Seminar on Trends in Environmental Biotechnology

Nitrogen prevails in different forms. Di-nitrogen gas, ammonia and nitrate are some well known examples. Nitrogen compounds have different characteristics and origin. Some are important fertilizers for agriculture, others are harmful to humans and nature at already low concentrations. The excess of nitrogen compounds in our environment results in problems for humans as well as for the environment.

In order to prevent further eutrophication of surface waters, the European Water Framework Directive forces water boards and industries to remove all nitrogen (and phosphorus) from their effluents. This can be done by improving the nitrification and denitrification processes, but also by applying other, newly developed techniques that focus on resource recovery and reuse.