NITROGEN CYCLE

“Nitrogen Cycle is a biogeochemical process which transforms the inert nitrogen present in the
atmosphere to a more usable form for living organisms.”

The circulation or cyclic movement of nitrogen from the atmosphere to soil and back into the
atmosphere is known as Nitrogen cycle.

The nitrogen gas exists in both organic and inorganic forms.

 Organic nitrogen exists in living organisms, and they get passed through the food chain
by the consumption of other living organisms.
 Inorganic forms of nitrogen are found in abundance in the atmosphere. This nitrogen is
made available to plants by symbiotic bacteria which can convert the inert nitrogen into
a usable form – such as nitrites and nitrates.

Nitrogen undergoes various types of transformation to maintain a balance in the ecosystem.

Furthermore, this process extends to various biomes, with the marine nitrogen cycle being one
of the most complicated biogeochemical cycles.

Nitrogen cycle involves

1. Nitrogen fixation
2. Nitrogen assimilation
3. Ammonification
 4. Nitrification
5. Denitrification

Plants can’t utilize atmospheric nitrogen so it should be converted into utilizable form such as
Ammonia.

1.Nitrogen fixation
 Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia for living organism is known
as Nitrogen fixation.
 This process is carried out by leguminous plant such as groundnut even some bacteria
can fix atmospheric nitrogen.
 During the process of Nitrogen fixation, the inert form of nitrogen gas is deposited into
soils from the atmosphere and surface waters, mainly through precipitation. Later, the
nitrogen undergoes a set of changes, in which two nitrogen atoms get separated and
combine with hydrogen to form ammonia (NH4+).
 Ex: Azotobacter, Clostridium, Rhizobium, Nostoc & Anabaena.

2.Nitrogen Assimilation
 The process of absorbing nitrates and ammonia into organic nitrogen.
 This organic nitrogen is transferred into animal body when plants are eaten by
animals.
 Primary producers – plants take in the nitrogen compounds from the soil with the help
of their roots, which are available in the form of ammonia, nitrite ions, nitrate ions or
ammonium ions and are used in the formation of the plant and animal proteins. This
way, it enters the food web when the primary consumers eat the plants.

3.Ammonification
 The process of converting organic nitrogen into ammonia when animals die is
known as ammonification.
 This process was carried out by some saprophytes like fungi and bacteria.
 When plants or animals die, the nitrogen present in the organic matter is released back
into the soil.
 The decomposers, namely bacteria or fungi present in the soil, convert the organic
matter back into ammonium.
 This process of decomposition produces ammonia, which is further used for other
biological processes.
4.Nitrification
Nitrification takes place in two successive stages:

 Oxidation of ammonia to nitrite: Bacteria of the Nitrosomonas genus oxidise

ammonia to nitrite under aerobic conditions. This stage is important because it
eliminates ammonia, a toxic pollutant for aquatic environments.
 Oxidation of nitrite to nitrate: Bacteria of the Nitrobacter genus then oxidise nitrite
to nitrate. This reaction also requires aerobic conditions and a sufficient quantity of
dissolved oxygen.

5.Denitrification

 Denitrification is the process in which the nitrogen compounds makes its way back
into the atmosphere by converting nitrate (NO3-) into gaseous nitrogen (N) in
order to maintain the equilibrium of nitrogen in the atmosphere.
 This process of the nitrogen cycle is the final stage and occurs in the absence of oxygen.
Bacteria which are involved in this process is known as denitrifying bacteria which will
process nitrate to gain oxygen and gives out free nitrogen gas as a byproduct.
 Ex: Thiobacillus denitrificans, clostridium, Micrococcus denitrificans
Nitrification in wastewater treatment:

