Nitrate removal from natural water by coupling adsorption and Donnan dialysis

A hybrid adsorption/Donnan dialysis (DD) process for nitrate removal using PUROLITE A520E resin as an adsorbent was investigated in this work. PUROLITE resin was introduced into the DD process due to its good selectivity adsorption for nitrate and widespread availability. This study was conducted in order to benefit from each process, and it was an original and new combination. The retention efficiency of nitrate was discussed by considering the factors of adsorbent mass, nature of the receiver electrolyte and flow rate. The coupling was a solution to improve the resin mass and the amount of nitrate removed. The coupling was successfully performed, with a nitrate removal capacity of about 7 mg/g.