Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I need a little help, I have been looking for the definition of Biofixation, and I either get bioremediation, or just fixation, is there a diffrence or is it all the same? please help.
THANKS!

Hi,

Here is a weblink that attempts to define biofixation:

http://www.oilgae.com/ref/glos/biofixat ... oxide.html

Fixation means almost the same thing, except it includes removal of gas from the atmosphere by any means, mechanical, chemical, or biological. Bioremediation means to put things back the way they were by using living organisms, so it could include fixation of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or regrowing cutdown forests or removal of toxic compounds from a contamiante site or lots of other things.

Barrett L Tomlinson

Thanks so much!
K-rock


p.s. love the name, <3 tomlinsoon and the chargers...

Is there any other help i can get on this? all replies will help.

Hello,

Biofixation, fixation, and bioremediation all have very similar meanings, but all three ARE different from one another...

Bioremediation is just anything that uses live organisms (usually bacteria, fungi, etc.) or enzymes to restore the natural environment that has been affected by some kind of contaminant(s)...For example, this includes the cleanup of oil spills by using bacteria/enzymes, strengthening soil by adding nitrates, etc.
(Here's an article that you can browse through for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioremediation)
Biofixation is the same thing except it refers to the use of organisms(usually plants or other photosynthetic organisms) for the sole purpose of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere...photosynthetic organsims do this by using carbon dioxide for photosynthesis which is their source of energy and thereby reduces CO2 levels and helps lessen the effects of global warming...
Fixation is the same thing as biofixation except it doesn't refer to the exclusive use of organisms but any other method used to remove carbon dioxide also falls under fixation (example = chemical, mechanical etc.)...So in other words, biofixation is a subcategory,or specific type, of fixation...

Hope that helped!!
Feel free to post if you have additional questions/clarifications...