Information About

Denitrification




Denitrification takes place under special conditions in both terrestrial and marine Ecosystem s. In general, it occurs when Oxygen (which is a more favourable electron acceptor) is depleted, and Bacteria turn to nitrate in order to respire Organic Matter . Because our atmosphere is rich with oxygen, denitrification only takes place in some Soil s and Groundwater , Wetlands , poorly ventilated corners of the ocean, and in seafloor sediments.

Denitrification proceeds through some combination of the following steps:
: NitrateNitriteNitric OxideNitrous OxideDinitrogen gas

Or expressed as a Redox reaction:
:2NO3- + 10e- + 12H+ → N2 + 6H2O

Denitrification is the second step in the nitrification-denitrification process: the conventional way to remove nitrogen from Sewage and municipal Wastewater .

Direct reduction from nitrate to Ammonium (a process known as DNRA) is also possible for organisms that have the nrf- Gene .

In some Wastewater Treatment Plant s, a small amount of Methanol is added to the wastewater to provide a carbon source for the denitrification bacteria.


SEE ALSO