Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Denitrification Potential Of Sediment From A Future Mississippi River Diversion Site In Louisiana, Roy Ryuta Iwai

LSU Master's Theses

Denitrification potential was determined in surface sediment from Lake Cataouatche, the receiving basin for a future Mississippi River diversion located in the northern portion of the Barataria Basin estuary. Nitrate removal and denitrification was measured in the laboratory using static sediment microcosms flooded with lake water. Dissolved potassium nitrate (KNO₃) was added to the microcosms to achieve: 1) an initial nitrate concentration similar to the mean Mississippi River concentration (~1.4 mg NO₃-N l^-1), and, 2) a high initial nitrate concentration to elicit a denitrification potential (~50 mg NO₃-N l^-1). Denitrification …