湖泊微生物反硝化过程及速率研究进展

湖泊中微生物介导的反硝化过程对于区域乃至全球的气候环境变化有着深远的影响。因此,研究湖泊微生物反硝化过程及速率有助于我们深刻理解湖泊氮元素生物地球化学循环规律,全面认识湖泊生境对全球氮循环的贡献。本文综述了湖泊生境中反硝化过程(包括典型的反硝化过程及与其他物质循环耦合的反硝化过程,如与有机氮耦合的共反硝化作用、与碳循环耦合的硝酸盐/亚硝酸盐依赖型厌氧甲烷氧化、与铁循环耦合的硝酸盐依赖型铁氧化、与硫循环耦合的硝酸盐还原硫氧化)的速率、驱动微生物及其影响因素。最后对湖泊反硝化过程研究现状和未来发展方向提出总结与展望。     

珠江口自源有机颗粒物沉降对沉积物反硝化过程的影响

【摘要】由微生物主导、依赖有机物供给的反硝化过程是珠江口氮移除的主要途径之一, 可有效地将生态系统中的固定氮转化为N2 或N2O 释放到大气中。珠江口水体存在大量富含多糖和蛋白的生源有机颗粒物, 该类有机颗粒物沉降到底层, 影响反硝化过程的机制迄今尚不明确。通过培养实验, 分析了富含蛋白的中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)和多糖颗粒对珠江口沉积物反硝化速率和反硝化功能基因的影响。研究结果表明: 这两类有机物的添加能够刺激微生物矿化过程的发生, 16S rRNA丰度和反硝化过程有关的基因nosZ 与 nir S丰度显著提高, 矿化发生同时能够有效的为沉积物脱氮过程提供碳源与能量, 提高了反硝化速率。就有机质可利用性而言, 富含蛋白的中肋骨条藻和多糖的生物利用性存在差异, 在添加中肋骨条藻组中, 因有机质中蛋白含量高于多糖组, 有机质降解速率高于多糖组, 其可利用性高于多糖类有机质, 并且蛋白类物质矿化过程中产生的NH4+也比多糖组高, NH4+通过硝化作用转换为硝酸盐, 继续为反硝化过程提供硝酸盐, 因此添加中肋骨条藻组反硝化速率显著高于添加多糖组。总之水体中生源有机颗粒沉降促进了沉积物-水界面中氮移除过程, 并且这种促进作用与生源有机颗粒的可利用性呈正相关。     

海岸带地区的固氮、氨化、硝化与反硝化特征

海岸带是海洋环境中受人类活动影响最大、生物地球化学循环最为活跃的地区。这一地区氮的生物地球化学循环包括 :生物固氮、有机氮的氨化、氮的硝化、反硝化等 4个主要过程。概括性地介绍了有关这四个过程的发生机制、环境影响因素及研究方法等方面的研究动态、进展、存在的科学问题与今后的研究方向。过去十几年来 ,固氮主要集中在对束毛藻属的研究上 ,其间有两个重要发现 ,一是生物固氮在海洋氮循环中的作用远比人们以前的想象要重要得多 ;二是蓝细菌已经在海洋中存在了 2 0亿年 ,它们有可能调节大气中的 CO2 ,进而影响全球气候。由于有机物的结构千差万别 ,含氮有机物的氨化过程可能是一个简单的矿化反应 ,也有可能是一系列复杂的代谢过程 ,在水解酶的作用下含氮有机物降解为下一级化合物。硝化过程分两步进行 ,氨的硝化为反硝化细菌提供了重要的硝酸盐来源 ,通常采用同位素方法来研究硝化过程。发生在沉积物中的反硝化过程是氮循环的关键步骤 ,反硝化过程一方面减少了海水中初级生产者可利用的氮 ,另一方面产生了终结产物 N2 和 N2 O,而 N2 O是一种温室气体 ,可能影响全球气候变化     

