Nitrate Removal in a Continuous-Flow Stirred Reactor

L. Foglar

Abstract
The presence of excess nitrate in natural water resources is determined worldwide and therefore the methods for reduction and prevention of water pollution are still being investigated. The main objective of the present study was the use of natural zeolite that was interacted with bacterial cells to obtain biozeolite particles (Bio-ZPs). The resulting Bio-ZPs were applied for nitrate removal from the surface water (SW) in a continuous- flow stirred reactor. In the first set of experiments, the nitrate removal was monitored at dilution rates (D) of 0.027, 0.043, 0.095, 0.429, and 0.755 h–1 in order to achieve the optimal dilution rate. During the second test set, the removal of 100 mg NO3 –-NL–1 from the SW with Bio-ZPs was monitored at 0.429 and 0.755 h–1 during 21 days. The use of Bio-ZPs in the continuous-flow stirred reactor was demonstrated as an efficient method for nitrate removal from the SW.

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Keywords
Clinoptilolite, continuous-flow stirred reactor, denitrification, mixed bacterial culture, nitrite accumulation