Electrolytic removal of nitrate and potassium from wheat leachate using a four compartment electrolytic cell

The removal of nitrate and potassium from wheat leachate solution was studied using an electrolytic cell in batch recirculation mode. High nitrate and potassium removals were obtained at 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 V. Anions removals over 90% were obtained after 200 min of operation at these constant applied voltages. A maximum nitrate and potassium removal of 100% and 99.82%, respectively, was obtained at 9 V. During the electrolytic cell operation, the removal of monovalent anions was found to be higher than divalent and trivalent ones. This is different from the selectivity of monovalent and divalent cations found when cation-exchange membrane is used where the removal of monovalent and divalent cations is very similar.

Research highlights
► pH, electrical conductivity and TOC of wheat leachate were decreased as a function of time in electrolytic process of batch recirculation.
► High nitrate and potassium removals are reached between 5 and 9 V.
► The anion-selective membranes used in this study were more efficient in the removal of monovalent anions (NO3− and Cl−) than for divalent anion and trivalent anion (SO42− and PO43− respectively).