间伐和林下植被剔除对毛竹林土壤氮矿化速率及其温度敏感性的影响

选择中亚热带毛竹人工林为研究对象,利用野外原位和室内培养相结合的方法,探讨不同间伐强度(25%间伐、50%间伐)和林下植被剔除对土壤氮矿化速率及其温度敏感性的影响。结果表明,25%间伐显著增加土壤氨化速率(P0.01),但降低硝化速率(P0.01);50%间伐显著增加土壤硝化速率(P0.01),而林下植被剔除显著降低土壤硝化速率(P0.01)。相关分析的结果表明,土壤氨化速率与有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)及全磷(TP)含量呈显著负相关关系;硝化速率与SOC、含水量(SWC)呈显著正相关关系,与铵态氮(NH~+_4-N)含量呈显著负相关关系。随着温度的升高,不同处理下的氨化速率均显著增加(P0.01),而硝化速率显著降低(P0.01)。25%间伐显著降低土壤净氮矿化和氨化过程的Q_(10)值,对硝化过程的Q_(10)值影响不显著;50%间伐对氨化和硝化过程的Q_(10)值影响均不显著;林下植被剔除对氨化过程的Q_(10)值影响不显著,但显著增加硝化过程的Q_(10)值。不同处理下的土壤氮矿化过程的Q_(10)值介于1.17—1.36之间。25%间伐和林下植被保留有利于毛竹林土壤氮素的供给。     

不同林龄杉木人工林土壤硝化和反硝化作用

对不同林龄杉木人工林(5、8、21、27和40年生)土壤硝化与反硝化过程及功能微生物丰度进行研究。结果表明: 土壤净硝化速率随林龄的增加波动变化,8、27年生杉木人工林土壤净硝化速率显著低于5、21和40年生。27年生杉木人工林土壤氨氧化古菌(AOA) amoA基因丰度显著低于40年生,其他林龄AOA amoA基因丰度之间无显著差异。不同林龄杉木人工林的氨氧化细菌(AOB) amoA基因丰度、反硝化功能基因丰度以及反硝化潜势均无显著差异。逐步回归分析表明,土壤氨氧化微生物AOA amoA基因丰度受土壤理化性质的影响不显著,土壤总碳和土壤pH是影响AOB丰度的重要因子。反硝化功能基因narG、nirK及nosZ随土壤pH的增加而增加,编码亚硝酸盐还原酶(NIR)的功能基因(nirK、nirS)受土壤总碳的影响。林龄可通过影响AOA amoA基因丰度影响土壤净硝化速率。林龄直接作用于反硝化潜势,或间接影响土壤微生物生物量碳、土壤pH及反硝化功能基因丰度(narG和nirK),进而影响反硝化潜势。相较于反硝化过程,土壤硝化作用及AOA amoA基因丰度对杉木林分发育更加敏感,可适当延长轮伐期以降低土壤硝化作用造成的氮流失风险。     

三江平原典型小叶章湿地土壤硝化反硝化作用与氧化亚氮排放

应用C₂H₂抑制原状土柱培育法研究了三江平原典型小叶章湿地土壤N₂O排放速率及反硝化速率的变化,分析了它们与环境因子的关系,并估算了N₂O排放量及反硝化损失量.结果表明：草甸沼泽土和腐殖质沼泽土N₂O排放速率的变化基本一致,其范围分别为0.020～0.089 kg N·hm^-2·d^-1和0.012～0.033 kg N·hm^-2·d^-1,前者的N₂O排放速率均明显高于后者(平均为1.79±1.07倍),且其差异达到显著水平(P＜0.05);二者反硝化速率的变化并不一致,其范围分别为0.024～0.127 kg N·hm^-2·d^-1和0.021～0.043 kg N·hm^-2·d^-1,前者的反硝化速率一般也要高于后者(平均为1.67±1.56倍),但其差异并未达到显著水平(P＞0.05);硝化作用在前者N₂O排放和氮素损失过程中发挥了重要作用,而反硝化作用则是导致后者N₂O排放和氮素损失的重要过程;氮素物质基础不是影响二者硝化-反硝化作用的重要因素;温度对前者硝化 反硝化作用的影响比后者更为明显,其反硝化速率与5、10和15 cm地温均呈显著正相关(P＜0.05);二者所处湿地水分条件的差异是导致其N₂O排放速率及反硝化速率差异的重要原因.生长季内,前者的N₂O排放量和反硝化损失量分别为5.216 kg N·hm^-2和6.166 kg N·hm^-2,而后者分别为3.196 kg N·hm^-2和4.407 kg N·hm^-2;在二者的反硝化产物中,N₂O/N₂的比率最高,分别为5.49和3.76,表明N₂在后者反硝化产物中所占的比例明显高于前者,说明季节积水条件会导致N₂O/N₂比例降低.     

