Characteristics of a bioxalate chelating extraction process for removal of chromium,copper and arsenic from treated wood

The disposal of wood waste treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is a problem in many countries. We have proposed a novel chelating extraction technique for CCA-treated wood using bioxalate, a solution of oxalic acid containing sufficient sodium hydroxide to adjust the pH to 3.2, which is an effective way to obtain an extraction efficiency of 90% for chromium, copper, and arsenic. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the characteristics of bioxalate extraction of CCA-treated wood. Extractions of CCA-treated western hemlock chips with solutions of bioxalate, oxalic acid, and sodium hydroxide were carried out. The use of bioxalate was confirmed as the most effective extraction technique for chromium, copper and arsenic, with an efficiency of 90%. Extraction with simple oxalic acid was ineffective for copper (less than 40% extraction efficiency), but effective for chromium and arsenic, with 90% efficiency. Sodium hydroxide showed a similar tendency, being ineffective for chromium and copper (less than 20% extraction efficiency), but relatively effective for arsenic (around 70–80% efficiency). We also discovered an interesting phenomenon whereby the addition of sodium hydroxide to a simple oxalic acid solution during the oxalic acid extraction progress resulted in dramatically increased extraction efficiency for copper, chromium and arsenic, up to 90%. Although oxalic acid was ineffective for copper extraction, the addition of sodium hydroxide during the oxalic acid extraction process rendered it effective.     

Natural and anthropogenic contamination of the Fratta-Gorzone river (Veneto, Italy)

Stream-bed sediment samples were collected in 2001 and 2004 along the Fratta-Gorzone River (Italy) to assess the level of heavy metal contamination. The river stretch most affected by discharges of tannery effluent showed total and pseudo-total Cr levels (up to 2,860 mg/kg) that greatly exceed national and international chemical sediment quality standards. The most contaminated section of the river bed is located downstream of the main industrial discharge. However, a large fraction of the Cr present in the sediment appears to be of lithogenic origin. At most sites, more than 50% of Cr is not soluble in aqua-regia and thus unlikely to be very mobile or easily bio-available. A negligible risk to the benthic community can be inferred for Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu and Ni. This work highlights the limitation of using existing chemical sediment quality standards alone for risk assessment. The collection and analysis of suspended solids, the determination of river discharge and of dissolved Cr at 10 field stations allowed to estimate the particulate and dissolved Cr load and to locate the river stretch that was the likely source of contaminated sediment. The pumping of dilution water from the Adige River into the Fratta-Gorzone River did not produce the expected contaminant dilution effect due to re-suspension of contaminated solid particles and the release of Cr in solution.     

Mobility and recalcitrance of organo-chromium(III) complexes

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a major industrial pollutant. Bioremediation of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) is a viable clean-up approach. However, Cr(VI) bioreduction also produces soluble organo–Cr(III) complexes, and little is known about their behavior in the environment. When tested with soil columns, citrate–Cr(III) showed little sorption to soil; malate–Cr(III) had limited partitioning with soil; and histidine–Cr(III) exhibited significant interaction with soil. It appears that the mobility varies depending on the organic ligand. Further, Ralstonia eutropha JMP 134 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa pAO1 readily degraded malate, citrate, and histidine, but not the corresponding organo–Cr(III) complexes. The recalcitrance is not due to toxicity, but the complexes are likely to cause hindrance to enzymes, as malate dehydrogenase and amino acid oxidase could not use malate–Cr(III) and histidine–Cr(III), respectively. The data are in agreement with the reports of soluble organo–Cr(III) complexes in the environment.     

Preparation of a metal-phosphate/chromium oxide nanocomposite from Cr(III)-containing electroplating sludge and its optical properties as a nanopigment

A nanocomposite composed of metal-phosphates and chromium oxide was prepared from a Cr(III)-containing electroplating sludge (CES) by a facile three-step (extraction–precipitation–calcination) process. Optimal process parameters were determined, and the structure of the metal-phosphate/chromium oxide nanocomposite (MPCON) was investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that the optimal extraction pH is 2.0. The MPCON presents a polyhedral morphology with average particle size of around 100 nm. The components of MPCON vary from AlPO₄/Cr₂O₃ to Mg₃(PO₄)₂/AlPO₄/Cr₂O₃ at different solution pH during precipitation. Meanwhile, the optical performance of the nanocomposite as a pigment is discussed. The reflectance of MPCON-6.5 in the near-infrared range is around 56%, making it a strong prospect to be used as a functional pigment in energy-efficient buildings. This study proposes a novel recycling process for the conversion of CES into high-value products, which is beneficial for the treatment of waste.     

铬渣处理技术及资源化利用研究进展

随着含铬材料的大量使用,在生产和使用过程中产生了大量的废渣。其中六价铬对人体及环境有很大的毒害作用,因此必须要对其进行资源化处理。本文基于此,详细综述了国内外铬渣处理技术及综合利用进展,药剂稳定化技术处理铬渣将成为铬渣稳定化的一个新的发展方向,无论从环境还是经济角度考虑,都有深远的现实意义。     

Experimental study of chromium adsorption on minerals in the presence of phthalic and humic acids

The effect of phthalic acid (benzene 1,2 dicarboxylic acid), a surrogate compound for natural organic matter, and of humic acid, on the adsorption of chromium to the surface of minerals was observed. In ternary systems involving phthalic acid, chromium(III) adsorption decreases on clays, probably because of aqueous Cr(III)-phthalate complexation, preventing ionic-exchange. Phthalic acid was also found to reduce chromium(VI) adsorption onto alumina, because of a competitive effect. In ternary systems involving humic acid, Cr(III) adsorption is increased in the low pH range because of the formation of surface ternary complex S-L-Cr(III) and is decreased in the high pH range because of aqueous Cr(III)-humate complexation.     

Soil humic acids may favour the persistence of hexavalent chromium in soil

The interaction between hexavalent chromium Cr(VI), as K₂CrO₄, and standard humic acids (HAs) in bulk solution was studied using three complementary analytical methods: UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy and differential pulse stripping voltammetry. The observed UV-Vis and X-ray absorption spectra showed that, under our experimental conditions, HAs did not induce reduction of Cr(VI) to its trivalent chemical form. The interaction between Cr(VI) and HAs has rather led to the formation of Cr(VI)-HAs micelles via supramolecular chemical processes. The reported results could contribute towards explaining the relative persistence of ecotoxic hexavalent chromium in soils.     

锯屑处理含铬废水的实验研究

本文提出一种利用木材加工剩余物——锯屑,处理含六价铬离子废水的方法.实验表明,锯屑对废水中的六价铬离子有一定的去除作用,得到了锯屑吸附水中六价铬离子的吸附等温线,测定了吸附速度,并对pH值、锯屑用量和六价铬离子初始浓度等因素对吸附过程的影响进行了实验研究.     

粉煤灰电石渣用作金属废渣和酸性铬污泥的稳定/固化剂的试验研究

粉煤灰、电石渣与水泥存在着某些相似的理化性质 ,研究它们对金属废物和酸性铬污泥的稳定 /固化作用 ,实现以废治废将具有重要意义。本文通过试验研究证实了粉煤灰和电石渣对金属废渣有良好的稳定 /固化作用 ;对酸性铬污泥 ,电石渣有很好的稳定 /固化作用 ,二者完全可以替代水泥用作金属废渣和酸性铬污泥的固化剂。