Studies regarding the possibilities of ammonium ions removal from underground waters [articol]

Abstract

Nitrogen is one of the most important elements for the sustaining of life, interfering in different phases of plants and animal life. The forms in which the nitrogen appears in water are: molecular nitrogen – N2, nitrogen bounded in various organic combinations, ammonia – NH3, ammonium – NH4 + , nitrites – NO2 − , nitrates – NO3 − . The ammonia nitrogen can result from a high number of sources. Its presence in the drinking water is limited by the legislation (<0.5 mg/L – recommended by the World Organization of Health) because of its noxious effects on the consumers. In the present paper were carried out studies regarding the possibilities of ammonium removal from underground water using the ion exchange method. For the establishment of the optimum conditions of ammonium removal from underground waters it was determined the dependence of the residual concentration of ammonium upon the initial concentration of ammonium in water, the quantity of ion exchanger and the stirring time.