Nitrogen-crafted activated carbon for removing nitrate from water

Abstract

The proposed research will develop cation- and anion-selective materials based on nitrogen-doped redox-sensitive granulated activated carbon, NGAC, with polypyrrole moieties that can be regenerated electrochemically, and thus will not require concentrated (2 M NaCl) brines for regeneration. Redoxsensitive nitrogen-grafted activated carbons would have a positive charge that attracts nitrate when oxidized, and neutral charge that releases nitrate when reduced. Electrochemical regeneration of NGACs would allow their re-use through multiple cycles in a manner that would be economically and technically practical.