Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the decomposition rate constants of organic matter and to evaluate the process of regeneration of inorganic nutrients in coastal and open seawater. The mixture solution of glucose and glutamic acid, and night soil were used as the test organic matter. Oxygen uptake of test solution was observed every day for 5 days for evaluation of decomposition rate constants, and nutrient contents were analyzed every day for 40 days. The decomposition rate constants have been determined by Thomas slope method and compared with the values of each waters. The values of rate constants for open seawater and coastal water containing the mixture of glucose and glutamic acid were 0.23/day and 0.21/day, and those containing night soil 0.23/day and 0.20/day, respectively. The difference of decomposition rate constants between test materials was not found and the valus for each seawater was equal to each other. The nitrification process took place after 22 days for open seawater when night soil was added to the waters.

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