Schwertmannite and akaganeite for adsorption removals of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions

Iron hydroxides have received high attention in the treatment of chromium (Cr) polluted wastewater. In this study, the obtained chemical (or biological) pincushion-schwertmannite spheres had a diameter of 2 - 5 mu m (0.5-1 mu m), and akaganeite rods had a length of 300-500 nm (100-150 nm) at an axial ratio of about 3. The average diameters (mu m) of their agglomerated particles in solutions were 20.6-32.5 (only 0.480 for Aka-Chem). Schwertmannites and akaganeites were used to investigate Cr(VI) adsorption behaviors in aqueous solutions by batch experiments, under various reaction times, initial Cr(VI) and adsorbent levels, pH values, temperature and anions of NO3-, Cl-, CO32-, SO42-, and H2PO4-. Adsorption data well fitted to pseudo-second-order rate model (R-2 = 0.999), and Langmuir (R-2 = 0.954-0.988) and Freundlich (R-2 = 0.984-0.996) isothermal models at pH 7.0. Maximum Cr(VI) adsorption capacities were 119/133 for Sch-Chem/Sch-Bio, and 14.6/83.6 for Aka-Chem/Aka-Bio. The H2PO4- than SO42-/CO32- had a stronger effect on Cr(VI) adsorption. Adsorbents with pH(ZPC) of near to 4.0 still had a good Cr(VI) removal ability at pH 3.0-8.0. The possible Cr(VI) adsorption mechanisms by FTIR and XPS results for schwertmannite and akaganeite were electrostatic attractions and ion exchanges between hydroxyl (or sulfate) and chromate ions. The Cr(VI) adsorption of optimal schwertmannite and bioakaganeite was a spontaneous, endothermic and random process at the temperatures of 288-318 K. They had a good regeneration ability for Cr(VI) adsorption, and removal ratios could reach to about 80% of original values (60-70% in aqueous solution with 60 mg/L Cr(VI) and pH7.0, and 35-50% in wastewater with 120 mg/L Cr(VI) and about pH4.0), after three cycles. Herein, schwertmannite/bioakaganeite have a promising application in treatment of acidic/neutral wastewater with chromate.

Automated summary

Chemical or biological synthesized iron hydroxides, such as schwertmannite and akaganeite, show high potential for removing chromium ions in polluted wastewater. The adsorption capacity of these materials for Cr(VI) is strong, with maximum adsorption achieved at pH 7.0. Phosphate ions have a greater impact on Cr(VI) adsorption than sulfate and carbonate ions. Moreover, schwertmannite and bioakaganeite exhibit good regeneration ability at temperatures of 288-318 K. Therefore, schwertmannite and bioakaganeite have promising applications in the treatment of acidic/neutral chromate-containing wastewater.