Abstract
Removal of Cr(VI) is of great concern due to its high mobility and toxicity in the natural environment. In this study, Fe-Mn oxide-modified biochar composite (FMBC) was prepared by impregnation to remove Cr(VI) from aqueous systems. The effect of Fe/Mn ratio, adsorbent dosage, solution pH, initial Cr(VI) concentration, and temperature were investigated on the Cr(VI) removal efficiency. Results showed that F1M3BC (with an Fe/Mn ratio of 1:3) had the maximum Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of 118.03 mg g−1 at pH 2.0. The removal efficiency of Cr(VI) by F1M3BC (91.79%) was higher than that by the pristine BC (32.17%). Experimental data fitted well with the Langmuir model and the pseudo-second-order kinetics equation. Thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. Multiple techniques including BET, SEM, FTIR, and XPS were used to analyze the possible adsorption mechanisms. It was found that the increased adsorption of Cr(VI) on F1M3BC, mainly occurred due to electrostatic attraction and Cr(VI) reduction, together with Cr(III) complexation. Furthermore, regeneration studies indicated that F1M3BC could be recycled for up to six cycles without loss of activity. Therefore, F1M3BC may be promising for environmental applications removing Cr(VI) from aqueous systems.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adhoum, N., Monser, L., Bellakhal, N., & Belgaied, J. E. (2004). Treatment of electroplating wastewater containing Cu2+, Zn2+ and Cr(VI) by electrocoagulation. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 112, 207–213.
Agrafioti, E., Kalderis, D., & Diamadopoulos, E. (2014). Ca and Fe modified biochars as adsorbents of arsenic and chromium in aqueous solutions. Journal of Environmental Management, 146, 444–450.
Ahmad, M., Rajapaksha, A. U., Lim, J. E., Ming, Z., Bolan, N., Mohan, D., Vithanage, M., Sang, S. L., & Yong, S. O. (2014). Biochar as a sorbent for contaminant management in soil and water: A review. Chemosphere, 99, 19–33.
Atun, G., Hisarli, G., Sheldrick, W. S., & Muhler, M. (2003). Adsorptive removal of methylene blue from colored effluents on fuller’s earth. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 261, 32–39.
Bai, R. S., & Abraham, T. E. (2003). Studies on chromium(VI) adsorption–desorption using immobilized fungal biomass. Bioresource Technology, 87, 17–26.
Baig, S. A., Jin, Z., Muhammad, N., Sheng, T., & Xu, X. (2014). Effect of synthesis methods on magnetic Kans grass biochar for enhanced As(III, V) adsorption from aqueous solutions. Biomass and Bioenergy, 71, 299–310.
Chang, F., Qu, J., Liu, R., Liu, H., Lei, P., Zhang, G., & Wu, R. (2006). Preparation of Fe-Mn bimetal oxide adsorbent and its adsorption characteristics of arsenic. Acta Scientiae Circumstantiae, 26, 1769–1774.
Debnath, A., Majumder, M., Pal, M., Das, N. S., Chattopadhyay, K. K., & Saha, B. (2016). Enhanced adsorption of hexavalent chromium onto magnetic calcium ferrite nanoparticles: Kinetic, isotherm, and neural network modeling. Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology, 37, 1806–1818.
Dong, X., Ma, L. Q., & Li, Y. (2011). Characteristics and mechanisms of hexavalent chromium removal by biochar from sugar beet tailing. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 190, 909–915.
Dönmez, G., & Aksu, Z. (2002). Removal of chromium(VI) from saline wastewaters by Dunaliella species. Process Biochemistry, 38, 751–762.
Drake, L. R., Lin, S., Rayson, G. D., & Jackson, P. J. (1996). Chemical modification and metal binding studies of datura innoxia. Environmental Science and Technology, 30, 110–114.
Elovitz, M. S., & Fish, W. (1994). Redox interactions of Cr(VI) and substituted phenols: Kinetic investigation. Environmental Science and Technology, 28, 2161–2169.
Fan, L., Li, M., Lv, Z., Sun, M., Luo, C., Lu, F., & Qiu, H. (2012). Fabrication of magnetic chitosan nanoparticles grafted with β-cyclodextrin as effective adsorbents toward hydroquinol. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 95, 42–49.
Gao, Y., & Xia, J. (2011). Chromium contamination accident in China: Viewing environment policy of China. Environmental Science and Technology, 45, 8605–8606.
Hafez, A., & El-Mariharawy, S. (2004). Design and performance of the two-stage/two-pass RO membrane system for chromium removal from tannery wastewater. Part 3. Desalination, 165, 141–151.
Hokkanen, S., Bhatnagar, A., Repo, E., Lou, S., & Sillanpää, M. (2016). Calcium hydroxyapatite microfibrillated cellulose composite as a potential adsorbent for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. Chemical Engineering Journal, 283, 445–452.
Kapoor, A., & Viraraghavan, T. (1997). Heavy metal biosorption sites in Aspergillus Niger. Bioresource Technology, 61, 221–227.
