title: Submerged membrane adsorption hybrid system using four adsorbents to remove nitrate from water.
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).
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), P.O. Box 123, Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Mahatheva
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalaruban
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), P.O. Box 123, Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Paripurnanda
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loganathan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), P.O. Box 123, Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Jaya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kandasamy
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), P.O. Box 123, Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia. s.vigneswaran@uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: Saravanamuthu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vigneswaran
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000588:Amines; D003059:Cocos; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007475:Ion Exchange Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron; D009566:Nitrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D018514:Plant Structures / Q000737:chemistry*; D012117:Resins, Synthetic / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D003313:Zea mays
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D007475:Ion Exchange Resins; D009566:Nitrates; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C027972:Dowex; D007501:Iron
keywords: Bio-adsorbents; Ion exchange resin; Membrane filtration/adsorption system; Nitrate removal; Transmembrane pressure