Ammoniacal nitrogen
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Ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N), is a measure for the amount of ammonia, a toxic pollutant often found in landfill leachate.[1]. Ammonia can directly poison humans and upset the equilibrium of water systems. If the landfill is suitably designed, the leachate can be pumped to the surface and treated before it enters the ground water. The ammoniacal nitrogen levels can be lowered using a sequencing batch reactor.
Structure and Basic Properties
Ammonium and ammonia form of nitrogen
Ammonium is an ionized form of ammonia.
The chemical structure for ammonium is NH4+.
The chemical structure for ammonia is NH3.
Ammonia is very soluble in water. Ammonium reacts with water (H2O) and forms the ionized form:
NH3 + H2O ↔ NH4+ + OH-
The reaction is reversion. The hydroxide ion (OH-) plus NH4+ forms NH3 + H2O.
The percent of ammonia increases with increasing alkalinity of dissolved ammonium in water. Ammonium ions are formed with increasing acidity of dissolved ammonia in water.
Ammonia is toxic to fish and humans. The toxicity is decreased with lower alkalinity and increases with higher alkalinity as ammonia is converted to ammonium.
There are 3 basic forms of nitrogen:
- Mineral nitrogen
- Organic nitrogen
- Elemental nitrogen
The mineral forms are nitrate, nitrite and ammonium ions.
- Nitrate
- Nitrite
- Ammonium
The chemical structure for nitrate is NO3-. The chemical structure for nitrite is NO2-.
Ammoniums ions are nitrified and are converted by microorganisms into nitrate. Fish and humans are more tolerant of nitrate nitrogen than they are of ammonium nitrogen. In well aerated water, most of the mineral nitrogen is in the form of nitrate. See nitrogen cycle
The major organic forms of nitrogen include proteins, amino acids, DNA, and RNA.
Elemental nitrogen is the gases form on nitrogen in the atmosphere. The chemical structure for nitrogen gas is N2.
Related Links
References
- ^ "Removal of ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH3) from municipal solid waste leachate by using activated carbon and limestone". Waste Management & Research. 22 (5): 371–375. 2004. doi:10.1177/0734242X04047661.
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