Removal of Cr (VI) from industrial water effluents and surface waters using activated composite membranes

doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2007.12.049

Journal of Membrane Science

Volume 312, Issues 1–2, 1 April 2008, Pages 157-162

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2007.12.049 Get rights and content

Abstract

An experimental study for removal of Cr (VI) from industrial water effluents and surface waters using activated composite membranes (ACMs) based on the separation of Cr (VI) species in an ACM separate unit cell is described. Methyltricaprylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336) was used as ‘carrier’ in the activated composite membranes. Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (FAAS) was utilized for measuring the concentrations of metal: in feed solutions, the concentration of metal ranged from 25 to 120 mg L⁻¹ and the pH was higher than 3.00 that decreased the probability that Cr (VI) reduced to Cr (III). Consequently, the effects of the pH and the carrier concentration in the membrane were discussed. The results seemed to prove the efficiency of the activated composite membranes such these: the membrane capacity (mol cm⁻²), the metal concentration (mg L⁻¹) in feed and permeate solutions and the enrichment factor of Cr (VI) in permeate solutions. After 7 and 25 h of treatment with membrane of polluted water with Cr (VI) the water became unpolluted.

Introduction

The treatment of industrial wastewaters containing heavy metals was a major concern because of their high toxicity [1]. A lot of technologies are used for the removal of contaminants from the water, including Cr (VI). The mechanisms of those technologies used for removal include: straining, sedimentation, impaction, interception, adhesion, chemical adsorption, physical adsorption, flocculation, and biological growth [2], [3], [4], [5].

Selective separation of different metals from industrial water effluents by supported liquid membrane (SLM) processes has become a challenge during the last time [6], [7], [8], [9]. Usually, SLMs were made from an organic solution which contained the metallic ions carrier, bound in the pores of this hydrophobic micro-filter membrane. The main reason for which SLMs were not introduced in the industrial separation methods was their short life time due to the leakage of the liquid membrane on the support pores [10].

Activated composite membranes (ACMs) have been developed as an alternative to SLMs due to their high stability [11]. They demonstrate a number of important characteristics, which make these membrane, materials of great promise for practical applications [12], [13], [14], [15].

Because of Cr (VI), the use of chromium in many industries, as the metallurgical one, resulted in destructive side effects of the industrial effluents upon the ecosystems. The maximum Cr (VI) admitted concentration for thread waters, sent to purification plant, was 0.2 mg L⁻¹ and, 0.1 mg L⁻¹, respectively, for thread waters which can be evacuated in natural receivers. Chromium with six valences from chromate anions (CrO₄²⁻) chromic acid (HCrO₄⁻) and dichromate (Cr₂O₇²⁻) was not strongly absorbed and biodegraded in soil, in basic medium or weak acid conditions. This can become mobile in and at soil surface also [16].

On the other hand, Cr (III) fast precipitates to Cr(OH)₃ in basic or weak acid medium conditions [17], [18]. Thus, the mobility and the chromium toxicity too, depending on its oxidation state, are very important for the determination of their effects upon the environment and human health.

A lot of analytical methods were developed recently for Cr (III) and Cr (VI) determination [19] and for the removal from various environmental samples such as: ions exchange methods [20], [21], spectrometer methods [22], capillary electrophoresis methods [23], compared to the techniques using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) [24] or mass spectrometer with inductive coupled plasma (ICP-MS) [25] which were the most utilized systems.

The aim of this work is to discuss the separation performances (stability, efficiency) of the ACMs used to remove Cr (VI) from industrial water effluents and surface waters. They were prepared in a laboratory using an obtaining technique from the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Sciences Faculty of AUTONOMA University from Barcelona (Spain).

Section snippets

Membrane synthesis

The used technique for membrane synthesis was based on the metal transportation through the supported liquid membrane (SLM) with one self-polymer without affecting the permeability or its selectivity. The obtaining technique is presented elsewhere [26], [27].

Atomic absorption spectrometry

For the Cr (VI) aqueous sample analysis the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (FAAS) was utilized, equipped with one graphite atomizer pipe and one programmed system for sample dispersion. The wave length utilized for the sample analysis of Cr

Carrier concentration

Aliquat 336, quaternary ammonium chloride compound of main composition, trioctylmethyl ammonium chloride, and represent as R₃CH₃NCl (R = C8 aliphatic) has been extensively used in the solvent extraction of anionic metal species. Its use as an ion-exchange extractant for chromium is based on the presence of extractable anionic chlorocomplexes of chromium, which are ion paired by the cation of the reagent, dissolved in a suitable solvent [30].

The experimental data suggests that the following

Conclusion

This work demonstrated that

•
The activated composite membranes (ACMs) obtained can be used for Cr (VI) separation from aqueous solutions. For this, there were utilized synthetic polluted water solutions with Cr (VI) in concentrations of 25, 50 and 120 mg L⁻¹, respectively, similar with real values obtained from wastages of chromic refracted bricks, resulted in a powder metallic plant.
•
The optimum concentration of the carrier, Aliquat 336, in membrane was 0.5 M. The Cr (VI) was carried by ACMs, from

Application

The goal of this study was to sustain the metallurgical engineer's activities to clean the water that they had polluted by storing refracted chromic wastages taking into account the toxic effect of Cr (VI) upon ecosystems.

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, National University Research Council (CNCSIS), project A_T number 33552/2005.

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Removal of Cr (VI) from industrial water effluents and surface waters using activated composite membranes

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Membrane synthesis

Atomic absorption spectrometry

Carrier concentration

Conclusion

Application

Acknowledgment

Microchem. J.

J. Hazard. Mater.

Sci. Total Environ.

Ecol. Eng.

J. Membr. Sci.

J. Membr. Sci.

J. Membr. Sci.

J. Electroanal. Chem.

Polyhedron

Anal. Chim. Acta

J. Membr. Sci.

Sci. Total Environ.

Water Res.

Talanta

Anal. Chim. Acta

Anal. Chim. Acta

Talanta