Abstract:
An environmentally friendly reductive function mineral materials, termed as antioxidant-Fe(II)-Montmorillonite (A-Fe(II)-Mt), is prepared using stepwise addition of ferrous ion and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) with desired concentraions into the montmorillonite dispersion; meanwhile, an Fe-Mt is also prepared by adding ferrous ion alone. These two materials are investigated systematically for comparison to the ability of removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. The experimental results show that the optimum pH condition suitable for the Cr(VI) removal is the wide range of 2.0~7.0 with the maximum removals of Cr(VI) that are 34.9 and 26.8 mg/g for A-Fe(II)-Mt and Fe(II)-Mt, respectively. The relevant reactions reach equilibrium within 90 min and can highly follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Among the Cr(VI) removal process associated with A-Fe(II)-Mt may be concluded that hexavalent chromium anion is first adsorbed onto the material surfaces, followed by the Cr(VI) reduction to the low toxic species of Cr(III) . After that, the Cr(III) ion is found to form chromic hydroxide, i.e. Cr(OH)3 and/or to be adsorbed onto montmorillonite. The treatment approach for the Cr(VI) removal is efficient and safe to the chromic stabilization, and hence its application is wide promising.