title: Kinetics of nitrous oxide (N2O) formation and reduction by Paracoccus pantotrophus.
abstract: Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a powerful greenhouse gas emitted from wastewater treatment, as well as natural systems, as a result of biological nitrification and denitrification. While denitrifying bacteria can be a significant source of N2O, they can also reduce N2O to N2. More information on the kinetics of N2O formation and reduction by denitrifying bacteria is needed to predict and quantify their impact on N2O emissions. In this study, kinetic parameters were determined for Paracoccus pantotrophus, a common denitrifying bacterium. Parameters included the maximum specific reduction rates, [Formula: see text], growth rates, [Formula: see text], and yields, Y, for reduction of NO3-(nitrate) to nitrite (NO2-), NO2-to N2O, and N2O to N2, with acetate as the electron donor. The [Formula: see text] values were 2.9 gN gCOD-1d-1for NO3-to NO2-, 1.4 gN gCOD-1d-1for NO2-to N2O, and 5.3 gN gCOD-1d-1for N2O to N2. The [Formula: see text] values were 2.7, 0.93, and 1.5 d-1, respectively. When N2O and NO3-were added concurrently, the apparent (extant) kinetics, [Formula: see text], assuming reduction to N2, were 6.3 gCOD gCOD-1d-1, compared to 5.4 gCOD gCOD-1d-1for NO3-as the sole added acceptor. The [Formula: see text] was 1.6 d-1, compared to 2.5 d-1for NO3-alone. These results suggest that NO3-and N2O were reduced concurrently. Based on this research, denitrifying bacteria like P. pantotrophus may serve as a significant sink for N2O. With careful design and operation, treatment plants can use denitrifying bacteria to minimize N2O emissions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering and Physics, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA, 17022, USA.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Read-Daily
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sabba
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Avenida Padre Hurtado 750, Viña del Mar, Chile.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pavissich
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA. rnerenbe@nd.edu.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nerenberg
keywords: Denitrification; Kinetics; Maximum specific reduction rates; Nitrous oxide; Paracoccus pantotrophus