Ecology
Ammonification
The decomposition of organic nitrogen compounds into ammonia. How nitrogen in dead organisms becomes available for recycling.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 1 chapter:
Biological Context
When organisms die, decomposers break down proteins and nucleic acids, releasing ammonia (NH3) or ammonium (NH4+). This process is the first step in returning organic nitrogen to inorganic forms. Ammonification is performed by many bacteria and fungi.
Business Application
Business ammonification: extracting reusable resources from defunct organizations—talent acquisition from failed startups, intellectual property from bankruptcies, customer lists from closed businesses.