Denitrification

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Denitrification

Denitrification (pronunciation: /diːˌnaɪtrɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/) is a microbially facilitated process of nitrate reduction that may ultimately produce molecular nitrogen (N2) through a series of intermediate gaseous nitrogen oxide products.

Etymology

The term "denitrification" comes from the Latin de- meaning "removal of" and nitrificare which means "to combine with oxygen". It was first used in the early 20th century to describe the process of removing nitrate from soil and water through the action of bacteria.

Process

Denitrification generally occurs in anoxic environments where the concentration of dissolved and bioavailable oxygen is depleted. The process is performed by a variety of microbial species, including bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Paracoccus, and archaea.

Related Terms

  • Nitrogen cycle: The series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted in the environment and in living organisms, including nitrogen fixation and denitrification.
  • Nitrification: The biological oxidation of ammonia or ammonium to nitrite followed by the oxidation of the nitrite to nitrate.
  • Anammox: An abbreviation for anaerobic ammonium oxidation, a globally important microbial process of the nitrogen cycle.

See Also

External links

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