bioconversion

[ bahy-oh-kuhn-vur-zhuhn, -shuhn ]

noun

1. the conversion of biomass to usable energy, as by burning solid fuel for heat, by fermenting plant matter to produce liquid fuel, as ethanol, or by the bacterial decomposition of organic waste to produce methane.

bioconversion

/ ˌbaɪəʊkənˈvɜːʃən /

noun

1. the use of biological processes or materials to change organic substances into a new form, such as the conversion of waste into methane by fermentation

bioconversion

/ bī′ō-kən-vûr′zhən /

1. The conversion of organic materials, such as plant or animal waste, into usable products or energy sources by biological processes or agents, such as certain microorganisms.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bioconversion¹

First recorded in 1955–60; bio- + conversion

Example Sentences

To support the industry’s expansion, Beta Bugs recently co-founded the UK’s Insect Bioconversion Association, in conjunction with BSF company Better Origin and other commercial insect producers.

From Scientific American

The storm also knocked out power to the Synagro Bioconversion Facility next door.

From Washington Times

The storm also knocked out power to the Synagro Bioconversion Facility next door.

From Washington Times

Gurney: He sits on the board of Craig Ventor’s Synthetic Genomics, and works closely with lots of companies looking at biological applications for everything from bioconversion of waste feedstocks into specialty chemicals and—I love this one—humanization of pig organs for cross-species organ transplant, which they affectionately call the ‘Sarah Palin project’—putting lipstick on a pig.

From Forbes

“The organism produces its own enzymes, so you cut out one of the most costly components,” explains Jonathan Mielenz, who heads the Bioconversion Science & Technology Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and has collaborated with Mascoma.

From Nature