VAD ÄR EGENTLIGEN DENITRIFIKATION OCH HUR MÄTS DEN? / What is Denitrification and How is it Measured?

Denitrification involves the bacteria-mediated reduction of nitrate, nitrite and nitrous oxide to atmospheric dinitrogen. The evolved nitrogen gas usually leaves the environment in which it was produced and diffuses to the atmosphere. The process appears in most environments where decomposable organic matter has accumulated, e.g. soils, lake sediments and wetlands. Through the decomposition of organic material, denitrification bacteria gain energy. At the same time, electrons are released and – if the environment is anoxic – are transferred to nitrate, nitrite and nitrous oxide, which are chemically reduced. The activity of denitrification bacteria, and thus the amount of nitrogen processed is regulated by several factors, e.g. nitrate availability, pH and temperature. In this paper, methods for the quantification of the denitrification process are also presented. Most emphasis is put on the acetylene-inhibition technique, which, at present, is the most commonly applied method. “Complete abstract not presented.”