Nitrogen fixation

Nitrogen fixation is the process by which nitrogen is taken from its relatively inert molecular form (N2) in the atmosphere and converted into nitrogen compounds useful for other chemical processes (such as, notably, ammonia, nitrate and nitrogen dioxide).

Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF)

Biological Nitrogen Fixation is where atmospheric nitrogen is converted to ammonia by a bacterial enzyme called nitrogenase. Microorganisms that fix nitrogen are called diazotrophs. The formula for BNF is:

Related Topics:
Nitrogenase - Diazotroph

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: N2 + 8H+ + 8e- + 16 ATP → 2NH3 + H2 + 16ADP + 16 Pi

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Although ammonia (NH3) is the direct product of this reaction, it is quickly ionised to ammonium (NH4+). In free living diazotrophs the nitrogenase-generated ammonium is assimilated into glutamate through the glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase pathway. Biological nitrogen fixation was discovered by the Dutch microbiologist Martinus Beijerinck.

Related Topics:
Ammonium - Glutamate - Martinus Beijerinck

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