Sorption of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) to K2Mn4O9 nanomaterial a Study of the effect of pH, time, temperature and interferences

Amino-modified upcycled biochar achieves selective chromium removal in complex aqueous matrices

Chromium pollution of groundwater sources is a growing global issue, which correlates with various anthropogenic activities. Remediation of both the Cr(VI) and Cr(III), via adsorption technologies, has been championed in recent years due to ease of use, minimal energy requirements, and the potential to serve as a highly sustainable remediation technology. In the present study, a biochar sorbent sourced from pineapple skins, allowed for the upcycling of agricultural waste into water purification technology. The biochar material was chemically modified, through a green amination method, to produce an efficient and selective adsorbent for the removal of both Cr(VI) and Cr(III) from complex aqueous matrices. From FTIR analysis it was evident that the chemical modification introduced new C-N and N-H bonds observed in the modified biochar along with a depletion of N-O and C-H bonds found in the pristine biochar. The amino modified biochar was found to spontaneously adsorb both forms of chromium at room temperature, with binding capacities of 46.5 mg/g of Cr(VI) and 27.1 mg/g of Cr(III). Interference studies, conducted in complex matrices, showed no change in adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) in matrices containing up to 3,000× the concentration of interfering ions. Finally, Cr(III) removal was synergized to 100% adsorption at interfering ions concentrations up to 330× of the analyte, which were suppressed at higher interference concentrations. Considering such performance, the amino modified biochar achieved selective removal for both forms of chromium, showing great potential for utilization in complex chromium pollution sources.

Adsorption and bonding strength of chromium species by ferrihydrite from acidic aqueous solutions

The adsorption behavior of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions onto laboratory-synthesized 2-line ferrihydrite was investigated under a batch method as a function of initial chromium concentration (0.1-1000 mg L-1) and pH (3.0 and 5.0). Moreover, the effect of the type of anion (chloride and sulfate) on Cr(III) adsorption was studied. The affinity of Cr(III) ions for the ferrihydrite surface depended on both the type of anion and pH of the solution and the maximum adsorption capacities decreased as follows: q (SO4 2-, pH 5.0) > q (SO4 2-, pH 3.0) > q (Cl-, pH 5.0) > q (Cl-, pH 3.0), and were found to be 86.06 mg g-1, 83.59 mg g-1, 61.51 mg g-1 and 40.67 mg g-1, respectively. Cr(VI) ions were bound to ferrihydrite in higher amounts then Cr(III) ions and the maximum adsorption capacity increased as the pH of the solution decreased and was 53.14 mg g-1 at pH 5.0 and 83.73 mg g-1 at pH 3.0. The adsorption process of Cr species was pH dependent, and the ions were bound to the surface of ferrihydrite by surface complexation. The Sips isotherm was the best-fit model to the results obtained from among the four isotherm models used, i.e., Freundlich, Langmuir, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Sips, indicating different adsorption centers participate in Cr uptake. In order to assess the bonding strength of the adsorbed chromium ions the modified BCR procedure, dedicated to the samples with a high iron content, was used. The results of the sequential extraction showed that Cr(III) ions were bound mainly in the immobile residual fraction and Cr(VI) ions were bound in the reducible fraction. The presence of Fe (oxyhydr)oxides in soil and sediments increases their adsorption capacity for Cr, in particular for hexavalent Cr in an acid environment due to their properties (high pHPZC).

Removal of chromium ions by functional polymers in conjunction with ultrafiltration membranes

In the current research water-soluble functional polymers (WSFP) were prepared via radical polymerization and purified by fractionation through ultrafiltration membranes with different molecular weights cut off (MWCO) of 30 and 100 kDa. The WSFPs were poly(3-acrylamide propyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride, P(ClAPTA), poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sodium sulfonate, P(AMPSNa), and poly(3-methacrylamino propyl) dimethyl 3-sulfopropyl ammonium hydroxide, P(HMPDSPA). These polymers were characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). Using liquid-phase polymer-based retention technique (LPR), chromium [Cr(III) and Cr(VI)] retention was studied as a function of pH, polymer and chromium concentration, selectivity, maximum retention capacity, chromium elution capacity, and polymer regeneration through sorption and desorption studies. Results of FT-IR showed the characteristic absorption bands of the synthesized polymers. The decomposition temperatures of P(ClAPTA) were at 303.1 °C, and for P(AMPSNa) three decompositions temperatures were registered at 190.5 °C, 223.2 °C, and 304.8 °C. P(HMPDSPA) presented two important decomposition temperatures at 292.4 °C and 391.7 °C, respectively. Concerning to the retention of Cr(VI), it was maximal (100 %) when P(ClAPTA) was studied at pH 6. The maximum retention of Cr(III) (100 %) was achieved by P(AMPSNa) at pH 3. The optimum polymer:Cr mole ratio obtained was 10:1 for both Cr(VI) and Cr(III). The retention of Cr(VI) decreased due to the presence of interfering ions, and the hydrodynamic flow was almost constant during the ultrafiltration of polymer-Cr macromolecule.

