What is the name of the process where nitrate is converted into nitrogen gas?

The process where nitrate is converted into nitrogen gas is known as denitrification. This biological process occurs primarily in anaerobic conditions, where specific bacteria, such as Pseudomonas and Bacillus, utilize nitrate as an electron acceptor during the breakdown of organic matter. As a result of their metabolic activity, gaseous nitrogen (N2) and, to a lesser extent, nitrous oxide (N2O) are produced and released into the atmosphere.

Denitrification serves a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle, helping to reduce the excess nitrogen in ecosystems, which can otherwise lead to problems such as water pollution and eutrophication. Understanding denitrification is essential in wastewater treatment and environmental management, as it contributes to the removal of nitrates from treated water, thereby improving the quality of effluents discharged into natural waterways. The other processes listed, such as nitrification, eutrophication, and decomposition, encompass different functions within the nitrogen cycle or broader ecological systems but do not specifically involve the conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas.