Reduction du nitrate dans les sediments marins. Comparaison des activites mesurees in vitro et in situ

In vitro nitrate reduction in hydrocarbon-polluted marine sediments has been studied by flow-through system. By analysing the rate of nitrate comsumption as a function of nitrate concentration the authors determined the Michaelis-Menten kinetics parameters. (km = 330 mu M; vax = 2.0 mu M/g super(-1)/h super(-1). The authors found a value of 60 mu M/m super(-2)/h super(-1) for the rate of in vitro nitrate consumption derived from the above kinetic parameters and from the nitrate concentration in the sediment. In parallel a value of 67.4 mu M/m super(-2)/h super(-1) was found for the rate of nitrate consumption under in situ conditions. The great similarity between both results would favor the in vitro technique as a valid and more convenient one.