APPLICATION OF HYDROGENCARBONATE CYCLE ANION EXCHANGE FOR NITRATE REMOVAL FROM WATER

Abstract

Contamination of natural waters with nitrate could not be stopped yet, so technologies to remove nitrates are urgently needed. In the present paper the sources of nitrate contamination are outlined, and the attempts made and technologies developed for nitrate removal are described. At present mainly biological and chemical first of all ion exchange - methods are used for this purpose. The hydrogencarbonate cycle anion exchange method developed by MÉL YÉPTERV Consulting Engineering enables nitrate concentration to be'reduced to as low as 2-3 mg/l. The advantage of the technique is that it restores the original natural state of the water. Nitrate is replaced by an ion the concentration of which is not limited by drinking water standards. The procedure has been patented in Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Italy and Switzerland. Using the procedure developed for strongly basic anion exchange resins, the IMAC HP 555 type nitrate selective anion exchange resin can be used to advantage for treating waters with high sulphate content.