During the process of denitrification, what is nitrogen gas converted from?

Denitrification is a critical step in the nitrogen cycle, particularly in wastewater treatment, where it serves to reduce nitrogen levels in effluent. During this process, denitrifying bacteria convert compounds like nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-) into nitrogen gas (N2), which is then released into the atmosphere. The conversion from nitrites and nitrates is important because these forms of nitrogen can contribute to water pollution through eutrophication if they are present in high concentrations in water bodies.

In this context, nitrite and nitrate serve as electron acceptors for the bacteria, allowing them to metabolize and facilitate energy production while releasing nitrogen gas as a byproduct. This nitrogen gas is inert and does not contribute to nutrient loading in the water systems. Therefore, understanding that nitrate and nitrite are directly involved in the denitrification process emphasizes their role in managing nitrogen in wastewater treatment.