Oxygen-nitrogen relationships in autotrophic nitrification.

Oxygen utilization by the autotrophic nitrifiers Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter was studied. Experimental evidence is presented which reflects the effect of carbon dioxide fixation on overall oxygen utilization in autotrophic nitrification. Measurement of dissolved oxygen and inorganic nitrogen changes indicates that oxygen-nitrogen ratios in inorganic nitrogen oxidation are equal to 3.22 parts (expressed in milligrams per liter) of oxygen per part of ammonia nitrogen oxidized to nitrite nitrogen and 1.11 parts of oxygen per part of nitrite nitrogen oxidized to nitrate nitrogen. These values rather than the stoichiometric ratios should be used in nitrogenous oxygen demand calculations.