Chemical denitrification of water by zero-valent magnesium powder

A laboratory-scale study was conducted in batch mode to investigate the feasibility of using zero-valent magnesium (Mg0), for removal of nitrate from aqueous solution. Reaction pH, dose of Mg0, initial nitrate concentration and temperature were considered variable parameters during the study. Strong acidic condition enhanced nitrate reduction and in absence of external proton addition, reaction pH increased rapidly above ten and insignificant nitrate removal (7–16%) was achieved. At Mg0:NO3−–N molar ratio of 5.8 and controlled reaction pH of 2, 84% denitrification efficiency was achieved (initial NO3−–N 50 mg/L) under ambient temperature and pressure and total nitrogen removal was 70% with 3.2% and 10% conversion of initial NO3−–N to NO2−–N and NH4+–N, respectively. The reaction was first order with respect to nitrate concentration. Nitrate removal rate decreased with solution pH and increased linearly with Mg0 dose. Nitrate removal was coupled with 96–100% removal of dissolved oxygen and 85–90% generation of soluble Mg2+ ion. An activation energy (Ea) of nitrate reduction over the temperature range of 10–50 °C was observed as 17.7 kJ mol−1.