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Synchronous Efficient Reduction of Cr (VI) and Removal of Total Chromium by Corn Extract / Fe (III) System

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Abstract 

In this study, a cost-effective and environmentally friendly composite system for the remediation of Cr (VI)-polluted groundwater was developed. The system of simultaneous reduction of Cr (VI) and precipitation of Cr (III) was innovatively constructed, using corncob extract as electron donor and Fe (III) as strengthening reagent. In the process of the total chromium removal, the addition of alkaline substances was not required, when pH ≤ 4 it showed an optimal reduction of Cr (VI). In addition, the removal rate of total chromium reached 88% within 120 min. To understand the mechanism of this system, we characterized the corn extract and particulate matter before and after the reaction. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry suggested that alcohols, phenols, and aldehydes provided the electrons that were required to reduce Cr (VI). As an electron shuttle, Fe (III) improved the efficiency of electron transfer, and Fe (II) and nano-zerovalent iron (nZVI) particles were formed during this process. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analyses showed that FeOCl was formed under the action of the plant extract and adsorbed Cr (III), thus reducing total chromium. Both nZVI and FeOCl were covered with a layer of paste cap, which maintained the stability of their physical and chemical properties. The regulation of pH during the repair process was not required, and the cost of the process was significantly reduced. Therefore, this technology provides a new strategy for the in situ remediation of Cr (VI) pollution in groundwater.

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Data availability

The data used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41530636), State-Local joint engineering laboratory for control and remediation technologies of petrochemical contaminated site of Jilin University, and Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment of Ministry of Education (Jilin University).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment of the Ministry of Education, College of Environment and Resources, Jilin University, 2519 Jiefang Road, Changchun, 130021, China

    He Sun, Yuduo Hua & Yongsheng Zhao

  2. National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Petrochemical Contaminated Site Control and Remediation Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China

    He Sun, Yuduo Hua & Yongsheng Zhao

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  1. He Sun
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  2. Yuduo Hua
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  3. Yongsheng Zhao
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He Sun contributed to conceptualization, investigation, formal analysis, and writing—original draft.

Yuduo Hua helped in investigation.

Yongsheng Zhao contributed to conceptualization, resources, and writing—review and editing.

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Correspondence to Yongsheng Zhao.

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The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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He Sun and Yuduo Hua are contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors

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Sun, H., Hua, Y. & Zhao, Y. Synchronous Efficient Reduction of Cr (VI) and Removal of Total Chromium by Corn Extract / Fe (III) System. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 28552–28564 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-18234-3

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