Question

What is mineralization?

Answer 1

Hint:-The synonym of mineralization is the ultimate biodegradation or complete biodegradation. Biodegradation is the mechanism by which organic compounds are decomposed into simpler substances such as carbon dioxide, water, and ammonia by microorganisms (mainly aerobic bacteria.)

Complete step-by-step solution:-In soil science, mineralization refers to the decomposition of chemical compounds in organic matter by which the nutrients in such compounds are released in soluble inorganic forms that may be accessible to plants. Mineralization increases the bioavailability of the nutrients, most importantly because of their abundance, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, in the decomposing organic compounds.
If mineralization or immobilization results from the decomposition of an organic compound depending on its concentration, proportionate to that of the carbon is the organic matter. As a rule of thumb, if the concentration of a given element exceeds the biosynthesis or storage needs of the decompose, then it will mineralize.
Mineralization is also the process by which organic N is decomposed from waste, organic matter, and crop residues to ammonium by microbes. Since it is a biological process, mineralization rates differ according to the temperature of the soil, the humidity, and the amount of oxygen in the soil (aeration).
Mineralization is also the conversion of nutrients from the organic into the inorganic form. This process happens when soil microorganisms decompose organic products, such as soil organic matter, fertilizer, plant waste, or biosolids.
In biology, mineralization refers to a mechanism where an inorganic material precipitates in an organic matrix. This may be due to normal biological processes, such as the formation of bones, eggshells, teeth, coral, and other exoskeletons, that take place during the life of an organism.

Note:-
The biomineralization process is carried out by anaerobic bacteria like Shewanella species, Desulfuromonas acetoxidans, etc. They result in the formation of magnetite. The mineralization process also helps in vermicomposting, bone tissue engineering, nanotechnology, etc