Denitrification
During denitrification, nitrate (NO3-) is converted into nitrogen (N2) in the absence of oxygen by heterotrophic bacteria such as Pseudomonas. They use organic matter as an electron donor for this reduction reaction.
| Organism | Reaction equation |
|---|---|
| Pseudomonas | 5 C6H12O6 + 24 NO3- ➔ 24 HCO3- + 6 CO2 + 18 H2O + 12 N2 |