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Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism

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Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of  ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or  nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this...
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Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...
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Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation.
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Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme...
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Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 19, 2026

Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors
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Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors

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N2O emissions from full-scale nitrifying biofilters.

Julien Bollon1, Ahlem Filali1, Yannick Fayolle1

  • 1Irstea, UR HBAN, 1 Rue Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, CS 10030, F-92761 Antony Cedex, France.

Water Research
|June 20, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Nitrifying biofilters showed seasonal variations in nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, with winter months exhibiting double the N2O emission factor. Higher temperatures and aeration flow influenced N2O partitioning, while increased nitrite and biofilm thickness in winter correlated with higher emissions.

Keywords:
BiofiltrationFull-scaleGreenhouse-gasesNitrificationNitrous oxideWastewater treatment

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Water Treatment

Background:

  • Nitrifying biofilters are crucial for wastewater treatment, but can be sources of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas.
  • Understanding factors influencing N2O emissions from these systems is vital for mitigating climate impact.
  • Previous studies have indicated diurnal and seasonal patterns in N2O emissions, but specific operational drivers require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate diurnal and seasonal variations in N2O fluxes from a full-scale nitrifying biofilter.
  • To identify key operational parameters influencing N2O emissions using a statistical model.
  • To assess the impact of temperature, aeration, and effluent characteristics on N2O emission factors.

Main Methods:

  • Continuous on-line monitoring of gaseous and liquid N2O fluxes in a full-scale nitrifying biofilter over two distinct periods (September 2014 and February 2015).
  • Application of a statistical model to correlate N2O emissions with operational parameters such as temperature, aeration flow, effluent nitrite concentration, and biofilm characteristics.
  • Measurement of the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa) to understand gas-liquid phase distribution of N2O.

Main Results:

  • Significant diurnal and seasonal variations in N2O emissions were observed.
  • The N2O emission factor was approximately twice as high during the winter campaign compared to the summer campaign, despite similar nitrification performance.
  • Temperature and aeration flow significantly affected the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa), influencing N2O partitioning between gas and liquid phases. Higher effluent nitrite concentrations and suspected increased biofilm thickness in winter were correlated with elevated N2O emissions.

Conclusions:

  • Seasonal variations, particularly lower temperatures in winter, significantly increase N2O emissions from nitrifying biofilters.
  • Effluent nitrite concentration and biofilm thickness are critical factors contributing to higher N2O emissions during colder periods.
  • Optimizing operational parameters like aeration and temperature management is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment plants.