Nitrification
Nitrification (pronunciation: /ˌnaɪtrɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/) is a biological process that involves the conversion of ammonia into nitrite and then into nitrate. This process is a crucial part of the nitrogen cycle, which is a fundamental aspect of life on Earth.
Etymology
The term "nitrification" is derived from the Latin word 'nitrum', which means 'native soda', and the Greek word 'genes', which means 'forming'. It was first used in the mid-19th century to describe the process of converting ammonia into nitrate.
Process
Nitrification is a two-step process carried out by two groups of microorganisms. The first step is the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) or ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA). This process is also known as ammonification. The second step is the oxidation of nitrite to nitrate by nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB).
Importance
Nitrification is an essential process in the nitrogen cycle. It helps in the removal of toxic ammonia and nitrite from the environment. The nitrates produced during nitrification are used by plants for their growth and development. Nitrification also plays a significant role in the treatment of wastewater and in the production of nitric acid.
Related Terms
- Ammonia
- Nitrite
- Nitrate
- Nitrogen cycle
- Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria
- Ammonia-oxidizing archaea
- Nitrite-oxidizing bacteria
- Ammonification
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Nitrification
- Wikipedia's article - Nitrification
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