In this study, cork granules, 100% natural and sustainable, were used as effective electron donors for hexavalent chromium reduction to its trivalent form, through the oxidation of cork surface, and as binder of positively charged trivalent chromium species. Cr(VI) reduction and total chromium removal was evaluated as function of solution pH, cork dose, initial Cr(VI) concentration and temperature. Cr(VI) reduction rate was found strongly dependent on the solution pH and the optimum value for total chromium removal was 3.0. The amount of equivalent organic compounds per unit gram of cork granules able to reduce Cr(VI) was found as 4.2 mmol/g (i.e. 1 g of cork granules is able to reduce 4.2 mmol of Cr(VI)). Cork granules oxidation during Cr(VI) reduction generates binding sites for Cr(III) uptake (1 g of cork is able to bind up to 18 ± 4 mmol of Cr(III)). The activation energy obtained for Cr(VI) reduction by cork granules was 51 ± 2 kJ/mol. A mathematical model based on phenomenological principles using conservation, equilibrium and transport kinetic equations was developed to describe the integrated process for hexavalent chromium removal.
Read full abstract