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2, October-December 2007
ABSTRACT
Chromium is one of the heavy metal coming from various industries having high
toxicity. The compounds of chromium especially Cr (VI) are known to be detrimental to
human beings and animals. The main objective is to adopt appropriate methods and to
develop suitable techniques either to prevent metal pollution or to reduce it to very low
levels with due consideration to cost optimization. Extensive chemical analysis was done
to detoxify Cr (VI) by reducing it to Cr (III) by using reducing agents such as ferrous
sulphate and sodium metabisulphite, and the precipitation of chromium hydroxide by addi-
tion of base. Also experiments were conducted to study the effect of reduction time and pH
on the reduction of chromium for various doses of reducing agents. In this paper, efforts
have been made to highlight the cost economics of removal and recovery of chromium.
Key Words : Heavy metal, Pollution, Reducing agents, Chromium removal, Recovery,
Precipitating agents, Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI) ], Trivalent chromium [Cr(III)].
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Journal of Environmental Researh And Development Vol. 2 No. 2, October-December 2007
solution reached 7.0 without adding any adopt appropriate methods and to develop
coagulant aid with a chromium conc. of 100 suitable techniques either to prevent the metal
mg/15. Similar study using spent chrome tan pollution or to reduce it to very low levels. There
liquor from the Tannery whose Cr content was are two options available ; (a) use of substitutes
3940mg/l showed Optimum dose of NaOH instead of metallic compounds during
as11000mg/1 and the residual Cr conc. as manufacturing process,(b)Application of
32 mg/1. For synthetic waste containing initial various methods for the removal and recovery.
Cr. conc.of 3000,4000 and 6000mg/l,the actual Hence majority of industries do not adopt much
NaOH dose required was 3,7 and 10% innovative techniques, so necessity of second
respectively, more than stoichiometric dose and option, wherein the aim is to first detoxify Cr
for spent chrome tan liquor(10000mg/l) it was (VI) by reducing it to Cr (III) by using reducing
20% more6 . Results from the electroplating agents such as ferrous sulphate and sodium
industry by using activated carbon in the pH metabisulphite at different pH values and then
range of 5.5 to 8.0 showed that the removal of precipitation of chromium hydroxide by the
chromium decreases with increase in pH and addition of base. In addition to this the aim is to
a sudden decrease in removal from 88% to recover chromium from Cr(OH)3 sludge with
about 40%, when the pH increase from 5.5 to due consideration to cost optimization.
7.0. This was further reduced from 40 to 27%
,when the pH was raised from 7.5 to 8.07. By
MATERIAL AND METHODS
using bituminous coal with doses varying from Reagents
0.5 to 10.0g/l, the amount of chromium adsorbed A stock solution of chromium [1mL =
at different pH ranges from 1.0 to 6.0 was 50 µg of Cr (VI)] was prepared by dissolving
observed and found that removal was maximum 141.345 mg of potassium dichromate
at a pH of 2.08. Similarly 80 % removal of (K2Cr 2 O7 ) in distilled water and diluting to
Cr(VI) was observed by using activated 1000mL, standard chromium solution was
groundnut husk carbon at pH 2.0.Optimum prepared by diluting 10 ml stock chromium
dose of absorbent for the maximum removal solution to 100 ml so that 1 ml sample
(100%) was 2400mg/l for an initial chromium corresponds to 5 µg chromium. Potassium
conc. of 10 mg/19. Blast furnace flue dust permanganate solution prepared by dissolving
ranging from 10 to 15mg/l gives 90% removal 4g KMnO4 in 100 ml distilled water. Sodium
efficiency for Cr(VI) conc. between 2.0 to azide solution prepared by dissolving 0.5 g NaN3
5.0mg/l.10. in 100 ml distilled water. Diphenyl carbazide
The economic recovery of chromium solution prepared by dissolving 250mg 1,5-
from wastewater is essential in minimising its Diphenyl carbazide in 50 ml acetone.1.0M
environmental impact Use of 60 ml conc. solution of sodium hydroxide was prepared by
H2SO4 gives 89% recovery of Cr (III) from dissolving NaOH in distilled water. Conc.
