Use of metallurgical dust for removal chromium ions from aqueous solutions

Institute of Environmental Engineering Polish Academy of Science, 41-819 Zabrze, 34 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie Street, Poland

^* Corresponding author: magdalena.pajak@ipis.zabrze.pl

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the potential for the application of dust from steel plant as an effective sorbent for removing Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in the form of simple and complex ions – Acid Blue 193 dye from aqueous solutions. Three isotherms models were used to interpret the experimental results namely: Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich. Estimated equations parameters allowed to determine the binding mechanism. Based on laboratory studies it was found that the dust was characterized by high sorption capacities for Cr ions and dye from the aqueous solution. The sorption capacity of the dust for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions depended on the degree of oxidation, pH of solution and kind of anion and changed in series: Cr(III)-Cl pH=5.0> Cr(III)-SO₄ pH=5.0> Cr(III)-Cl pH=3.0> Cr(III)-SO₄ pH=3.0> Cr(VI) pH=5.0> Cr(VI) pH=3.0. Dust was also characterized by a high maximum sorption capacity of dye at a range of 38.2 – 91.7 mg/g, depending on the dose of dust. Based on the study it was found that dust from a steel plant, containing iron oxides, can be used as low-cost and effective sorbent to remove pollutions containing chromium ions, especially from acidic wastewater.