Abstract
Potential contribution of nitrous oxide (N2O) production during wastewater treatment is discussed based on experimental results. Laboratory experiments using artificial substrate showed that N2O can be produced both innitrification and denitrification of wastewater. Conversion to N2O was as high as in the order of some tens percent of the applied nitrogen. Favorable conditions for production of N2O in denitrification are insufficient organic source, low pH and short solid retention time. Low dissolved oxygen, short solid retention time and presence of organic matters can provoke N2O production in the nitrification process. These conditions are similar to the operational conditions of actual nitrogen removal process.
