Denitrification is a microbial respiratory process in which oxidized nitrogen species, primarily nitrate (NO₃⁻) and nitrite (NO₂⁻), are sequentially reduced to gaseous forms such as nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and dinitrogen (N₂) under low-oxygen or anoxic conditions. It is typically carried out by facultative anaerobic bacteria and some archaea using nitrate or nitrite as terminal electron acceptors, coupled to the oxidation of organic or inorganic electron donors. Denitrification is a key step in the global nitrogen cycle, regulating bioavailable nitrogen in ecosystems and contributing to greenhouse gas and reactive nitrogen fluxes.
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