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Production and decomposition of nitrous oxide during biological denitrification
Author(s) -
Spector Marshall
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143098x123453
Subject(s) - denitrification , nitrous oxide , nitrate , chemistry , decomposition , nitrogen , anoxic waters , methanol , aerobic denitrification , environmental chemistry , environmental engineering , denitrifying bacteria , environmental science , organic chemistry
Nitrate (NO 3 ) was reduced with methanol (MeOH) over denitrification‐filter sludge in a closed reactor. The initial reaction product was nitrous oxide (N 2 O). It accumulated to a maximum (N 2 O max ) and was then rapidly reduced to nitrogen (N 2 ). At the time of maximum accumulation ( t max ), 50 to 80% of the nitrate‐nitrogen reduced was in the form of N 2 O. These results led to a higher estimate of N 2 O emission from biological denitrification than previously considered. The results also suggest the concept of a multistage anoxic reactor in which nitrate can be reduced to N 2 with minimal emission of N 2 O. The design would provide for retention of N 2 O in the upstream stages and reduction of N 2 O downstream.