A novel process for nitrate reduction in water using bimetallic Pd-Cu catalysts supported on ion exchange resin

•Nitrates can be efficiently reduced in water using Pd(2%)-Cu(0.5%)/ion exchange resin.•The presence of competing ions (sulphate, bicarbonate, chloride) decreases the activity.•The resin can be regenerated by hydrogen bubbling.•Palladium migrates towards the external surface during reaction.•The catalyst maintains good activity for several reaction-regeneration cycles.