Kumar, P. A., Ray, M., & Chakraborty, S. (2007). Hexavalent chromium removal from wastewater using aniline formaldehyde condensate coated silica gel. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 143, 24–32.
Kumar, R., Bishnoi, N. R., Garima, & Bishnoi, K. (2008). Biosorption of chromium(VI) from aqueous solution and electroplating wastewater using fungal biomass. Chemical Engineering Journal, 135, 202–208.
Lai, C. H., Lo, S. L., & Chiang, H. L. (2000). Adsorption/desorption properties of copper ions on the surface of iron-coated sand using BET and EDAX analyses. Chemosphere, 41, 1249–1255.
Li, Z. Z., Tang, Q., Katsumi, T., Tang, X. W., Inui, T., & Imaizumi, S. (2010). Leaf char: An alternative adsorbent for Cr(III). Desalination, 264, 70–77.
Li, M., Liu, Q., Guo, L., Zhang, Y., Lou, Z., Wang, Y., & Qian, G. (2013). Cu(II) removal from aqueous solution by Spartina alterniflora derived biochar. Bioresource Technology, 141, 83–88.
Li, L., Chen, X., Wu, D., Wang, A., & Yang, L. (2015). Adsorption of aqueous nitrate-N by immobilized modified biochar. Journal of Agro-Environment Science, 34, 1377–1143.
Li, R., Liu, L., & Yang, F. (2016). Corrigendum to “Removal of aqueous Hg(II) and Cr(VI) using phytic acid doped polyaniline/cellulose acetate composite mem brane”. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 303, 183–184.
Lin, L., Qiu, W., Wang, D., Huang, Q., Song, Z., & Chau, H. W. (2017). Arsenic removal in aqueous solution by a novel Fe-Mn modified biochar composite: Characterization and mechanism. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 144, 514–521.
Lin, L., Li, Z., Liu, X., Qiu, W., & Song, Z. (2018). Effects of Fe-Mn modified biochar composite treatment on the properties of As-polluted paddy soil. Environmental Pollution, 244, 600–607.
Liufu, S. C., Xiao, H. N., & Li, Y. P. (2005). Adsorption of cationic polyelectrolyte at the solid/liquid interface and dispersion of nanosized silica in water. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 285, 33–40.
Lu, H., Zhang, W., Yang, Y., Huang, X., Wang, S., & Qiu, R. (2012). Relative distribution of Pb2+ sorption mechanisms by sludge-derived biochar. Water Research, 46, 854–862.
Luo, X., Wang, C., Luo, S., Dong, R., Tu, X., & Zeng, G. (2004). Adsorption of As (III) and As (V) from water using magnetite FeO-reduced graphite oxide–MnO nanocomposites. Chemical Engineering Journal, 99, 45–52.
Luo, S., Xu, X., Zhou, G., Liu, C., Tang, Y., & Liu, Y. (2014). Amino siloxane oligomer-linked graphene oxide as an efficient adsorbent for removal of Pb(II) from wastewater. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 274, 145–155.
Marwani, H. M., Albishri, H. M., Soliman, E. M., & Jalal, T. A. (2012). Selective adsorption and determination of hexavalent chromium in water samples by chemically modified activated carbon with tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane. Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology, 33, 549–555.
Min, C., Paulson, S., Wang, H. K., Thangadurai, V., & Birss, V. I. (2015). Surface and bulk study of strontium-rich chromium ferrite oxide as a robust solid oxide fuel cell cathode. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 3, 22614–22626.
Mohan, D., & Jr, C. U. P. (2006). Activated carbons and low cost adsorbents for remediation of tri- and hexavalent chromium from water. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 137, 762–811.
Mohan, D., Sarswat, A., Ok, Y. S., & Jr, P. C. (2014). Organic and inorganic contaminants removal from water with biochar, a renewable, low cost and sustainable adsorbent--a critical review. Bioresource Technology, 160, 191–202.
Pang, Y., Zeng, G. M., Tang, L., Zhang, Y., Liu, Y. Y., Lei, X. X., Wu, M. S., Li, Z., & Liu, C. (2011). Cr(VI) reduction by Pseudomonas aeruginosa immobilized in a polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate matrix containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Bioresource Technology, 102, 10733–10736.
Park, D., Yun, Y. S., Jo, J. H., & Park, J. M. (2005). Mechanism of hexavalent chromium removal by dead fungal biomass of Aspergillus niger. Water Research, 39, 533–540.
Pu, Y., Yang, X., Hong, Z., Wang, D., Yu, S., & Jie, H. (2013). Adsorption and desorption of thallium(I) on multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Chemical Engineering Journal, 219, 403–410.
Qin, Y., Wang, D., Liang, M., Tang, S., Li, H., & Zhang, T. (2016). Preparation of mulberry stem activated carbon/Fe-Mn oxide composite sorbent and its effects on the adsorption of Cr(VI). Environmental Chemistry, 35, 783–792.
