Abstract

Platinum blacked, platinum wire redox potential probes detected the possibility of denitrification when properly placed in soil columns intermittently flooded with secondary sewage effluent. The evolution of gases from the flooded soil column containing 98% N₂ verified the detection. When additional soluble carbon was added to the sewage water, the redox potential dropped to more negative values (−200 mV) than when ordinary sewage water (+200 mV) was used, indicating that the oxidation states of other elements besides nitrogen were changing. The probes functioned for as long as 6 months in place without loss of sensitivity.

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