Study of different methods for enhancing the nitrate removal efficiency of a zero-valent metal process.

This study explores the effect of several enhancing methods, namely acid wash pretreatment, ultrasound treatment and addition of nickel catalyst on the nitrate removal efficiency of three zero-valent metals--iron, aluminium and zinc. It is hoped that by learning about the major reaction pathways of nitrate removal with zero-valent metals and the main factors influencing the reactivity of those zero-valent metals, optimum process conditions may be identified. The study results show that direct transfer of electrons is the major reaction pathway. Thus increasing a clean, fresh metal surface and decreasing the thickness of the diffusion layer to accelerate mass transfer are the main determinants of reaction rate. In the absence of a clean, fresh metal surface, the catalytic reaction of nickel becomes the primary removal pathway.