [such as buildings, works of art, processing equipment, etc.] as well as hazardous wastes, and includes environmental and occupational health aspects resulting from the activities of the biological agents described above.Papers on all aspects of cause, mode of action, treatment, protection and prevention, analysis and testing, detoxification, upgrading, commercial implications, biocides and substitutes and related areas are welcome. However, papers that are strictly related to engineering aspects of biotechnological processes and those that aim at developing or assessing mathematical-based predictive models used in the designing of biotechnological processes are excluded.International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation is the Official Journal of the International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation Society.For more information visit the International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation Society website.We encourage those interested in organizing a special issue or a virtual special issue within the scope of the journal to contact the EiC or inbi.journal@elsevier.com for more information. Additionally, we encourage potential organizers to carefully review the relevant requirements in the Guide for Authors before proceeding. Please note that each special issue can only accept up to three guest editors (GEs).
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Environmental Sciences
Editor-in-chief Patrick Di MartinoPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 20 in mainland China (about 28%); most named Mainland China 20, United States 17, Italy 9, United Kingdom 3, Hong Kong, China 2 (71 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactantsEnvironmental Science11.8%
- Building materials and conservationEarth and Planetary Sciences8.1%
- Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen RemovalEnvironmental Science6.9%
- Enzyme-mediated dye degradationAgricultural and Biological Sciences6.6%
- Microbial Community Ecology and PhysiologyEnvironmental Science4.8%
- Microplastics and Plastic PollutionEnvironmental Science4.7%
- Conservation Techniques and StudiesArts and Humanities4.2%
- Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Science4%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Environmental Science & Ecology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Environmental Science & Ecology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Environmental Science & Ecology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Environmental Science & Ecology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Environmental Science & Ecology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Environmental Science & Ecology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 4.41LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 4.4Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 7LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 7Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.88LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.06LetPub ·
- h-index
- 85LetPub ·
- h-index
- 162OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 3,764OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 4.5OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 6.8%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 16.88%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 196LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 5,474 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 139 | 39 | 43 |
| 2025 | 216 | 39 | 724 |
| 2024 | 196 | 42 | 1,714 |
| 2023 | 99 | 19 | 1,407 |
| 2022 | 123 | 25 | 1,979 |
| 2021 | 119 | 26 | 2,949 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
83 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 3 months
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 3 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 50%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 3 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 37 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 83 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 6 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,870 / EUR 3,620 / GBP 3,100 / JPY 480,000 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,650 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Highlights
- Required
Article types accepted12
- book reviewContributions may be original papers, review articles, case studies, short communications, reports of conferences or meetings, book reviews, or news of forthcom…Length not stated
- book reviewsContributions may be original papers, review articles, case studies, short communications, reports of conferences or meetings, book reviews, or news of forthcom…Length not stated
- case studiesContributions may be original papers, review articles, case studies, short communications, reports of conferences or meetings, book reviews, or news of forthcom…Length not stated
- case studyContributions may be original papers, review articles, case studies, short communications, reports of conferences or meetings, book reviews, or news of forthcom…Length not stated
- news of forthcoming meetingsContributions may be original papers, review articles, case studies, short communications, reports of conferences or meetings, book reviews, or news of forthcom…Length not stated
- original paperContributions may be original papers, review articles, case studies, short communications, reports of conferences or meetings, book reviews, or news of forthcom…Length not stated
- original papersContributions may be original papers, review articles, case studies, short communications, reports of conferences or meetings, book reviews, or news of forthcom…Length not stated
- reports of conferences or meetingsContributions may be original papers, review articles, case studies, short communications, reports of conferences or meetings, book reviews, or news of forthcom…Length not stated
- review articleContributions may be original papers, review articles, case studies, short communications, reports of conferences or meetings, book reviews, or news of forthcom…Length not stated
- review articlesContributions may be original papers, review articles, case studies, short communications, reports of conferences or meetings, book reviews, or news of forthcom…Length not stated
- short communicationContributions may be original papers, review articles, case studies, short communications, reports of conferences or meetings, book reviews, or news of forthcom…Length not stated
- short communicationsContributions may be original papers, review articles, case studies, short communications, reports of conferences or meetings, book reviews, or news of forthcom…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
ethical guidelines Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
open access options Model summary
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of one reviewer for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Rea…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
preprint sharing Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Bimonthly
- Founded
- 1992
- ISSN
- 0964-8305
- Electronic ISSN
- 1879-0208
- Society / sponsor
- International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation Society
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation
What CAS zone is International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation is in Zone 3 of Environmental Science & Ecology, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology / Environmental Sciences. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Environmental Science & Ecology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 4.41; CiteScore 7, h-index 162.
How long does peer review take at International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation?
The publisher reports about 83 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 3 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 50%”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Highlights: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation based?
Of the 71 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 20 (about 28%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (20), United States (17) and Italy (9). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation open access, and what is the APC?
International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,870.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .