Bacterial digestion is an economical method of sewage treatment.
5CO2(g) + 55NH4+(aq) + 76O2(g) right arrow Bacteria
C5H7O2N(s) + 54NO2-(aq) + 52H2O(l) + 109H+(aq)
bacterial tissue
The above reaction is an intermediate step in the conversion of the nitrogen in organic compounds into nitrate ions.
a. How much bacterial tissue is produced in a treatment plant for every 1.0 multiplied by 104 kg of wastewater containing 3.0% NH4+ ions by mass?
b. Assume that 96% of the ammonium ions are consumed by the bacteria.