The removal of nitrate from a synthetic effluent, 30 mmol dm(-3) KNO3 in 0.1 mol dm(-3) K2SO4 as supporting electrolyte, is analysed by means of its reduction to ammonia using an undivided electrochemical reactor with a copper rotating cylinder cathode. The cathode was activated by a film of cupric oxide, anodically produced at a potential of 0 V against saturated calomel electrode, SCE. In some experiments, to avoid the deactivation of the cathode, a periodic potential reversal, PPR, technique was applied making the rotating electrode work 5 min as a cathode and 5 min in reactivation. The application of both strategies, cathode activation and the use of a PPR procedure, improved the reactor performance. Under these working conditions, with this specific synthetic effluent, ammonia was the main product of the reduction of nitrate obtaining a molar yield of 86% and a current efficiency of 90% with a nitrate conversion of 92% in an experiment of 1 h at -1.2 V, vs. SCE, as cathodic potential. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.