Author(s)

Muhajir M. Kwikima^*, Meserecordias W. Lema

College of Earth Sciences, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania.

The objective of this experimental study was to determine the kinetics and equilibrium sorption of Cr(VI) in soils collected from Hengshui City of Hebei Province, China, based on batch experiments. The main concentration for this paper is on the effect of soil pH, solute concentration and ionic strength as the variable factors in the sorption of Cr(VI) in soils and the assessment of their implications to the environment. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) was used for Cr(III) analysis; UV-VIS Spectrophotometer for quantification of Cr(VI) in soil samples and determination of electrical conductivity and temperature of the soil samples; and Automatic Laser Particle Size Analyzer LS230 for the determination of soil physical characteristics. Results from this study show that adsorption and reduction are major reactions accounting for removal of Cr(VI) from soil solution. It is concluded that chemical reactions such as reduction, strongly influence Cr(VI) mobility in soil. Adsorption kinetics experiments indicated that Cr(VI) removal from soil solution increases with increasing solute concentration, with decreasing pH and with decreasing ionic strength. Adsorption reactions reached equilibrium within 12 hours in batch reactors. Increasing background electrolyte concentration (KCI) decreases Cr(VI) adsorption on soil. The Cr(VI) adsorption isotherm for this soils conforms well to the Langmuir isotherm at constant pH. Two Cr(VI) adsorption parameters: the maximum sorption capacity (Q_o) and Langmuir adsorption constant (KL), were determined as 1.0135 × 10^-4 mol/g and 0.0622 mg/L, respectively. The reduction of Cr(VI) into less toxic Cr(III), means reduction of significant environmental problems. Finally, this study advises relevant environmental governing authorities to observeperiodic monitoring of the status of Cr(VI) in soils.

Soil, Hexavalent Chromium, Reduction, Adsorption

Kwikima, M. and Lema, M. (2017) Sorption Characteristics of Hexavalent Chromium in the Soil Based on Batch Experiment and Their Implications to the Environment. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 5, 152-164. doi: 10.4236/gep.2017.53011.