MICROBIAL BASIS FOR THE BIOTECHNOLOGICAL REMOVAL OF NITROGEN-OXIDES FROM FLUE-GASES

This Review summarizes recent advances in the physiology and microbial biodiversity related to the removal of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from gas eous pollutants. A brief overview is given of recent chemical technolo gies and the biotechnological potential for removal of NOx from flue g ases: microbiological processes related to NOx removal [aerobic denitr ification, hydrogen-stimulated and thermophilic denitrification; anaer obic oxidation of ammonium (NH4+), combined nitrification-denitrificat ion processes] metabolism of nitric oxide by denitrifiers and other mi cro-organisms; reaction of nitric oxide in higher temperature; combina tion of nitrogen and sulphur removal processes. This Review is address ed to biotechnologists, biochemists, microbiologists and physiologists .