Optimization of factors affecting hexavalent chromium removal from simulated electroplating wastewater by synthesized magnetite nanoparticles

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 187; no. 1; pp. 4165 - 11
• Main Authors: Ataabadi, Mitra, Hoodaji, Mehran, Tahmourespour, Arezoo, Kalbasi, Mahmoud, Abdouss, Majid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.01.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adsorption; Aqueous solutions; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Carcinogens; Chromium; Chromium - analysis; Chromium - chemistry; Decontamination; Design factors; Design of experiments; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Efficiency; Electrons; Electroplating; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Heavy metals; Hexavalent chromium; Industrial wastewater; Kinetics; Magnetic fields; Magnetite; Magnetite Nanoparticles - chemistry; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nanoparticles; Optimization; Oxidation; Plating; Scanning electron microscopy; Specific surface; Temperature; Toxicity; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Waste Water - chemistry; Wastewater pollution; Wastewater treatment; Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; Water Purification - methods; X-Ray Diffraction; Wastewater; Plackett–Burman; Optimization; Taguchi design; Magnetite nanoparticle; Cr (VI)
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-014-4165-z

Hexavalent chromium is a mutagen and carcinogen that is of significant concern in water and wastewater. In the present study, magnetite nanoparticles (n-Mag) were investigated as a potential remediation technology for the decontamination of Cr (VI)-contaminated wastewater. Synthesized n-Mag was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and BET-N 2 technology. To screen and optimize the factors affecting Cr (VI) removal efficiency by synthesized nanoparticles, Plackett-Burman (PB) and Taguchi experimental designs were used respectively. The crystalline produced n-Mag was in the size range of 60–70 nm and had a specific surface area (SSA) of 31.55 m 2  g −1 . Results of PB design showed that the most significant factors affecting Cr (VI) removal efficiency were initial Cr (VI) concentration, pH, n-Mag dosage, and temperature. In a pH of 2, 20 mg L −1 of Cr (VI) concentration, 4 g L −1 of n-Mag, temperature of 40 °C, 220 rpm of shaking speed, and 60 min of contact time, the complete removal efficiency of Cr (VI) was achieved. Batch experiments revealed that the removal of Cr (VI) by n-Mag was consistent with pseudo-second order reaction kinetics. The competition from common coexisting ions such as NO 3 − , SO 4 2− , and Cl − were not considerable, unless in the higher concentration of SO 4 2− . These results indicated that the readily synthesized magnetite nanoparticles have promising applications for the removal of Cr (VI) from aqueous solution.