1. Activated sludge process: Nitrification occurs in the aerobic zone of the process.

2. Trickling filters: Nitrification occurs on the surface of the filter media.

3. Rotating biological contactors: Nitrification occurs on the surface of the rotating discs.

 Nitrogen compounds are among the most important pollutants of wastewater

because of their role in eutrophication, their effect on the oxygen content of
receiving waters and their toxicity to aquatic invertebrate and vertebrate species,
including human beings.
 However, these compounds are also of interest because of the beneficial role that
they can play in augmenting plant growth, which in turn stimulates the production
of wildlife. Wastewater originating from many other sources such as tanneries, food
processing, fertiliser manufacturing and landfill leachate contains greater amounts
of nitrogen, which should be treated before discharge into the surface water body.
 Wastewater containing huge amounts of nitrogen compounds is not allowed to be
released into the surface water as it has ecological impacts and can affect human
health. Chemical, physicochemical and biological methods are broadly used for the
treatment of wastewater loaded with highly concentrated nitrogen.
 Waste nitrogen enters the wastewater stream in the form of ammonia, urea, and
organic nitrogen. The first steps in wastewater treatment involve oxidative
degradation of organic matter, resulting in the conversion of dissolved organic
nitrogen into ammonium.
 If released as effluent in this form, the ammonium would fertilize the receiving
waters, potentially leading to eutrophication and the growth of undesirable plant
life.
 Tertiary wastewater treatment is designed to remove inorganic nitrogen from the
stream by nitrification. When carried out by ammonia oxidizing bacteria, this is an
aerobic process, and requires aeration to allow the growth and activity of AOB,
nitrite oxidizing bacteria to produce nitrate.
 Water containing the nitrate thus produced is then subjected to an anoxic treatment
in which denitrification reduces the nitrate to N2. In this form, the effluent does not
increase the bioavailable N in the receiving waters.
  Optimization of nitrification in wastewater treatment is the subject of much
research, focusing both on the species composition of nitrifying communities in
wastewater systems and biofilms, and on the physiology of nitrifiers subjected to
the many potentially inhibitory components of wastewater.

Importance:

1. Nitrogen removal: Excess nitrogen in wastewater can harm aquatic ecosystems.

Nitrification helps remove nitrogen, reducing the risk of eutrophication and water pollution.

2. Water quality improvement: Nitrification helps remove ammonia, which is toxic to

aquatic life, and reduces the formation of harmful disinfection byproducts during water
treatment.

Factors affecting nitrification:

1. pH: Optimal pH range is between 7.5 and 8.5.

2. Temperature: Optimal temperature range is between 25°C and 30°C.

3. Dissolved oxygen: Adequate dissolved oxygen is essential for nitrification.

4. Organic matter: Presence of organic matter can inhibit nitrification.

5. Salinity: High salinity can inhibit nitrification.

Advantage and disadvantage:

Advantages:

1. Effective nitrogen removal: Nitrification removes ammonia and nitrite, reducing nitrogenous
compounds that can harm aquatic life.

2. Improved water quality: Nitrification helps remove toxic ammonia, improving water quality
and reducing the risk of eutrophication.

3. Increased treatment efficiency: Nitrification enhances the overall efficiency of wastewater

treatment processes.

4. Reduced algae growth: By removing nitrogen, nitrification reduces algae growth, which can
deplete oxygen and harm aquatic life.
5. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions: Nitrification can reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions,
a potent greenhouse gas.

By leveraging these advantages, wastewater treatment plants can effectively remove nitrogen,
improve water quality, and protect aquatic ecosystems.

Disadvantages:

1. Energy consumption: Nitrification requires aeration, which consumes significant amounts

of energy.

2. Sludge production: Nitrification produces additional sludge, increasing sludge handling and
disposal costs.

3.pH fluctuations: Nitrification can cause pH fluctuations, potentially harming microorganisms

and affecting treatment efficiency.

4. Requires adequate dissolved oxygen: Nitrification requires sufficient dissolved oxygen,

which can be challenging to maintain.

