Nanoscale Zero Valent Iron Supported by Biomass-Activated Carbon for Highly Efficient Total Chromium Removal from Electroplating Wastewater

• Main Authors: Bo Zhang, Bo-Hong Zhu, Xiong Wang, Song-Bai You
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-12-01
• Series: Water
• Subjects: biomass activated carbon; chromium; electroplating wastewater; nanoscale zero valent iron
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/1/89

The application potential of nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI) in wastewater treatment is huge and has attracted a lot of attention. In this study, the composite material BC-nZVI was prepared by emulsion of nZVI and biomass-activated carbon (BC) under the mechanical agitation condition, and was characterized by SEM-EDX, XRD, XPS, and FTIR. The decontamination abilities of BC-nZVI were tested by the removal of total chromium (Cr) from electroplating wastewater. The results showed that the removal efficiencies of Cr in the electroplating wastewater by nZVI particles can be effectively improved when supported with BC, but cannot be improved in its storage capacity. The chemical adsorption process between the Cr and BC-nZVI is the main rate-limiting step in the removal of total Cr from wastewater, and multiple parameters such as dosage, pH, and initial concentration of Cr was found to affect the rate.