Eliminate nitrates
18 Oct 2001
A process known as 'Eliminate', which reduces nitrate levels in water without generating more, potentially harmful, chemicals, is to enter use at Yorkshire Water's treatment plants. Based around an ion exchange system, the process replaces reverse osmosis systems.
The Eliminate process passes water through an ion exchange resin which strips out nitrates. A regenerant chemical then flushes the nitrates out of the resin bed into an electrochemical cell, which converts them into nitrogen gas. The regenerant is recycled.
Yorkshire Water developed the process in partnership with environmental technology specialist Ionex. After three years of R&D work, the companies have now recieved approval from the Environment Agency, and plan to put the scheme into practive.
The first site to go into operation is likely to be the Etton borehole in East Yorkshire.
