John C. Lehrter
Tanzania
Research Article
Estimating Rates of Denitrification Enzyme Activity in Wetland Soils with
Direct Simultaneous Quantification of Nitrogen and Nitrous Oxide by
Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometry
Author(s): Fred J. Genthner, Dragoslav T. Marcovich and John C. LehrterFred J. Genthner, Dragoslav T. Marcovich and John C. Lehrter
The microbial mediated process of denitrification is a major pathway for the removal of reactive nitrogen a pollutant in natural environments and waste treatment facilities. Denitrification potential, measured as denitrification enzyme activity (DEA), was quantified in novel short-term (4 h) anaerobic assays using a more sensitive and precise technique, membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) rather than the traditional headspace electron capture gas chromatography (GC-ECD) method. Using MIMS modifications made to the instrument and sample handling allowed for the simultaneous and direct measurement of reaction products nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas, and the chemically unreactive dinitrogen (N2). Rate determinations were made from the slope of a linear curve generated by plotting increasing concentrations of the reaction products with time. Strong evidence for the valid.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/1948-5948.1000108