Denitrification: Water Quality and the Biogeochemical Engine

This lecture covers denitrification, a process where nitrate is reduced to N₂ under anoxic conditions, resulting in the net loss of nitrate to the atmosphere. It explains the four steps involved in the reduction of nitrate to N₂, the different nitrate reduction pathways, and the enzymes involved in denitrification. The lecture also discusses denitrifying organisms, nitrate ammonifying organisms, and their metabolic processes. Furthermore, it explores the application of denitrification in wastewater treatment, emphasizing its critical role in removing nitrogen. The lecture concludes by highlighting the importance of denitrification in the nitrogen cycle and its impact on water quality.