电极生物膜反应器中反硝化菌的初步研究

以电极生物膜反应器中分离的三株反硝化菌(12E、22A、25C)为实验材料,为菌株的形态及生理生化特征进行了初步研究,并进一步研究了单一菌株去除硝酸盐氮的能力,结果表明:三株菌株去除(NO3-)-N(硝酸盐氮)的能力存在差异,25C菌株去除率最高.C/N(碳氮比)对菌株的(NO3-)-N去除率有影响,C/N越大,去除率越高.     

好氧反硝化菌Defluvibacter lusatiensis str.DN7的分离鉴定和异养硝化性能

从稳定运行处理竹子加工废水的生物接触氧化反应器中分离得到一株好氧反硝化菌DN7,其72 h NO3-降解率达99.4％.细胞显微镜观察显示,菌株为革兰氏阴性小杆菌,大小为0.5 μm×1.5 μm,菌落为乳白色.通过生理生化特性及16S rDNA同源性分析,初步推断该菌株为根瘤菌中的Defluvibacter lusatiensis str.碳源、C/N、硝酸盐初始浓度、溶解氧(DO)、pH对DN7反硝化性能影响的结果表明:菌株对柠檬酸钠、葡萄糖等小分子有机物的利用较好;C/N为9时,脱氮率达99.0％;硝酸盐浓度低于138.48 mg·L-1情况下,DN7脱氮率在96％以上,且亚硝酸盐浓度均在1.0mg·L-1以下;菌株DN7对DO不敏感,中性偏碱性环境有利于DN7反硝化反应的进行;DN7具有良好的异养硝化性能,72 h铵氮降解率达84.7％.     

一株高效好氧反硝化菌的分离及特性

利用富集培养的方法从南昌市郊某养鱼塘采样分离出22株反硝化细菌,其中8株反硝化率较高,从中选择一株效果最好的作为研究对象,命名为HS-N62,对其生长特性进行了深入研究。结果表明:硝酸盐氮初始浓度为140mg/L,菌株HS-N62在12h内对硝酸盐氮的去除率可达96%,而且没有亚硝酸盐氮的积累。该菌最适生长温度范围为30°C-37°C,最适生长pH范围6.0-8.0,最适C/N比为10:1,并能利用多种碳源生长。运用正交试验探讨了该菌株最适的反硝化条件。反硝化菌株HS-N62还具有较好的除磷能力,12h除磷率达到67.7%(初始磷酸盐浓度57mg/L)。通过形态学特性和生理生化分析以及16S rRNA基因序列分析,菌株HS-N62与Pseudomonas sp.亲缘关系最为接近,相似性达99%,初步鉴定该菌为假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas sp.)。     

