Ammonia Nitrogen Removal by Cation Exchange Resin

Abstract

This study was conducted to know the removal characteristics of ammonia nitrogen by commercially available cation exchange resins. Eight acidic cation exchange resins were investigated in batch reactors. Among them, the most effective resin for ammonia removal in solution was PK228, which was a strong acidic resin of $Na^{+}$ type. PK228 was compared with activated carbon and natural zeolite. The effects of cation exchange capacity, ammonia concentration, resin amount, temperature and pH on ammonia removal by PK228 were investigated in batch reactor, and the effect of effluent velocity in continuous column reactor. Strong acidic resins of porous type were more effective than week acidic resins or gel type resins for ammonia removal in solution. PK228 was more effective than activated carbon and natural zeolite for ammonia removal in batch reactor. With increasing initial ammonia concentration, the amount of ammonia removed by PK228 increased, but the proportion of removed ammonia to initial ammonia concentration decreased. The effect or temperature on ammonia removal by PK228 was very slight. The ammonia removal to acidic solution was more effective than that at basic solution. With decreasing effluent velocity of solution through column, breakthrough point extended, and ammonia removal capacity increased.d.