What are nitrification and denitrification?

Nitrification and denitrification are important biological processes in the nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen is an essential element for life, but it cannot be used by organisms in its atmospheric form. without suffering some chemical transformation before.

Nitrification

Nitrification is the process by which organisms convert ammonia and ammonium ions into nitrates and nitrites.

Types of bacteria in nitrification

This process It is carried out by two types of bacteria:

• Ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (NOB)
• Nitriting bacteria (AOB)

NOBs convert nitrite ions to nitrate, while AOBs oxidize ammonia and ammonium ions to nitrite ions.

Denitrification

Denitrification, for its part, is the process of converting nitrates and nitrites into gaseous nitrogen, which returns to the atmosphere.

Types of bacteria in denitrification

The bacteria that carry out denitrification are facultative anaerobes, which means that They can live in environments with or without oxygen. This process is carried out by four types of bacteria:

• Pseudomonas denitrificans
• Paracoccus denitrificans
• Bacillus
• Micrococcus

Denitrification is very important because it controls the amount of nitrates remaining in the soil and water, avoiding eutrophic contamination.

Conclusions

In summary, nitrification and denitrification are complementary biological processes that take place In nature and are very important for controlling the amount and availability of nitrogen, an essential element for life.

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