硝化抑制剂DCD、 DMPP对褐土氮总矿化速率和硝化速率的影响

采用15N库稀释-原位培养法研究了硝化抑制剂DCD、DMPP对华北盐碱性褐土氮总矿化速率和硝化速率的影响.试验在山西省运城市种植玉米的盐碱性土壤上进行,设单施尿素、尿素+DCD、尿素+DMPP 3个处理.结果表明:施肥后2周,DCD、DMPP分别使氮总矿化速率和氮总硝化速率减少了25.5％、7.3％和60.3％、59.1％,DCD对氮总矿化速率的影响显著高于DMPP,两者对氮总硝化速率的影响无显著差异;而在施肥后7周,不同硝化抑制剂对氮总硝化速率的影响存在差异.施肥后2周,3个处理的土壤氮总矿化速率和硝化速率分别是施肥前的7.2 ～10.0倍和5.5 ～21.5倍;NH4+和NO3-消耗速率分别是施肥前的9.1 ～12.2倍和5.1 ～8.4倍,这是由氮肥对土壤的激发效应所致.硝化抑制剂使氮肥更多地以NH4+形式保持在土壤中,减少了NO3-的积累.土壤氮总矿化速率和总硝化速率受硝化抑制剂的抑制是N2O减排的主要原因.     

Estimates of Microbial Populations Involved in the N Cycle and their Activity in Water and Sediments of Fish Farming Ponds under Mono and Polyculture Systems in India

The population sizes of ammonifying, protein mineralizing, nitrogen fixing and nitrifying bacteria, and the rates of ammonification and nitrification (natural and potential) were measured in water and sediments of four fish ponds being used for traditional, mono- and polyculture systems of fish farming. Spatial differences in the microbial density in these ponds were related to the fish culturing practices adopted. The seasonal variation of ammonifying bacteria was found to be positively correlated with the NH₄-N level in the water. The natural and potential capacity to generate both nitrite and nitrate in these water bodies was strongly correlated with the concentrations of the different forms of inorganic nitrogen present. The rates of NO₂-N and NO₃-N formation occurring in these fish ponds were directly proportional to the amount of dissolved oxygen and pH of the environment, respectively.     

Soil and fertilizer nitrogen transformations under alternate flooding and drying moisture regimes

Summary A study of changes in NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^––N in Maahas clay amended with (NH₄)₂SO₄ and subjected to 4 water regimes in the presence and absence of the nitrification inhibitor N-Serve (Nitrapyrin) showed that the mineral N was well conserved in the continoous regimes of 50% and 200% (soil weight basis) but suffered heavy losses due to nitrification-denitrification under alternate drying and flooding. N-Serve was effective in minimizing these losses.Another incubation study with 3 soils showed that after 10 cycles of flooding and drying (either at 60°C or 25°C), the ammonification of soil N was enhanced. Nitrification of soil as well as fertilizer NH₄ ⁺ was completely inhibited upto 4 weeks by the treatments involving drying at high temperature. Flooding and air drying at 25°C, on the other hand, enhanced ammonification of soil N but retarded nitrification. These treatments, however, enhanced both ammonification and nitrification of the applied NH₄ ⁺ fertilizer N. Under flooded conditions rate of NH₄ ⁺ production was faster in soils that were dried at 60°C or 25°C and then flooded as compared to air dried soils.It is concluded that N losses by nitrification-denitrification and related N transformations may be considerably altered by alternating moisture regimes. Flooding and drying treatments seem to retard nitrification of soil N but conserve that of fertilizer NH₄ ⁺ applied after these treatments.     

Nitrogen cycling and retention in fish-cum-livestock ponds

Synthesizing the results of 18 PhD studies carried out at the Fisheries Research Institute in Szarvas, Hungary, on fish-cum-pig and fish-cum-duck ponds, the nitrogen cycles in these organically loaded ecosystems were constructed. Data for 13 water and sediment nitrogen components, including is solved and particulate matter, combined and freely dissolved amino acids and dissolved and ‘absorbed’ sediment total ammonia concentrations, were quantitatively analysed. All known nitrogen transfer rates were determined simultaneously or estimated through mechanisms of nitrogen balance: nitrogen fixation, ammonification, ammonia regeneration, amino acid uptake, ammonia uptake, nitrification, nitrate uptake, nitrate respiration and denitrification. Based on management parameters as well as compartment and transfer rate measurements, the nitrogen balance and budgets were also calculated for the experimental ponds and for a fish-cum-duck commercial farm. The farm nitrogen budget was determined by analysing 20 years of nitrogen input-output data. The analysis shows the high assimilative capacity of the fish-cum-livestock ecosystems for nutrients, indicating the possible buffer function of the system in highly utilized agricultural areas.     

