NITR Nitrification Inhibition

ammonia oxidation in nitr

This is one of the fields contained within the Environmental Fate superfield (ZENE). For more general information regarding Environmental Fate, see the Environmental Fate message field (ENEX).

The nitrogen cycle is the major biogeochemical process in the production of nitrogen which is an essential element contained in amino acids and proteins. Nitrogen is an essential element in micro-organisms, higher plants and animals. Interference in nitrification from more complex molecules can be determined by standard tests using nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Nitrosomonas sp. detoxifies ammonia to nitrite and Nitrobacter sp. detoxifies nitrite to nitrate. The degree of nitrification inhibition can be used to estimate the environmental impact of the test chemical. There are a number of incidences where loss of nitrification because of dramatic reductions in populations of Nitrobacter sp. and Nitrosomonas sp. at sewage treatment works has resulted in the discharge of unacceptably high concentrations of ammonia.