Floatable, macroporous structured alginate sphere supporting iron nanoparticles used for emergent Cr(VI) spill treatment.
Treatment of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) spill accident is a great challenge due to its high toxicity, sudden and extensiveness. In this study, we designed and fabricated a hierarchical, ordered and macroporous structured alginate sphere to support in-situ synthesized zero-valent iron nanoparticle (the alginate-nZVI sphere). Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) images showed well dispersion of nZVI on the composite. This alginate-nZVI sphere exhibited good separability in effective removal of Cr(VI). The result from Cr(VI) removal experiment demonstrated a Cr(VI) removal efficiency of 98.2% at equilibrium time, which can be ascribed to the well dispersion of the nZVI. In addition, the alginate-nZVI sphere was effective in Cr(VI) removal in a wide range of pH from 3.0 to 11.0, by the merit of alginate substrate. Hence, the alginate-nZVI sphere might be a promising agent for an emergent Cr(VI) spill treatment by enhancing the dispersion, stabilization and separation properties of nZVI.
College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Jian-Fei
JF
Huang
College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Yong-Tao
YT
Li
School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Jin-Hua
JH
Wu
College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Piao-Yang
PY
Cao
College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Yong-Lin
YL
Liu
College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address: jgb3h@163.com.
Gang-Biao
GB
Jiang
D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D055884:Chemical Hazard Release; D002857:Chromium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism
D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002857:Chromium; C074702:chromium hexavalent ion; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D007501:Iron
Alginate sphere; Cr(VI) removal; Cross-linking; Easy separation; Zero-valent iron