Lab researchers develop new process for converting nitrates to nitrogen gas Nitrates, wastes typically generated in the mining, chemical, farming and nuclear power industries and during weapons production, are toxic to both humans and the environment. Reducing or eliminating nitrates once they enter the groundwater is problematic at best. Now researchers at the Laboratory have developed an inexpensive, potentially revolutionary process for converting solid and liquid nitrate wastes into harmless nitrogen gas. The inventors will demonstrate the new process to potential industrial partners in workshops scheduled for February.
Nitrates are essentially salts or compounds of nitric acid.
They can cause excessive biological activity, vegetation growth and precipitation of organic residue once they come into contact with bodies of water such as lakes. Excessive nitrate concentrations can transform healthy bodies of water into decaying marshes. If consumed in sufficient quantities, nitrates can cause harm to humans, especially infants. Studies have shown that nitrates in sufficient amounts can cause a disease commonly called Blue Baby Syndrome, a congenital heart disease characterized by such signs as bluish discoloration of the skin, breathing difficulty and heart murmur. Several methods currently are used worldwide to destroy or remove nitrate wastes, such as reverse osmosis, evaporation and thermal or biological destruction.