Nitrogen Transformations in Wetland Soil Cores Measured by (sup15)N Isotope Pairing and Dilution at Four Infiltration Rates

The effect of water infiltration rate (IR) on nitrogen cycling in a saturated wetland soil was investigated by applying a (sup15)N isotope dilution and pairing method. Water containing [(sup15)N]nitrate was infiltrated through 10-cm-long cores of sieved and homogenized soil at rates of 72, 168, 267, and 638 mm day(sup-1). Then the frequencies of (sup30)N(inf2), (sup29)N(inf2), (sup15)NO(inf3)(sup-), and (sup15)NH(inf4)(sup+) in the outflow water were measured. This method allowed simultaneous determination of nitrification, coupled and uncoupled denitrification, and nitrate assimilation rates. From 3% (at the highest IR) to 95% (at the lowest IR) of nitrate was removed from the water, mainly by denitrification. The nitrate removal was compensated for by the net release of ammonium and dissolved organic nitrogen. Lower oxygen concentrations in the soil at lower IRs led to a sharper decrease in the nitrification rate than in the ammonification rate, and, consequently, more ammonium leaked from the soil. The decreasing organic-carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (from 12.8 to 5.1) and the increasing light A(inf250)/A(inf365) ratio (from 4.5 to 5.2) indicated an increasing bioavailability of the outflowing dissolved organic matter with increasing IR. The efflux of nitrous oxide was also very sensitive to IR and increased severalfold when a zone of low oxygen concentration was close to the outlet of the soil cores. N(inf2)O then constituted 8% of the total gaseous N lost from the soil.     

氮硅添加对青藏高原高寒草甸土壤氮矿化的影响

为了解全球气候变化背景下氮沉降对土壤氮矿化的影响及硅添加对土壤氮矿化的促进作用, 该试验设置不同浓度的氮肥单独添加(0、20、40、60 g·m ^-2, 分别为对照CK、N20、N40、N60)以及与硅肥配施(硅酸4 g·m ^-2, Si4), 测定不同处理下0-20、20-40、40-60 cm土层土壤硝态氮含量、铵态氮含量、净硝化速率、净氨化速率以及净矿化速率。结果显示: (1)单独添加氮肥, 各土层土壤硝态氮和铵态氮含量均随处理浓度的增加而增加, 0-20 cm土层N20、N40、N60处理下土壤硝态氮和铵态氮分别较CK增加63.48%、126.04%、247.03%和80.66%、152.52%、244.56%; 随着土层深度增加, 土壤硝态氮、铵态氮含量均有下降, 20-40、40-60 cm土层较0-20 cm土层硝态氮含量分别平均减少53.90%、76.05%, 铵态氮含量分别平均减少48.62%、68.23%。(2)土壤净硝化速率、净氨化速率及净矿化速率随着氮肥浓度增加均呈上升趋势。相同氮肥添加浓度下, 土壤净硝化速率、净氨化速率和净矿化速率随着土层深度增加逐渐下降(除CK外)。(3)与单独添加氮肥比较, 氮硅肥配施, 土壤氮含量有显著提高, 在0-20 cm土层硝态氮和铵态氮较CK分别增加98.78%、192.62%、330.16%和99.96%、195.82%、306.32%, 20-40、40-60 cm土层也有类似趋势。同时, 氮硅配施促进了土壤氮矿化行为, 在0-20 cm土层, N60Si4处理下的土壤净硝化速率、净氨化速率较单独施氮时分别增加35.88%、27.41%。以上结果表明, 与单独氮肥添加相比, 氮硅配施不但能提高土壤氮含量, 而且能促进土壤氮的矿化作用, 对大气氮沉降有一定的缓解作用。     

Influence of bioturbation on denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) in freshwater sediments