5. Potential for ammonia toxicity: Inadequate nitrification can lead to ammonia toxicity,
harming aquatic life.

By understanding these disadvantages, wastewater treatment plants can take steps to mitigate
these issues and optimize nitrification processes.
Denitrification in wastewater treatment:

1. Activated sludge process: Denitrification occurs in the anoxic zone of the process.

2. Sequencing batch reactors (SBRs): Denitrification occurs during the anoxic phase.

3. Fixed-film reactors: Denitrification occurs on the surface of the fixed film.

 In Wastewater treatment denitrification describes the final step of the conversion from
ammonium NH4+ to Nitrogen gas N2. After ammonium is oxidized by microorganisms
in a 2-step process ammonium is at first converted to Nitrate NO3-. Nitrate NO3- is still
in the wastewater and although is less harmful than ammonia it can still cause diseases.
 Microorganisms for denitrification are more difficult to cultivate compared to nitrifying
microorganisms such as Nitrosomonas or Nitrobacter. Denitrifying microorganisms are
also called heterotrophic bacteria and they require organic carbon as food as well as
oxygen. Therefore, in wastewater treatment applications a certain BOD amount has to
be maintained in the anoxic basin. This is achieved by recirculating sludge from the
secondary clarifier and aerobic basin back to the anoxic basin.
 The heterotrophic bacteria then try to oxidize the available BOD under the consumption
of oxygen. However, as no dissolved oxygen is present in an anoxic basin, they have to
look for alternative sources. Heterotrophic bacteria have the ability to strip the oxygen
from Nitrate NO3- and to convert Nitrate to Nitrogen gas N2.
 The nitrogen gas floats then as bubbles to the water surface and into the atmosphere.
 The activated sludge process usually separates the anoxic basin from the aerobic basin
either by building two different tanks or by creating different zones within one basin
with controlled aeration or by on/off operation of aerators.

Importance:

Denitrification is essential to completely eliminate the nitrogen contained in wastewater. It

recovers the alkalinity lost during nitrification and reduces nitrate concentrations in treated
water. Denitrification is also important for preserving the quality of drinking water and the
environment.

To ensure good denitrification, it is important to respect certain conditions:

a) Absence of oxygen: Anaerobic bacteria require a total absence of oxygen to

function.
 b) Presence of nitrates: Anaerobic bacteria need nitrates to feed.
c) Presence of denitrifying bacteria: Anaerobic bacteria must be present in the medium
to catalyze denitrification.
d) Constant temperature: The temperature must be constant to allow bacteria to
develop.

Advantage and disadvantage:

Advantages:

1. Cost-effective: Denitrification can be a cost-effective solution for nitrogen removal,

especially in combination with nitrification.

2. Reduced chemical usage: Denitrification reduces the need for chemicals, minimizing
environmental impacts.

3. Improved aquatic ecosystem health: Denitrification helps maintain a healthy balance of

nutrients in aquatic ecosystems.

Disadvantages:

1.Slower process rate: Denitrification is generally slower than nitrification, requiring larger
reactor volumes.

2.Requires careful process control: Denitrification needs precise control of pH, temperature,
and organic matter to optimize performance.

3.Requires post-treatment aeration: Denitrification effluent often requires post-treatment

aeration to remove residual organic matter.

Wastewater treatment Process

Here's a detailed overview of the denitrification process in wastewater treatment:

Step 1: Pre-treatment

- Wastewater enters the treatment plant and undergoes pre-treatment to remove large objects
and debris.

Step 2: Primary Treatment

- Wastewater flows into primary clarifiers, where solids settle and are removed.
Step 3: Biological Treatment

- Wastewater enters a biological reactor (e.g., activated sludge process), where nitrification
occurs, converting ammonia (NH3) to nitrate (NO3-).

Step 4: Denitrification

- Wastewater flows into a denitrification reactor (e.g., anoxic tank), where:

- Nitrate (NO3-) is converted to nitrite (NO2-) by denitrifying bacteria.

- Nitrite (NO2-) is converted to nitrogen gas (N2) by denitrifying bacteria.

- Organic matter (e.g., BOD, COD) is consumed by denitrifying bacteria.

Step 5: Post-treatment

- Denitrification effluent undergoes post-treatment, including:

- Aeration to remove residual organic matter.

- Sedimentation to remove remaining solids.

- Disinfection to kill pathogens.

Step 6: Sludge Treatment

- Sludge from the denitrification process is treated separately, including:

- Thickening to reduce water content.

- Stabilization to reduce pathogens and odors.

- Disposal (e.g., landfilling, incineration).