Decomposition of nitrite under various pH and aeration conditions

Studies on the decomposition/oxidation of nitrite at differentpH values and aeration flow rates were investigated using abench-scale batch reactor. The conditions were pH 2.85, 3.50,5.80, 7.0, and 11.6, and with or without aeration at airflowrates of 1.50, 2.25, and 3.25 L min^sup -1^.Decomposition/oxidation of nitrite may be described by apseudo-first order expression, and the rate constants fornitrite decomposition/oxidation ranged from 1.2 ×10^sup -6^ s^sup -1^ to 1.12 × 10^sup -4^ s^sup -1^ depending on the experimental conditions. The rate ofdecomposition/oxidation of nitrite was found to increase for lowpH conditions and for high airflow rates. The experimentalresults showed that the dominant reaction in thedecomposition/oxidation of nitrite in low pH solutions and inthe presence of some aeration was most probably thedecomposition of nitrous acid to NO and NO^sub 2^. Oxidation ofnitrite to nitrate appeared to proceed in a smaller proportionin comparison to the breakdown of nitrous acid to nitrogen oxidecompounds. Results from this study showed that emissions ofnitrogen oxides from nitrite-containing solutions are possible ifthe solutions were agitated and the pHs of the solutions wereless than 6.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]