Abstract
An electrochemical process to remove hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) from farm effluent using chitosan membranes was examined. The farm effluent was spiked with 50mg/L Cr6+ and model solutions with 200mg/L and 50mg/L Cr6+ in pure water were filled in a treatment chamber separated by pieces chitosan membrane thickness 15μm to 25μm between both the cathode chamber and the anodic chamber. A voltage of 12V was applied for a 13h period to replicate tests on the farm effluent and the model solutions. Over 980 of Cr6+ was removed from all the solutions.
Chitosan membrane has the potential for both the adsorption and the reduction. The excess hydroxyl ions were unable to permeate through the membrane. Compared to various electrochemical remediation approaches, this combination approach of electrochemical treatment and adsorption onto chitosan provides many advantages such as simplicity, low cost, high ion removal efficiency, and ease of practical operation. It has significant potential for the removal of hazardous metal ions such as Cr6+ from both industrial wastewater and organic rich farm effluent.
