Removal of chromium from synthetic plating waste by zero-valent iron and sulfate-reducing bacteria

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the potential of zero-valent iron and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) for reduction and removal of chromium from synthetic electroplating waste. The zero-valent iron shows promising results as a reductant of hexavalent chromium (Cr(+6)) to trivalent chromium (Cr(+3)), capable of 100% reduction. The required iron concentration was a function of chromium concentration in the waste stream. Removal of Cr(+3) by adsorption or precipitation on iron leads to complete removal of chromium from the waste and was a slower process than the reduction of Cr(+6). Presence SRB in a completely mixed batch reactor inhibited the reduction of Cr(+6). In a fixed-bed column reactor, SRB enhanced chromium removal and showed promising results for the treatment of wastes with low chromium concentrations. It is proposed that, for waste with high chromium concentration, zero-valent iron is an efficient reductant and can be used for reduction of Cr(+6). For low chromium concentrations, a SRB augmented zero-valent iron and sand column is capable of removing chromium completely.