Quiintana, M., Curutchet, G., & Donati, E. (2001). Factors affecting chromium(VI) reduction by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 9, 11–15.
Ran, X., Wang, J. J., Li, R., Park, J., Meng, Y., Zhou, B., Pensky, S., & Zhang, Z. (2018). Enhanced sorption of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] from aqueous solutions by diluted sulfuric acid-assisted MgO-coated biochar composite. Chemosphere, 208, 408–416.
Rengaraj, S., Joo, C. K., Kim, Y., & Yi, J. (2003). Kinetics of removal of chromium from water and electronic process wastewater by ion exchange resins: 1200H, 1500H and IRN97H. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 102, 257–275.
Sang, D. K., Park, K. S., & Man, B. G. (2002). Toxicity of hexavalent chromium to Daphnia magna : Influence of reduction reaction by ferrous iron. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 93, 155–164.
Shen, Y. S., Wang, S. L., Tzou, Y. M., Yan, Y. Y., & Kuan, W. H. (2012). Removal of hexavalent Cr by coconut coir and derived chars – The effect of surface functionality. Bioresource Technology, 104, 165–172.
Shi, Q. T., Terracciano, A., Zhao, Y., Wei, C. Y., Christodoulatos, C., & Meng, X. G. (2019). Evaluation of metal oxides and activated carbon for lead removal: Kinetics, isotherms, column tests, and the role of co-existing ions. Science of the Total Environment, 648, 176–183.
Singh, T. S., & Pant, K. K. (2006). Experimental and modelling studies on fixed bed adsorption of As(III) ions from aqueous solution. Separation and Purification Technology, 48, 288–296.
Stypula, B., & Stoch, J. (1994). The characterization of passive films on chromium electrodes by XPS. Corrosion Science, 36, 2159–2167.
Taffa, D. H., Hamm, I., Dunkel, C., Sinev, I., Bahnemann, D. W., & Wark, M. (2015). Electrochemical deposition of Fe2O3 in the presence of organic additives: A route to enhanced photoactivity. RSC Advances, 5, 103512–103522.
Tamilarasan, P., & Ramaprabhu, S. (2012). Iron-manganese binary oxide coated functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes for arsenic removal. Aip Conference Proceedings, 1447, 321–322.
Tang, L., Yang, G. D., Zeng, G. M., Cai, Y. E., Li, S. S., & Zhou, Y. Y. (2014). Synergistic effect of iron doped ordered mesoporous carbon on adsorption-coupled reduction of hexavalent chromium and the relative mechanism study. Chemical Engineering Journal, 239, 114–122.
Tang, D. Y., Huang, Y., Xu, R. C., Hu, J. L., & Zhang, C. (2016). Adsorption behavior of low concentration phosphorus from water onto modified reed biochar. Environmental Science, 37, 2195–2201.
Wang, J., Liao, S., Zhu, D., Ren, L., Zhou, W., & Ding, J. (2006). Mn2+ adsorption characteristics of different B-loaded oxides. Acta Pedologica Sinica, 43, 749–755.
Wang, X. S., Chen, L. F., Li, F. Y., Chen, K. L., Wan, W. Y., & Tang, Y. J. (2010). Removal of Cr (VI) with wheat-residue derived black carbon: Reaction mechanism and adsorption performance. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 175, 816–822.
Wang, W., Li, M., & Zeng, Q. (2012). Column adsorption of chromium(VI) by strong alkaline anion-exchange fiber. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 126, 1733–1738.
Wu, Y., Luo, H., Wang, H., Wang, C., Zhang, J., & Zhang, Z. (2013). Adsorption of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solutions by graphene modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 394, 183–191.
Yu, J., Jiang, C., Guan, Q., Ning, P., Gu, J., Chen, Q., Zhang, J., & Miao, R. (2018). Enhanced removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by supported ZnO nanoparticles on biochar derived from waste water hyacinth. Chemosphere, 195, 632.
Yun, Y. S., Park, D., Park, J. M., & Volesky, B. (2001). Biosorption of trivalent chromium on the brown seaweed biomass. Environmental Science and Technology, 35, 4353–4358.
Zhang, X. D., Yang, Y., Song, L., Chen, J. F., Yang, Y. Q., & Wang, Y. X. (2019). Enhanced adsorption performance of gaseous toluene on defective UiO-66 metal organic framework: Equilibrium and kinetic studies. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 365, 597–605.
Zhou, L., Liu, Y., Liu, S., Yin, Y., Zeng, G., Tan, X., Hu, X., Hu, X., Jiang, L., & Ding, Y. (2016). Investigation of the adsorption-reduction mechanisms of hexavalent chromium by ramie biochars of different pyrolytic temperatures. Bioresource Technology, 218, 351–359.
Funding
This study was financially supported by the Guangdong Science and Technology Project (2017A030223007).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhu, Y., Dai, W., Deng, K. et al. Efficient Removal of Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solution by Fe-Mn Oxide-Modified Biochar. Water Air Soil Pollut 231, 61 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-4432-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-4432-2