Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
10:11
The Benthic Exchange of O2, N2 and Dissolved Nutrients Using Small Core Incubations
Published on: August 3, 2016
Oxygen-nitrogen relationships in autotrophic nitrification
Applied Microbiology
|September 1, 1967
Summary
This study shows that carbon dioxide fixation impacts oxygen use by nitrifying bacteria. The measured oxygen-to-nitrogen ratios are crucial for accurate nitrogenous oxygen demand calculations in nitrification processes.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Biogeochemical cycles
Background:
- Autotrophic nitrification is a key process in the nitrogen cycle.
- Oxygen consumption is a critical factor in assessing nitrification's environmental impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate oxygen utilization by Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter during autotrophic nitrification.
- To determine the effect of carbon dioxide fixation on oxygen consumption.
- To establish accurate oxygen-nitrogen ratios for nitrification.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring dissolved oxygen levels.
- Measuring changes in inorganic nitrogen concentrations.
- Analyzing oxygen-nitrogen ratios during ammonia and nitrite oxidation.
Main Results:
- Carbon dioxide fixation influences overall oxygen utilization in nitrification.
- The measured oxygen-to-ammonia nitrogen ratio is 3.22 mg/L.
- The measured oxygen-to-nitrite nitrogen ratio is 1.11 mg/L.
Conclusions:
- Established oxygen-nitrogen ratios provide a more accurate basis for nitrogenous oxygen demand calculations than stoichiometric ratios.
- Findings are vital for water quality management and wastewater treatment processes.
More Related Videos
07:14Automated, High-resolution Mobile Collection System for the Nitrogen Isotopic Analysis of NOx
Published on: December 20, 2016
08:05Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
Published on: October 7, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:49The Nitrogen Cycle
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...
01:20Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism
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 nitrogen...
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this nitrogen...
01:26Oxygenic Photosynthesis
Oxygenic photosynthesis is a fundamental process in which light energy is harnessed to drive the oxidation of water, leading to the production of molecular oxygen (O₂), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). This process is essential for sustaining aerobic life on Earth and is primarily carried out by cyanobacteria, algae, and plants. The core of oxygenic photosynthesis lies in the thylakoid membranes, where chlorophyll pigments facilitate light...
01:22Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
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 nitrate reductase...
01:29Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns
Microorganisms exhibit diverse oxygen requirements and growth patterns driven by their metabolic strategies and environmental adaptations. Oxygen, while essential for many organisms, can also be toxic under certain conditions, shaping how microorganisms grow and survive.Oxygen Requirements of MicroorganismsMicroorganisms are classified based on their ability to use or tolerate oxygen:● Obligate aerobes like Mycobacterium tuberculosis need oxygen for energy production, as it serves as the...
01:26Microbes and the Nitrogen Cycle
The nitrogen cycle is a complex biogeochemical process critical to maintaining the balance of nitrogenous compounds in ecosystems. This cycle involves multiple microbial-mediated transformations through which nitrogen changes oxidation states, supporting essential ecological functions and contributing to plant and microbial growth.Nitrogen Fixation and AmmonificationNitrogen fixation initiates the cycle by converting inert atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into bioavailable ammonia (NH₃), a process...