I have set up Batch Anammox reactor. To maintain anaerobic conditions, the reactor is purged with Nitrogen gas. I would like to know whether this nitrogen gas used for purging can get converted to NH3/NH4 and increase NH4 concentration.
Microbial conversion of N2 to NH3 is an extremely energy taxing process (16 ATP/N2 molecule) which is usually performed by microbes such as cyanobacteria and symbiotic bacteria such as Rhizobium (living in legume root nodules) by using an oxygen sensitive enzyme referred to as nitrogenase. The above process occurs intracellularly hence even if it occurs NH3 produced will be contained within the cell to be converted into protein subsequently. The above process will be unlikely in your reactor and I am unable to recall any other microbiological processes that can produce NH3 from N2 extracellularly.
Production of NH3 by chemical process (e.g. Haber) is also unlikely given this requires H2 gas, very high energy (450oC), a suitable catalyst (Fe3O4) and high atmospheric pressure (200).
Microbial conversion of N2 to NH3 is an extremely energy taxing process (16 ATP/N2 molecule) which is usually performed by microbes such as cyanobacteria and symbiotic bacteria such as Rhizobium (living in legume root nodules) by using an oxygen sensitive enzyme referred to as nitrogenase. The above process occurs intracellularly hence even if it occurs NH3 produced will be contained within the cell to be converted into protein subsequently. The above process will be unlikely in your reactor and I am unable to recall any other microbiological processes that can produce NH3 from N2 extracellularly.
Production of NH3 by chemical process (e.g. Haber) is also unlikely given this requires H2 gas, very high energy (450oC), a suitable catalyst (Fe3O4) and high atmospheric pressure (200).
I agree with Selva Selvarajah answer. It is not possible to convert N2 gas to NH3 in your reactor.
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