While conducting experiments, I experienced that 1000 mg/l ammonium nitrogen was converted to 130 mg/l nitrate nitrogen. This did not make sense to me, although the experiments were conducted in triplicates. Additional experiments also gave similar results
The pH of the solution was 7.7 and organic substrate concentration was 1.5 g/l
Lukhanyo,
Perhaps you have multiple N transformation pathways occurring simultaneously, such that more than one process is affecting NH4 and NO3/NO2 concentrations and you are seeing only the net effects. See, for example: Heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification bacterium isolated from anaerobic/anoxic/oxic treatment system
Y Wen, CH Wei - African Journal of Biotechnology, 2011, http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajb/article/view/94700
You either had denitrification going on as well. pH was higher and you stripped NH3 or due to some uknwon factor ammonium was converted in N2O. But essential there cannot be 'loss' of N
Thank you Andrew for the suggested paper. That was my initial reasoning of why such a situation was occuring within the system.
Mark, when I ran uninoculated flasks in similar conditions, the amount of stripped ammonia was equivalent to 10%. It is however, possible that the ammonium was converted to nitrous oxide, as you suggest but I would need to evaluate that. I appreciate your input
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