Cr (OH)3 sludge3. Various physico-chemical sulphuric acid and lime were also used. All the
methods have been studied for the removal of reagents were AR grade.
hexavalent chromium. Among these are ion- Apparatus and Measurements
exchange, solvent extraction, liquid membrane TVS-25 visible spectrophotometer used
and adsorption useful in recovery of chromium. for the measurement of Cr(VI) ion
Liquid–liquid extraction is the most effective concentration at 540nm with a light path of
conventional method extensively used including 1cm..pH was measured with pH
metal recovery. meter(systronics make) The determination of
OBJECTIVES Cr(VI) was carried out using diphenylcarbazide
In present scenario it is necessary to method as per the standard method
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Journal of Environmental Researh And Development Vol. 2 No. 2, October-December 2007
WpH* pH = 2.0
Reduction
Dose, mg/l
time, mins
% Reduction % Reduction
WpH*- %Reduction was noted without using sulphuric acid for pH adjustment
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Journal of Environmental Researh And Development Vol. 2 No. 2, October-December 2007
WpH* pH=2.0
Dose, Reduction
mg/l time,mins % Reduction % Reduction
120
% Reduction of Cr(VI)
100
80 W pH*
pH=2.0
60
pH=1.5
40 pH=1.0
20
0
1600 1800 2000 2200 2400
agents viz.; Ferrous Sulphate and Sodium various doses of Ferrous Sulphate. Similarly for
metabisulphite. For Ferrous Sulphate it was Sodium metabisulphite 30min should be
seen that for a dose varying from 1800 to regarded as the Optimum Reduction period.
2000mg/l, the change in %Reduction was rapid As from fig.1, it can be seen that the
in first 30mins and then it tapers towards the Reduction of 54.00% can be obtained
end. Same was observed for Sodium corresponding to a dose of 2000mg/1. When
metabisulphite corresponding to the dose of 280 the dose was increased to 2100 and 2200mg/l,
to 340 mg/1. In case of Ferrous Sulphate the % Reduction of only 56.32 and 57.47 %
Reduction process is slow between 45 to 60min. respectively were obtained. This shows that
Therefore 60min was regarded as the Optimum %Reduction depends upon the conc. of
Reduction period for comparison between chromium remaining in the solution Secondly
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Journal of Environmental Researh And Development Vol. 2 No. 2, October-December 2007
120
100
% Reduction of Cr(VI)
80
W pH*
60
pH=2.0
40
20
0
250 300 350 400
Fig. 2 : Graph showing effect of Sodium metabisulphite dose and pH on Reduction of Cr (VI).
Sodium metabisulphite dose was varied from Lime-Sodium Hydroxide combination and only.
280 mg/1. From fig .2 we can make out that as Lime were tried.
compared to Ferrous Sulphate, %Reduction From fig. 3 we can see decrease in
obtained by using sodium metabisulphite was Residual Cr (III) conc. with increase in pH
more. It increased from 50.6 to 75.86% as the and settling time. It can be seen that after
dose increased from 280 to 380mg/1 resp.. 45mins of settling much of the Cr (III) is
Moreover the Reduction process of Sodium precipitated. A look at the fig shows that after
metabisulphite completes within 45mins while pH 12.5, the Residua) Cr (III) cone. increases.
that of Ferrous Sulphate takes 60mins for This may be due to redissolution of Cr (III).
completion. Moreover 100% Precipitation cannot be
Merely increasing the dose beyond a obtained using only Sodium Hydroxide; So
certain limit is of no use. Hence it is better to Lime was tried along with Sodium Hydroxide.
go for pH adjustment. So the pH was adjusted Maximum precipitation can be obtained
and its effect on % Reduction was observed, in the pH range of 9 to 12.5. But as compared
which increased from 57.47 % (FS 2200mg/l) to NaOH, the % precipitation observed was
to 100% (FS 2000mg/l).corresponding to pH more corresponding to a lime dose of 300mg/l
value from 2.5 to 1.0 respectively. In order to check for 100% removal,
From fig.2 we can see that using sodium
dose of lime was varied keeping value of
metabisulphite100% Reduction can be obtained
pH = 12.5.
