Abstract
The extraction of chromium(III) from a model waste solution and also from a waste solution of an Indian tannery with Amberlite IR 120 resin is described, and the performance of this resin is compared with other similar resins. The parameters that were optimized include effect of mixing time, pH, loading and elution behaviours of chromium(III) for this resin. Sorption of chromium(III) on Amberlite IR 120 followed Freundlich isotherm and Langmuir isotherm model, and the maximum sorption capacity was determined to be 142.86 mg Cr(III)/g of the resin. Higher Freundlich constant (Kf) values (6.30 and 13.46 for aqueous feed of 500 and 1000 ppm Cr(III)) indicated strong chemical interaction through ion exchange mechanism of the metal ion with the resin. The kinetic data showed good fit to the Lagergren first order model for extraction of chromium(III). Desorption of chromium(III) from the loaded resin increased with the increase in concentration of eluent (5-20% H2SO4). With 20% (v/v) sulphuric acid solution 94% chromium(III) was eluted in three stages. Elution of the Cr(III) in the column experiments was however, found to be lower (82%) than that of the shake flask data. In case of Indian tannery’s waste solution, it was observed that almost total chromium was extracted in four stages with Amberlite IR 120.
Highlights
In recent years, chromium has received considerable attention owing to uses of its compounds in pigments and paints, leather tanning, oxidative dying, electroplating, fungicides, catalysis, refractory materials, glass Industries and various other industrial applications
The incomplete elution of chromium(III) from the loaded resins may be attributed to the tendency of formation of hydrolysis product such as Cr(OH)SO4 which is difficult to elute under normal conditions [32]
The removal efficiency as well as loading capacity of Amberlite IR 120 used in the present work even at lower pH of 2.7 was found to be higher than that of the other similar resins as given in Amberlite IR 120—a strong acidic cation exchanger has been used for the extraction of chromium(III) from the tanning waste solution
Summary
Chromium has received considerable attention owing to uses of its compounds in pigments and paints, leather tanning, oxidative dying, electroplating, fungicides, catalysis, refractory materials, glass Industries and various other industrial applications. Literature survey further shows that ion exchange is one of the most frequently studied and widely applied techniques for the treatment of metalcontaminated wastewater, recovery of metallic substances from such streams, and the regeneration of solutions for recycling [12,13,14,15,16]. This is a promising technique based on adsorption of cations or anions on synthetic resins with essential characteristics of its regeneration after elution. Kocaoba and Akcin [20], have studied the removal of chromium(III) and cadmium(II) from aqueous solution using Amberlite IR 120, a strong cation exchange resin. The performance of Amberlite IR 120 has been compared with other commercially available cation exchange resins of similar type
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
