5.

RESULTS Sample (different sources) INDUSTRIAL WATER RIVER WATER DOMESTIC WATER NH3-N, mg/L 0.42 0.00 0.01 NO3--N, mg/L 0.40 1.60 0.40

6.0

DISCUSSIONS

1. Results Discussion Ammonia-Nitrogen(NH3-N) Ammonia (NH3+) is a colorless gas with a strong pungent odor. It is easily liquefied and solidified and is very soluble in water. One volume of water will dissolve 1,300 volumes of NH 3. Ammonia will react with water to form a weak base. Usually industrial wastewater contains high amount of ammonia due to usage in chemical processes. This supports the data that we gain that the industrial water contains 0.42 mg/L, whereas the river water and domestic water contain 0.00 mg/L and 0.01 mg/L respectively. The amount of ammonia in later sample is negligible due to the very low concentration of it. For the traceable amount of ammonia in domestic water can be reasoned out that the household uses ammonia based products such as detergents, plastic, food wrappings. Nitrate Ion Nitrogen(NO3N) Nitrogen is the nutrient applied in the largest quantities for lawn and garden care and crop production. In addition to fertilizer, nitrogen occurs naturally in the soil in organic forms from decaying plant and animal residues. In the soil, bacteria convert various forms of nitrogen to nitrate, a nitrogen/oxygen ion (NO3-). This is desirable as the majority of the nitrogen used by plants is absorbed in the nitrate form. However, nitrate is highly leachable and readily moves with water through the soil profile. If there is excessive rainfall or overirrigation, nitrate will be leached below the plant's root zone and may eventually reach groundwater and all goes back into river. This clearly explains the high content of nitrate amount in river water that is 1.60 mg/L. Nitrates stimulate the growth of aquatic plants that can lead to reduced oxygen levels. High nitrate levels occur in areas of extensive agriculture, animal feedlots and septic waste systems. Thus, the nitrate concentration of domestic water and industrial water are the same of the reading 0.40 mg/L. Nitrate in irrigation water has much the same effect as soil-applied fertilizer nitrogen can be considered useable nitrogen, and, along with a conversion factor can be incorporated into growers fertilizer program.

2. Sources of Ammonia in Water and Wastewater Wastewater About three quarters of the ammonia produced in the world is used in fertilizers either as the compound itself or as ammonium salts such as sulfate and nitrate. Large quantities of ammonia are used in the production of nitric acid, urea and nitrogen compounds. It is used in the production of ice and in refrigerating plants. Household ammonia is an aqueous solution of ammonia. It is used to remove carbonate from hard water. Since ammonia is a decomposition product from urea and protein, it is found in domestic wastewater. Cement mortar used for coating the insides of water pipes may release considerable amounts of ammonia into drinking-water and compromise disinfection with chlorine. Water Aquatic life and fish also contribute to ammonia levels in a stream.NH3 is the principal form of toxic ammonia. It has been reported toxic to fresh water organisms at concentrations ranging from 0.53 to 22.8 mg/L. Toxic levels are both pH and temperature dependent. Toxicity increases as pH decreases and as temperature decreases. Plants are more tolerant of ammonia than animals, and invertebrates are more tolerant than fish. Natural levels in groundwaters are usually below 0.2 mg of ammonia per liter. Higher natural contents are found in humid substances or iron or in forests. Surface waters may contain up to 12 mg/liter. Ammonia may be present in drinking-water as a result of disinfection with chloramines. The presence of ammonia at higher than geogenic levels is an important indicator of fecal pollution. Taste and odour problems as well as decreased disinfection efficiency are to be expected if drinking-water containing more than 0.2 mg of ammonia per liter is chlorinated.

3. Biochemical reactions that can remove nitrate from water

2 NO2- + O2 -> 2 NO3- - by nitrobacter bacteria During the denitrification bacteria decompose nitrates to nitrogen. This does not require aeration, as it is an anaerobic process. Nitrogen is eventually released into air. A carbon source is often added to speed up the decomposition process. One example of a possible reaction mechanism is: 6 NO3- + 5 CH3OH -> 3 N2 + 5 CO2 + 7 H2O + 6 OHThese processes exclude one another, because one requires oxygen and one does not. Wastewater treatment requires both aeration, and the presence of oxygen-pour spaces. When these processes are applied as a third water purification step, approximately 90% of nitrogen may be removed. In countries such as Brazil, water hyacinths are applied as a third water purification step. These remove both nitrogen and phosphorus from water.

Bio-chemical Denitrification; By using denitrifying bacteria and microbes, the nitrate ion can be reduced into its elemental state of N2. These organisms are able to carry out this process through a reaction such as: 6H+ + 6NO3- + 5CH3OH -> 3N2 + 5CO2 + 13H2O By using a chemical such as ethanol, the removal of nitrate is possible. Sometimes it is necessary to convert the nitrogen from the ammonium ion into nitrite with the use of nitrosomas (specialized bacteria) to facilitate the removal of all nitrogen from the solution. The nitrite compound is then oxidized to nitrate, which can then be eliminated by the reaction shown above.