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Vertical flow constructed wetlands for the treatment of inorganic ...

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NO2 Nitrogen dioxide +4<br />

-<br />

NO3 Nitrate ion +5<br />

HNO3 Nitric acid +5<br />

Conventional nitrogen removal is usually achieved biologically by two distinct<br />

processes: autotrophic nitrification, <strong>the</strong> oxidation <strong>of</strong> ammonia to nitrate (Eqs 2.11,<br />

2.12) and heterotrophic denitrification, <strong>the</strong> reduction <strong>of</strong> NO2 - or NO3 - into N2 (Eqs 2.13-<br />

2.15). O<strong>the</strong>r less conventional and recently understood nitrogen removal methods will<br />

be discussed later.<br />

2.4.2.1 Nitrification<br />

Nitrification has been typically referred to two separate strictly aerobic<br />

processes carried out by phylogenetically distinct chemoautotrophic bacterial groups as<br />

described below, although it is now recognised that heterotrophic nitrification (Keeney,<br />

1973; Paul and Clark, 1996) and archaeal nitrification (Wuchter et al., 2006) occur and<br />

can be <strong>of</strong> global significance. The first step in nitrification, <strong>the</strong> oxidation <strong>of</strong> ammonia to<br />

nitrite (Eq 2.11), also called nitritation, is carried out by ammonia oxidising bacteria<br />

(AOB). Comparative 16S rRNA sequence analyses <strong>of</strong> cultured AOB revealed that<br />

members <strong>of</strong> this physiological group are confined to two monophyletic lineages within<br />

<strong>the</strong> class Proteobacteria (Purkhold et al., 2000). One group is affiliated with <strong>the</strong> gamma-<br />

subclass <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> class Proteobacteria and includes Nitrosococcus oceani, <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r group<br />

is affiliated within <strong>the</strong> beta-subclass <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Proteobacteria and includes <strong>the</strong> genera<br />

Nitrosomonas (including Nitrosococcus mobilis), Nitrosospira, Nitrosolobus and<br />

Nitrosovibirio (Purkhold et al., 2000). It has been suggested, however, that Nitrosolobus<br />

and Nitrosovibrio should be reclassified within <strong>the</strong> genus Nitrosospira (Head et al.,<br />

1993).<br />

NH3 + 1.5O2 � NO2 - + H2O + H + + 84 kcal mol -1 (2.11)<br />

Note that 48g <strong>of</strong> oxygen are necessary <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> oxidation <strong>of</strong> 14g <strong>of</strong> ammonia<br />

nitrogen (3.43gO2/gNH3-N) into nitrite.<br />

18

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