Phosphonium-Enhanced Chitosan for Hexavalent Chromium Adsorption in Wastewater Treatment
Abstract
Adsorption is a commonly used technique for removing contaminants from wastewater, such as hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from the wastewater of a chrome plating plant. Chitosan, a prevalent polymeric biomass that is used industrially as a wastewater treatment adsorbent, was crosslinked and functionalized with a low-cost phosphonium salt to enhance its adsorption capacity for Cr(VI). At Cr(VI) concentrations below 130 ppm, the phosphonium-crosslinked chitosan (PCC) adsorbed more than double the amount of Cr(VI) than the unmodified chitosan. The low-cost method for manufacturing PCC may provide a cost-effective alternative to simply increasing the amount of chitosan used in a process. Additionally, PCC was regenerated using magnesium sulfate for repeated use. The recovered Cr(VI) may be recycled back into a chrome plating process.
Description
Keywords
Toxicology, Chemistry, Chemistry--Organic, Chemistry--Polymer, Engineering--Chemical, Engineering--Environmental, Engineering--Industrial, Materials Science
Citation
Sessarego, S. (2017). Phosphonium-Enhanced Chitosan for Hexavalent Chromium Adsorption in Wastewater Treatment (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27336