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Nonlinear Denitrification Kinetics with Continuous Flow in Soil Columns¹

ABSTRACT

An undisturbed core of surface soil was placed in an acrylic plastic perforated column. Saturated air or N₂ was passed horizontally through the soil while a NO₃^--N solution was leached vertically through the soil. Aerobic breakthrough curves were used to measure the convective diffusion and the denitrification rates were measured by switching to anaerobic conditions after the NO₃^- concentration in the effluent equalled that in the influent. The theoretical model was developed which did not assume a priori the functional relationship between the reaction rate and the NO₃^- concentration. The validity of the model was checked by sending a pulse of NO₃^- into the column, with no NO₃^- present initially. The breakthrough curve was predicted using the convective diffusion and denitrification rate previously measured under different boundary condition. The good agreement between theory and experiment showed that the deviation from first- or zero-order kinetics is of crucial importance in predicting the breakthrough curve.

¹ Contribution from The Connecticut Agric. Exp. Sta. New Haven 06504.

² Assistant Soil Scientist and Mathematician, respectively.

Received for publication January 15, 1975. Accepted for publication May 5, 1975.