Question

The Urbana wastewater treatment plant discharge permit limits the discharge of ammonia/ammonium (NH3/NH4 ). To meet this permit, the ammonium is converted to nitrate (NO3 - ) by biological nitrification in trickling filter towers. The solution entering the nitrification towers contains 15 mg/L of NH4 as N. Write a balanced reaction for the oxidation of NH4 to nitrate,

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The conversion of ammonium ion into nitrate ion is a two step process which is written below .

2 NH₄⁺ + 3 O₂ = 2NO₂⁻ + 4 H⁺ + 2H₂O

2NO₂⁻ + O₂ = 2 NO₃⁻

This is a two step reaction . These steps are managed by different class of bacteria.