Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions can be a serious threat to the environment. Rising levels of N2O in the atmosphere contribute to global warming and destruction of the ozone layer. This thesis describes an investigation on the emission of NO and N2O during nitrogen conversion processes. Emissions were measured at wastewater treatment plants and at lab-scale reactors to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Metabolic and kinetic models were used to identify pathways leading to emissions.