HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chao, T.-T. Articles by Kroontje, W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Chao, T.-T. Articles by Kroontje, W. Agricola Articles by Chao, T.-T. Articles by Kroontje, W.

Inorganic Nitrogen Transformations Through the Oxidation and Reduction of Iron¹

ABSTRACT

In acid solution nitrate can be reduced by ferrous iron to N₂ through such intermediates as nitrogen tetraoxide, nitrous acid, hyponitrous acid and nitrous oxide or through nitrogen tetraoxide, nitrous acid, nitric oxide, and nitrous oxide. These sequences show similarities to those occurring in the denitrification process. In a basic solution the reduction of nitrite to N₂ may go through nitric oxide, N₂O₂^2-, and nitrous oxide, or it may be reduced to ammonia through hydroxylamine, and hydrazine. Hydrazine and hydroxylamine are very unstable in the presence of iron in solution. In acid solution both hydrazine and hydroxylamine are oxidized by ferric iron to N₂ and N₂O. The amount of N₂O formed is proportional to the ferric iron concentration.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Science, Fayetteville State College, Fayetteville, North Carolina, and the Department of Agronomy, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Va. This investigation was partly supported by the National Science Foundation.

² Professor of Chemistry and Associate Professor of Agronomy.

Received for publication September 13, 1965. Accepted for publication January 4, 1966.