Environmental Case study

Overview
 Chrome ore occurs as Chromite, which is chromium oxide, and
is essentially in the form of un-weathered, hard, compact, fine-
grained dark grey lumpy ore or as a weathered, and loosely
bonded, brown-black, friable ore in ultra-basic host rock .
 Chromite contains a large proportion of stable trivalent oxide of
Chromium with a small fraction in the unstable hexavalent state.
 Trivalent compounds of chromium are not soluble in water,
hexavalent chromium compounds are Cr6+ is mutagenic and
carcinogenic.
 Combined concentration of Cr3+ and Cr6+ is called Total
chromium concentration.
 Ingestion of hexavalent chromium-contaminated water causes
irritation and ulcers in the stomach and the intestines
 Contact with hexavalent chromium (in the form of dust or
dissolved in water) with soft mucous tissues of the eyes and the
nose can lead to irritation and ulceration
 Exposure to liquids/water contaminated with hexavalent
chromium causes allergic skin reactions.
 The value of Cr6+ in the given case is 0.7 mg/lt against the safe
value of 0.1mg/lt .
 The total chromium concentration is 5.0mg/lt against the safe
value of 2.0mg/lt.
Methods available
Following methods are available for removal of excess content
of chromium-
1. Physical Adsorption of soluble chromium (Cr+6)
2. Membrane filteration
3. Ion exchange
4. Electrochemical treatment
5. Chemical precipitation
6. Phyto-remediation
Method we selected
CHEMICAL PRECIPITATION
Advantages –
 Best Removal efficiency compared to other .
 Useful for removal of total chromium concentration
 Less quantity of sludge is produced using the combination of
calcium hydroxide and sodium oxide as compared to the
other precipitating agents
 A constant Ph is maintained
 Low cost and readily available chemicals are used which are
economically beneficial
Phases of chemical precipitation
The chemical precipitation process will be achieved in two
phases.
 In phase 1 – There is a reduction of hexavalent
chromium into trivalent chromium
and it is achieved by the use of sodium meta-bisulphite
Na2S2O5 at a low pH of 2-3, which can be achieved by using
sulphuric acid.
Why sodium meta-bisulphite over
ferrous sulphate
 The optimum dose of ferrous sulphate requirement is about
2000 mg/l, while that of
sodium metabisulphite is only 360 mg/l.
 Ferrous sulphate works most efficiently at pH =1 for
complete reduction as compared to sodium metabisulphite
which requires a pH of about 2.
CHEMICAL PRECIPITATION
 Chemical reaction for phase 1
 Sodium meta-bisulphite does not reduces hexavalent chromium
directly but it is first converted into sodium bisulphite.
Na2S2O5 + H2O -> 2NaHSO3
 Sodium bisulphite then reduces hexavalent chromium into trivalent
chromium.
2H2CrO4 + 3NaHSO3 + 3H2SO4 -> Cr2(SO4)3 + 3NaHSO4 + 5H2O
Cr6+(haxvalent chromium) + S4+ -> Cr3+ ( trivalent chromium) + S6+
Phase – 2
 In phase 2 the trivalent chromium formed by previous process is
precipitated by using precipitating agent .
 Total chromium concentration is reduced in this phase.
 Chemicals used is the combination of calcium hydroxide and
sodium hydroxide.
 combination of sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide is
found to be best precipitating agent with dosage of 100 mg/l at
pH 7.
 The volume of sludge produced by the same is very minimal
compared to other precipitating agents
 After this the pH is increased for neutrilizing it should be treated
with sulphuric acid.
VOLUME OF SLUDGE PRODUCED PER LITRE UNDER
VARIOUS pH CONDITIONS FOR CA(OH)2 + NaOH
FLOW DIAGRAM
OF EFFLUENT
TREATMENT
PLANT
 Settling

Screening
Coagulation
Raw water and
Main water
collecting tank flocculation

Sludge tank

Precipitation of Reduction of
Treated water
Cr3+ Cr6+ into
Cr3+
DESIGN OF TREATMENT PLANT
Our treatment plant will include –
 Main tank ( for storing water )
 Reduction tank ( for reduction of Cr6+ - Cr3+)
 Precipitation tank ( for precipitating Cr3+ )
 Screening instruments.
 Control room and power unit
 Sludge collecting tank.
LAYOUT OF WATER
TREATMEMT PLANT
 Settling

Screening
Coagulation
Raw water Main water and
collecting tank flocculation

Sludge tank

Reduction of
Precipitation of Cr6+ into
Treated water
Cr3+ Cr3+
Dimensions
NAME RADIUS(m) HEIGHT(m) CAPACITY(m3)

MAIN TANK 4 5 250

REDUCTION TANK 1.75 2 19.23

PRECIPITATION 1.75 2 19.23

TANK
ECONOMICAL
STATUS OF THE
PLANT
THESE ARE OF 2 TYPES:

•Direct capital cost:(includes constructional cost of

tanks)
•Indirect capital cost: (includes maintenance cost,
etc.)
TOTAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT
 MAIN TANK:
For 1m3 the value is Rs.4286.69(including manpower and material)
So total volume of main tank was 250m3, so for this the approximate
value is around 10 lakhs Rs.
 REDUCTION TANK:
For 1m3 the value is Rs.4286.69(including manpower and material).
So the value of the reduction tank is around 82 thousands Rs.
 PRECIPITATION TANK:
For 1m3 the value is Rs.4286.69(including manpower and material).
So the value of precipitation tank would be around 82 thousands
Rs. as well
 So total cost would be equal to Rs. 15 lakhs around.
INDIRECT CAPITAL COST
Here we are assuming the maintenance cost would be
somewhat equal to 20-30%of direct cost.
So the indirect cost would be approximately equals to Rs.
3.5-4.5 lakhs.
 ECONOMICAL STRUCTURE FOR 5
YEARS PLAN

Lakhs DIRECT COST(in INDIRECT TOTAL COST(in

Lakhs) COST(in Lakhs) Lakhs)

1st year 15 2 17

2nd year 0 3 3

3rd year 0 4.5 4.5

4th year 0 4.5 4.5

5th year 0 6 6
 So for approximate value the total cost for the 5 years would
be something in range of Rs. 35-45 lakhs.
THANK
YOU