denitrogenate

Denitrogenate is a verb meaning to remove nitrogen from a molecule or system. In chemistry, denitrogenation can refer to two related ideas: the removal of a nitrogen atom or nitrogens from a functional group (deamination or denitrogenation) and the conversion of nitrogen-containing compounds to hydrocarbons or other nitrogen-free products. The process can involve loss of N-containing groups or complete removal of nitrogen, for example as N2 or NH3.

In organic synthesis and industrial chemistry, denitrogenation is often achieved by catalytic hydrogenation or hydrogenolysis using metal catalysts, or by high-temperature pyrolysis. A common industrial example is hydrodenitrogenation (HDN), where nitrogenous compounds in petroleum feedstocks are hydrogenated and converted to ammonia, facilitating refining and preventing catalyst poisoning.

In biochemistry, denitrogenation is less commonly used; deamination is the typical term for enzymatic removal of amino groups (for example, adenosine deamination to inosine). Denitrogenation of metabolites can occur in catabolic pathways, contributing to nitrogen balance in cells.

In environmental and materials contexts, denitrogenation describes removal of nitrogenous pollutants from water or soil, or the denitrogenation of polymers and fuels to meet product specifications. The concept is related to, but distinct from, denitrification, which refers to microbial reduction of nitrate to nitrogen gas in ecosystems.