Nanomaterials in speciation analysis of metals and metalloids

Nanomaterials have draw extensive attention from the scientists in recent years mainly due to their unique and attractive thermal, mechanical and electronic properties, as well as high surface to volume ratio and the possibility for surface functionalization. Whereas mono functional nanomaterials providing a single function, the preparation of core/shell nanoparticles allows different properties to be combined in one material. Their properties have been extensively exploited in different extraction techniques to improve the efficiency of separation and preconcentration, analytical selectivity and method reliability. The aim of this paper is to provide an updated revision of the most important features and application of nanomaterials (metallic, silica, polymeric and carbon-based) for solid phase extraction and microextraction techniques in speciation analysis of some metals and metalloids (As, Cr, Sb, Se). Emphasis will be placed on the presentation of the most representative works published in the last five years (2015-2019).

Simple and Competitive Adsorption Study of Nickel(II) and Chromium(III) on the Surface of the Brown Algae Durvillaea antarctica Biomass

In this work Ni(II) and Cr(III) adsorption on Durvillaea antarctica surface were studied, optimal condition of pH, adsorption time is achieved at pH 5.0, with contact times of 240 and 420 minutes for a maximum adsorption capacity of 32.85 and 102.72 mg g^-1 for Ni(II) and Cr(III), respectively. The changes in the vibration intensity of the functional groups detected in the starting material by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the opening of the cavities after the biosorption process detected by scanning electron microscopy images suggested the interaction of the metal ions with the surface and the changes in the chemical behavior of the solid. The heavy metal adsorption equilibrium data fitted well to the Sips model. The effect of competitive ions on adsorption equilibrium was also evaluated, and the results showed that the two metals compete for the same active sites of the biosorbent; the increase of the Ni(II) initial concentration increases its adsorption capacity but decreases the adsorption capacity of Cr(III).

Iron oxide/carbon nanotubes/chitosan magnetic composite film for chromium species removal

An adsorbent in the form of a CLCh/MWCNT/Fe film was prepared using multiple walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) doped with magnetic iron oxide and deposited in crosslinked chitosan (CLCh). The CLCh/MWCNT/Fe was characterized by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), nitrogen (N₂) adsorption/desorption, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS), Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) and Raman Spectroscopy. The CLCh/MWCNT/Fe film presented a maximum adsorption capacity for Cr(III) of 66.25 mg/g (150 min) and for Cr(VI) of 449.30 mg/g (60 min) at 25 °C. The CLCh/MWCNT/Fe can be easily removed from the aqueous solution by a mechanical separation or by magnetization due to its magnetic properties. In ten consecutive reutilization adsorption cycles the CLCh/MWCNT/Fe film presented efficiency losses of only 12% and 6% for the removal of Cr(III) and Cr(VI), respectively.

Phytofabrication of Iron Nanoparticles for Hexavalent Chromium Remediation

Hexavalent chromium is a genotoxic and carcinogenic byproduct of a number of industrial processes, which is discharged into the environment in excessive and toxic concentrations worldwide. In this paper, the synthesis of green iron oxide nanoparticles using extracts of four novel plant species [Pittosporum undulatum, Melia azedarach, Schinus molle, and Syzygium paniculatum (var. australe)] using a "bottom-up approach" has been implemented for hexavalent chromium remediation. Nanoparticle characterizations show that different plant extracts lead to the formation of nanoparticles with different sizes, agglomeration tendencies, and shapes but similar amorphous nature and elemental makeup. Hexavalent chromium removal is linked with the particle size and monodispersity. Nanoparticles with sizes between 5 and 15 nm from M. azedarach and P. undulatum showed enhanced chromium removal capacities (84.1-96.2%, respectively) when compared to the agglomerated particles of S. molle and S. paniculatum with sizes between 30 and 100 nm (43.7-58.7%, respectively) in over 9 h. This study has shown that the reduction of iron salts with plant extracts is unlikely to generate vast quantities of stable zero valent iron nanoparticles but rather favor the formation of iron oxide nanoparticles. In addition, plant extracts with higher antioxidant concentrations may not produce nanoparticles with morphologies optimal for pollutant remediation.