MECHANISM OF THE MICROBIOLOGICAL OXIDATION OF AMMONIA. PART I. FORMATION OF INTERMEDIATE PRODUCTS.

The microbiological oxidation of ammonia to nitrite has been studied with particular reference to the formation of any possible intermediate products. Nitrite forming bac­teria isolated from soils obtained from different parts of India have been used in the present investigation. Hydroxylamine and hyponitrite expected from theoretical consi­derations could not be detected in any of the numerous cultures examined by the known qualitative tests, some of which are very sensitive