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Nonlinear Denitrification Kinetics with Continuous Flow in Soil Columns
Author(s) -
Starr J. L.,
Parlange J.Y.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1975.03615995003900050026x
Subject(s) - denitrification , diffusion , sparging , volumetric flow rate , chemistry , convection , kinetics , flow (mathematics) , soil science , mechanics , environmental science , thermodynamics , nitrogen , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
An undisturbed core of surface soil was placed in an acrylic plastic perforated column. Saturated air or N 2 was passed horizontally through the soil while a NO 3 ‐ ‐N solution was leached vertically through the soil. Aerobic breakthrough curves were used to measure the convective diffusion and the denitrification rates were measured by switching to anaerobic conditions after the NO 3 ‐ concentration in the effluent equalled that in the influent. The theoretical model was developed which did not assume a priori the functional relationship between the reaction rate and the NO 3 ‐ concentration. The validity of the model was checked by sending a pulse of NO 3 ‐ into the column, with no NO 3 ‐ present initially. The breakthrough curve was predicted using the convective diffusion and denitrification rate previously measured under different boundary condition. The good agreement between theory and experiment showed that the deviation from first‐ or zero‐order kinetics is of crucial importance in predicting the breakthrough curve.