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Submerged membrane adsorption hybrid system using four adsorbents to remove nitrate from water

  • Water: From Pollution to Purification
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Abstract

Nitrate contamination of ground and surface waters causes environmental pollution and human health problems in many parts of the world. This study tests the nitrate removal efficiencies of two ion exchange resins (Dowex 21K XLT and iron-modified Dowex 21K XLT (Dowex-Fe)) and two chemically modified bio-adsorbents (amine-grafted corn cob (AG corn cob) and amine-grafted coconut copra (AG coconut copra)) using a dynamic adsorption treatment system. A submerged membrane (microfiltration) adsorption hybrid system (SMAHS) was used for the continuous removal of nitrate with a minimal amount of adsorbents. The efficiency of membrane filtration flux and replacement rate of adsorbent were studied to determine suitable operating conditions to maintain the effluent nitrate concentration below the WHO drinking standard limit of 11.3 mg N/L. The volume of water treated and the amount of nitrate adsorbed per gramme of adsorbent for all four flux tested were in the order Dowex-Fe > Dowex > AG coconut copra > AG corn cob. The volumes of water treated (L/g adsorbent) were 0.91 and 1.85, and the amount of nitrate removed (mg N/g adsorbent) were 9.8 and 22.2 for AG corn cob and Dowex-Fe, respectively, at a flux of 15 L/(m2/h).

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE; project number 4.1.17-13/14).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), P.O. Box 123, Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia

    Mahatheva Kalaruban, Paripurnanda Loganathan, Jaya Kandasamy & Saravanamuthu Vigneswaran

Authors
  1. Mahatheva Kalaruban
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  2. Paripurnanda Loganathan
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  3. Jaya Kandasamy
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  4. Saravanamuthu Vigneswaran
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Saravanamuthu Vigneswaran.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Highlights

> SMAHS treatment of polluted water continuously maintained NO3 − below WHO limit.

> NO3 − adsorption capacity: Dowex-Fe > Dowex > coconut copra/amine > corn cob/amine.

> Treated water volume was in the same order as the adsorption capacity.

> Transmembrane pressure increased with flux and was highest for bio-adsorbents.

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Kalaruban, M., Loganathan, P., Kandasamy, J. et al. Submerged membrane adsorption hybrid system using four adsorbents to remove nitrate from water. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 20328–20335 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8905-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8905-9

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