ELECTRIC PROMPTING AND CONTROL OF DENITRIFICATION

The effectiveness of a denitrification process which is driven and controlled by an electric current is demonstrated. Denitrifying microorganisms were immobilized on a carbon electrode and hydrogen was produced through the electrolysis of water. The hydrogen was utilized for the reduction of nitrate to N2. The denitrification rate was a linear function of the electric current, and it was shown that about 1 mol of electron reduces 0.2 mol of nitrate to N2 gas. These results exhibit that the proposed process is simple and feasible, especially for the treatment of low-strength nitrate solutions. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.