Fundamentals of Microbiology

4.3.3.4 Denitrification

Denitrification is a process in which nitrates are reduced to nitrites and subsequently to gaseous nitrogen.

NO₃ -----------> NO₂----------->N₂O ---------->N₂

In denitrification, organic compounds serve as hydrogen donors and nitrate serves as an electron acceptor. Denitification occurs under anaerobic conditions eg. during seasonal flooding on the land. It is carried out under the influence of bacterial genera like Thiiobacillus denitrificans, Micrococcus dentrification and Clostridium sp.