Nitrate adsorption and desorption during biological ion exchange

Ion exchange (IEX) is an effective NO3– removal technology and research has shown promise for bioregeneration of laden IEX resins, creating ideal decentralized systems by removing the need chemical regeneration that results in brine wastes. This work aimed to advance applicability biological ion (BIEX) evaluating effect secondary between organic acids, natural matter (NOM), buffer solutions commonly present BIEX NO3–, which often displaced from resin these compounds. Organic acids had separation factors ranging 0 (little no adsorption affinity) 2.8 (40–50% resin), with higher molecular weight molecules yielding factors. Separation NOM ranged 2.1, carbohydrate compositions identified as a major influence Batch denitrification experiments were conducted using sludge woody mulch sources bacteria, charge balances revealed inorganic ions compounds facilitated displacement resins followed aqueous phase denitrification.