Nitrate removal from water using a nanopaper ion-exchanger

Abstract

Nitrates seriously affect drinking water quality. We herein present a process for the efficient removal of nitrates from water using a nanopaper ion-exchanger, which can be operated in flow-through conditions. The nanopaper ion-exchanger was produced from nanofibrillated cellulose obtained from fibre sludge, a paper-production waste stream, using a simple paper-making process. The cellulose nanofibrils were modified with quaternary trimethylammonium groups. The performance of these cationic nanopaper ion-exchangers was assessed with respect to their permeance and nitrate adsorption. Nitrates could be successfully captured onto the cationic nanopaper and thus rejected from contaminated water during dynamic filtration experiments. The ion-exchange nanopaper had adsorption capacities in the range of commercial available adsorbers but with the advantage of reduced contact time.