Selective removal of nitrate from water by a macroporous strong basic anion exchange resin

► NDP-2 resin synthesized could effectively remove nitrate. ► Equilibrium adsorption data fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model. ► Nitrate could be selectively removed while competing ion exists. ► HCO3− has the smaller effect to the removal of nitrate utilizing NDP-2. ► The adsorption process of nitrate onto NDP-2 follows the kinetic models better.