Wroclaw University of Science and 
Technology 
Faculty of Environmental Engineering  
Laboratory of Wastewater Treatment Technology 

Practice 3 
Chromic Wastewater-Chemical Engineering Method

Team: 
Anthony VIVIER 
Esperanza FERNÁNDEZ  
Fatma Eda AYDOGAN 
Jules TESSIER 
Matthieu VERDURON 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Introduction 
 
 
Chromium is an important heavy metal widely used in many fields due to its excellent
properties.In the earth, chromium mainly exists in the oxidative states of hexavalent
chromium Cr(​VI) ​ and trivalent Cr(​III) chromium. The chromium (III) compounds are relatively
stable and have low solubility and mobility. Heavy metals like chromium are dangerous to
human body as they bioaccumulate.Chromium is the main additive in stainless steel, to
which it adds anti-corrosive properties Chromium released from industries such as mining,
electroplating, iron and steel, metal plating.

Because the health effects depend on the oxidation state, different guideline values for
chromium(III) and chromium(VI) should be derived. In the practice, the current analytical
methods and the variable speciation of chromium in water favour a guideline value for total
chromium.

Usually, the trace elements as chromium are not part of the usual analysis the wastewater
due to them low concentration.

Objectives 

Calculate and analyze the efficiency of the chemical treatment method of chromic industrial
wastewater with the use of sodium sulphite as a reducer and application of sodium
hydroxide for precipitation of trivalent chromium as hydroxides

Results 
 
Table 1

Cr(VI) concentration in raw wastewater

pH of raw
Amount of Na​2​S​ 2​O​
3 Calculated Average wastewater
used for titration Cr(VI) concentration of
concentration Cr(VI)

mL mg/L mg/L -

Sample 1 4.94 106.95 108 8.05

Sample 2 5.01 108.54

Table 2

Reducer concentration

Amount of Na​2​S​ 2​O​

3 Calculated Na​2​SO​3 Average concentration
used for titration concentration of Na​2​SO​3

mL mg/L mg/L

Sample 1 23.44 20 916 21 714

Sample 2 12.49 22 512

Table 3

Na​2​SO​
3​dose calculations

Tested reducer
dose Calculated dose of Na​2​SO​3

- mL of Na​2​SO​3​/ mL of Na​2​SO​
3​/ mg of Na​2​SO​
3​/
L of wastewater 0,5 L of L of wastewater
wastewater

Beaker 1 D​t 18 9 391,5

Beaker 2 1.4 D​t 25,3 12,6 550,3

Table 4

Cr(VI) concentration
Na​2​SO​
3 remaining
​ after treatment after treatment

Volume of Calculated Percent of reducer Calculated Removal

Na​2​S​2​O​3​used Na​2​SO​
3 remaining in solution Cr(VI) efficiency
for titration concentration after treatment concentration of Cr(VI)

mL mg/L % mg/L %

Beaker 1 28,66 1 681 329.99% 37.15 65.28

Beaker 2 22,97 2 128 287.6% 9.87 90.9

Calculations

a · 0,433 · 1000 4,94 · 0,433 · 1000

Concentration of Cr(VI) before C​Cr(VI) = V = 20 = 106,95 mg/L
treatment
with a the amount of Na​2​S​
2​O​
3​used for titration in mL

(50 − a) · 1,575 · 1000 (50 − 23,44) · 1,575 · 1000

Concentration of Na​2​SO​3 before
​ C​Na2SO3​= V = 2
treatment = 20 916 mg/L

with :
- a the amount of Na​2​S​
2​O​
3​used for titration in mL
- V the volume of Na​2​SO​3​(reducer) in mL

Theoretical dose of reducer for 2 · n​

Na2SO3​= 3 · n​
Cr
reduction of Cr(VI) : D​t ⇔ D​t​= 3
·
M (N a2SO3) C(Cr)
· C(N a2SO3) · V​Wastewater
2 M (Cr)
3 126,0 108
⇔ D​t​= 2 · 52,0 · 21 741 · 500
⇔ D​t​= 9,0 mL
(50 − a) · 1,575 · 1000 (50 − 28,66) · 1,575 · 1000
Concentration of Na​2​SO​3 after
​ C​Na2SO3​= V = 20
treatment = 1 681 mg/L

with :
- a the amount of Na​2​S​
2​O​
3​used for titration in mL
- V the volume of treated wastewater in mL
a · 0,433 · 1000 4.29· 0,433 · 1000
Concentration of Cr(VI) after C​Cr(VI) = V = 50 = 37.15mg/L
treatment
with a the amount of Na​2​S​
2​O​
3​used for titration in mL

Percent of reducer remaining in %(Na​2​SO​3​)​remaining

solution after treatment = 100 · C(Na​2​SO​3​)​after treatment ​/ C(Na​2​SO​
3​)​
before treatment
1 681−391.5
= 100 * 391.5 = 329.99%

Removal efficiency of Cr(VI) %(Cr)​removed

=100 · [C​Cr before treat​- C​Cr after treat​]​/​ C​Cr before treat

108 − 37.15
= 100 * 108 = 96, 02 %

 
 
 
Discussion  

Even when the porcentaje of removal of Chromic in the second sample is more than 90%
the concentration level exceed the measure recommended of the World Health
Organization, it should be below 0.05 mg/L.

In addition, even when the amount of reducer (Na​2​SO​4​) was calculated considering the
chemical reactions, the sample one only removed 65%, the difference between should be
caused because all the reactants does not react completely as we can realize in the amount
of excess.

There is a mistake related to the excess of calculated Na​2​SO​4 because

​ it can not be possible
to have more mg/L of Na​2​SO​ 4​. This could be due a mistake in the analysis or the execution
of the procedure. Even with that error, is possible to compare
​ directly the amount of Na​2​S​2​O​
3
used for titration, it is inversely proportional to the Na​2​SO​3 concentration what means that we
when we add reducer in excess the remaining is more.

Conclusion 
 
The chromium efficiency removal was 65% for the exact calculated value of application of
sodium sulphite and 91% when added 40% more of this reducer. Therefore, is
recommended to add reducer in excess comparing to the stoichiometry based value.
Even with the mistake related to the excess of calculated Na​2​SO​4​, is shown that reducer in
excess is more in the second sample due to the excess added in the beginning of the
procedure.

Bibliography 

https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/chromium.pdf
http://www.fao.org/3/t0551e/t0551e03.htm