Intensive agriculture leads to increased nitrogen fluxes (mostly as nitrate, NO₃ ^?) to aquatic ecosystems, which in turn creates ecological problems, including eutrophication and associated harmful algal blooms. These problems have focused scientific attention on understanding the controls on nitrate reduction processes such as denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). Our objective was to determine the effects of nutrient-tolerant bioturbating invertebrates (tubificid oligochaetes) on nitrogen cycling processes, specifically coupled nitrification–denitrification, net denitrification, DNRA, and biogeochemical fluxes (O₂, NO₃ ^?, NH₄ ⁺, CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄) in freshwater sediments. A mesocosm experiment determined how tubificid density and increasing NO₃ ^? concentrations (using N¹⁵ isotope tracing) interact to affect N cycling processes. At the lowest NO₃ ^? concentration and in the absence of bioturbation, the relative importance of denitrification to DNRA was similar (i.e., 49.6 and 50.4 ± 8.1 %, respectively). Increasing NO₃ ^? concentrations in the control cores (without fauna) stimulated denitrification, but did not enhance DNRA, which significantly altered the relative importance of denitrification compared to DNRA (94.6 vs. 5.4 ± 0.9 %, respectively). The presence of tubificid oligochaetes enhanced O₂, NO₃ ^?, NH₄ ⁺ fluxes, greenhouse gas production, and N cycling processes. The relative importance of denitrification to DNRA shifted towards favoring denitrification with both the increase in NO₃ ^? concentrations and the increase of bioturbation activity. Our study highlights that understanding the interactions between nutrient-tolerant bioturbating species and nitrate contamination is important for determining the nitrogen removal capacity of eutrophic freshwater ecosystems.     

Nitrate reduction, nitrous oxide formation, and anaerobic ammonia oxidation to nitrite in the gut of soil-feeding termites (Cubitermes and Ophiotermes spp.)

Soil-feeding termites play important roles in the dynamics of carbon and nitrogen in tropical soils. Through the mineralization of nitrogenous humus components, their intestinal tracts accumulate enormous amounts of ammonia, and nitrate and nitrite concentrations are several orders of magnitude above those in the ingested soil. Here, we studied the metabolism of nitrate in the different gut compartments of two Cubitermes and one Ophiotermes species using (15)N isotope tracer analysis. Living termites emitted N(2) at rates ranging from 3.8 to 6.8 nmol h(-1) (g fresh wt.)(-1). However, in homogenates of individual gut sections, denitrification was restricted to the posterior hindgut, whereas nitrate ammonification occurred in all gut compartments and was the prevailing process in the anterior gut. Potential rates of nitrate ammonification for the entire intestinal tract were tenfold higher than those of denitrification, implying that ammonification is the major sink for ingested nitrate in the intestinal tract of soil-feeding termites. Because nitrate is efficiently reduced already in the anterior gut, reductive processes in the posterior gut compartments must be fuelled by an endogenous source of oxidized nitrogen species. Quite unexpectedly, we observed an anaerobic oxidation of (15)N-labelled ammonia to nitrite, especially in the P4 section, which is presumably driven by ferric iron; nitrification and anammox activities were not detected. Two of the termite species also emitted substantial amounts of N(2) O, ranging from 0.4 to 3.9 nmol h(-1) (g fresh wt.)(-1), providing direct evidence that soil-feeding termites are a hitherto unrecognized source of this greenhouse gas in tropical soils.     

Experimental measurement of sediment nitrification and denitrification in Hamilton Harbour,Canada