at a dose of 360mg/1 after only 30mins of
From fig. 4. , it is observed that Cr (III)
reduction time. This %Reduction was faster
can be precipitated completely at a lime dose
than that obtained using Ferrous Sulphate. One
more point to be noted is that the Reduction of 450mg/1 followed by raising the pH on
process is over after 30mins compared to alkaline side with the help of Sodium Hydroxide.
60mins for ferrous sulphate. Thus we can take Lastly, experiments were carried out using
30min as the Optimum Reduction time. Lime alone. So from fig.3. , it can be seen that
Precipitation of Cr (III) 100% precipitation can be achieved using a lime
For removal by precipitation, the pH of dose of 1850mg/l at pH of 9.5. The pH here is
the sample after reduction was again adjusted lesser than that obtained from using NaOH and
and three sets of trials using sodium hydroxide, lime NaOH combination.
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Journal of Environmental Researh And Development Vol. 2 No. 2, October-December 2007
16
14
1 .6
1 .4
Residual Cr(III), m g/l
1 .2
1 S e tt ing
t im e = 3 0 m in s
0 .8
S e tt ing
0 .6 t im e = 4 5 m in s
0 .4
0 .2
0
380 40 0 420 440 460
L i m e d o se , m g / l
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Journal of Environmental Researh And Development Vol. 2 No. 2, October-December 2007
100
90
80
70
% Reco very
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 10 20 30 40
the cost of reduction using ferrous sulphate is only 360mg/1.Moreover Ferrous Sulphate
and sodium metabisulphite is Rs 1258/-* and requires pH =1.0 for complete Reduction as
Rs 415/-* resp. per m 3 of wastewater compared to Sodium metabisulphite which
containing chromium concentration of 87mg/l requires a pH of about 2.0.
.However the cost of sodium metabisulphite is Without adjusting the pH Ferrous
considered as optimum because, use of ferrous Sulphate reduces about 57.47% of Cr (VI) to
sulphate generates large amount of sludge along Cr (III) while Sodium metabisulphite reduces
with acidic supernanent (pH =1.0).Similarly cost 75.86% of Cr (VI) to Cr (III).Reduction time
required for precipitation using sodium required for Sodium metabisulphite is only
hydroxide, Lime+ sodium hydroxide and only 30 mins whereas for Ferrous Sulphate at least
lime gives Rs 100/-*,Rs 110/-* and Rs 35/-* 60 mins reduction time is required. Lime alone
resp., it therefore implies that lime gives is the most efficient for precipitation of Cr (III)
optimum cost for precipitation. Thus the to Cr (OH)3 at pH 9.5. Its Optimum Dose being
optimum cost of removal comes out to be Rs 1850 mg/1. Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) alone
450/-*.Further the recovery analysis shows that cannot precipitate Cr(III) completely. Its
90% of chromium can be recovered in the Optimum dose and Optimum pH are 372 mg/l
form of chromium sulphate which nearly and 12.5 respectively. Above that pH Residual
eliminates the cost of removal(*cost may vary Cr (III) increases due to redissolvement of Cr
from place to place). (III). Lime and Sodium Hydroxide together can
CONCLUSION precipitate Cr (III) more than Sodium
As compared to Ferrous Sulphate, Hydroxide alone but are less efficient when
Sodium metabisulphite is more efficient in compared with lime alone. About 90% of
Reducing Cr (VI) to Cr (III). Optimum Dose Chromium can be recovered using 400ml of
requirement of Ferrous Sulphate is more about cone 1N Sulphuric acid per liter of Chromium
2000 mg/l, while that of Sodium metabisulphite sludge. Thus nearly eliminates cost of removal.
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Journal of Environmental Researh And Development Vol. 2 No. 2, October-December 2007
SAVE WATER
FOR
SAFE FUTURE
216