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Nitrate removal from groundwater using negatively charged nanofiltration membrane

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Abstract

A commercial nanofiltration (NF) membrane was modified using poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) to improve the nitrate rejection from groundwater. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, zeta potential, and water contact angle analyses were performed, showing that PSS was successfully coated onto the membrane with the surface negative charge density being enhanced. The results of nitrate removal tests showed that the best PSS concentration was 1.5 mg/L, with the nitrate rejection rate of 88.8% and the permeate flux of 27.0 L/m2 h. The effect of initial nitrate concentration and solution pH on the nitrate removal performance of the modified NF membrane was investigated. The results indicate that the modified NF membrane can improve nitrate removal from actual groundwater, with little membrane permeate flux loss.

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Funding

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51578329, 51778352), the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (16010500200, 18230710900), and Program for Innovative Research Team in University (IRT13078).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 333 Nanchen Road, Shanghai, 200444, China

    Lianpei Zou, Sitong Zhang, Jianyong Liu, Yi Cao, Guangren Qian, Yu-You Li & Zhi Ping Xu

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-06 Aza, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan

    Yu-You Li

  3. ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, QLD, Brisbane, 4072, Australia

    Zhi Ping Xu

Authors
  1. Lianpei Zou
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  2. Sitong Zhang
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  3. Jianyong Liu
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  4. Yi Cao
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  5. Guangren Qian
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Correspondence to Jianyong Liu.

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Responsible editor: Angeles Blanco

Highlights

• Nitrate removal from water was enhanced by negatively charged NF membrane.

• Nitrate rejection rate was as high as 88.8% with a permeate flux of 27.0 L/m2 h.

• Modified NF membrane improved nitrate removal with little permeate flux loss.

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Zou, L., Zhang, S., Liu, J. et al. Nitrate removal from groundwater using negatively charged nanofiltration membrane. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 34197–34204 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3829-6

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