This research examines the role of sediment nitrification and denitrification in the nitrogen cycle of Hamilton Harbour. The Harbour is subject to large ammonia and carbon loadings from a waste-water treatment plant and from steel industries. Spring ammonia concentrations rapidly decrease from 4.5 to 0.5 mg 1⁻¹, while spring nitrate concentrations increase from 1 to 2 mg l⁻¹, by mid-summer. A three-layer sediment model was developed. The first layer is aerobic; in it, oxidation of organics and nitrification occurs. The second layer is for denitrification, and the third layer is for anaerobic processes. Ammonia sources for nitrification include diffusion from the water column, sources associated with the oxidation of organics, sources from denitrification and from anaerobic processes. Diffusion of oxygen, ammonia and nitrate across the sediment-water interface occurs. Temperature effects are modelled using the Arrhenius concept. A combination of zero-order kinetics for nitrate or ammonia consumption with diffusion results in a half-order reaction, with respect to the water column loss rate to sediments. From experimental measurement, the rate of nitrification is 200 mg N 1⁻¹ sediment per day, while that of denitrification is 85 mg N 1–1 sediment per day at 20 °C. The Arrhenius activation energy is estimated as 15 000 cal/ mole-K and 17 000 cal/ mole-K for nitrification and denitrification, respectively, between 10 °C and 20 °C. Calculations of the flux of ammonia with the sediments, using the biofilm model, compare favourably with experimental observations. The ammonia flux from the water column is estimated to account for 20% of the observed decrease in water column stocks of ammonia, while the nitrate flux from the water column is estimated to account for 25% of the total nitrogen produced by the sediments.     

Biogeochemical processes in intensive zero-effluent marine fish culture with recirculating aerobic and anaerobic biofilters

The biogeochemical processes that drive nutrient transformations and recycling in organic marine sediment-water environments were studied for 17 months in a zero-effluent intensive recirculating culture system. The system consisted of a 10 m³ gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) tank coupled to aerobic and anaerobic water treatment elements. Nutrients and alkalinity were measured in the system to quantify the main biogeochemical processes. Fractions of the carbon fed in feed were found in fish (18.3%) and in sludge (11%); the missing carbon was respired by fish (45%) and by aerobic (8.4%) and anaerobic (7.7%) microorganisms. Fractions of the nitrogen fed in feed were found in fish (15.4%) and in sludge (14.3%); the missing nitrogen was eliminated by nitrification-denitrification. Most of the phosphorus and ash fed in feed and not found in fish accumulated within the sludge in the system. The rates of nitrification, denitrification and sulphate reduction increased with time, reaching 0.3 g N m^− 2 d^− 1, 53 g N m^− 2 d^− 1 and 145 g S m^− 2 d^− 1, respectively. Nitrification developed more rapidly than denitrification, leading at first to nitrate accumulation (to 20 mmol NO₃ l^− 1 by day 200) and a decrease in alkalinity. Once denitrification surpassed nitrification, nitrate concentrations decreased, eventually being reduced to < 0.3 mmol NO₃ l^− 1 by day 510, and alkalinity stabilized. Toxic hydrogen sulphide, generated within the anaerobic sludge, was oxidized by oxygen and nitrate as it diffused through the anaerobic-aerobic sediment-water interface. When nitrate levels in the water above the sludge dropped below 2 mmol l^− 1, sulphide was also oxidized in the fluidized bed reactor. Denitrification reduced nitrate in the water, respired (jointly with sulphate reduction) carbon in the sludge, oxidized the hydrogen sulphide, and contributed to stabilization of alkalinity and accumulation of polyphosphate in bacteria as a major sink of labile P.     

Modeling nitrogen removal in water hyacinth ponds receiving effluent from waste stabilization ponds

We developed a dynamic model to predict nitrogen removal in water hyacinth ponds (WHPs) receiving effluent from waste stabilization ponds (WSPs). The model is based on the biofilm reaction on the root surface of plant and pond walls. The model consists of mass balances of six main substrates including: particulate organic nitrogen (PON), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrite and nitrate (NOx), soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), and particulate chemical oxygen demand (PCOD). The model, incorporating major nitrogen transformation mechanisms such as hydrolysis, mineralization, and nitrification–denitrification, accounts also for carbon consumption and plant uptake. The model's application to a pilot plant showed good agreement between measured and predicted values. According to the modeling results, in the WHPs, nitrification and denitrification were the predominant nitrogen removal processes occurring simultaneously. Temperature and hydraulic retention time (HRT) had a profound effect on the performance of nitrogen removal while an algae biomass (PCOD) accumulated in the WHPs, was a useful carbon source for denitrification.