Fernandez, Christine Maureen V.

BSCHE – 5 CHE PE 4

Activity 1
Answer the following questions after:

1. Outline the steps and the method of treatment used to treat a hazardous waste with the
following categories:
a. pH = 3 With a Cyanide contamination at 60,000 mg/L
b. Hexavalent chromium contamination

Answers:
a.) Separation and Oxidation Processes:
• Neutralization
- Solutions are neutralized by a simple application of the law of mass balance to
bring about an acceptable pH. Sulfuric or hydrochloric acid is added to basic
solutions, while caustic (NaOH) or slaked lime [Ca(OH)2] is added to acidic
solutions. Though a waste is hazardous at pH values less than 2 or greater than 12.5,
and it would seem that simply bringing the pH into the range 2 to 12.5 would be
adequate, good treatment practice requires that final pH values be in the range 6 to 8
to protect natural biota.
• Oxidation
- The cyanide molecule is destroyed by oxidation. Chlorine is the oxidizing agent
most frequently used. Oxidation must be conducted under alkaline conditions to avoid
the generation of hydrogen cyanide gas. This process is often referred to as alkaline
chlorination.

b.) Hexavalent chromium contamination

• Reduction of Toxicity
- The carcinogenic effects of Cr on a receptor species (a human or another
ecological species) can be expressed as the product of exposure and the inherent
toxicity of the compound. It aims to decrease the toxicity of Cr(VI) by reducing
Cr(VI) to Cr(III).
• Destruction and Removal
 - To decrease total Cr concentrations on several approaches such as the ff:
excavation and off-site disposal of soil or pump-and-treat of groundwater, separation
of Cr from soil into a wastewater stream by soil washing, soil flushing or solvent
extraction and etc.
• Containment
- Focuses on preventing the spread of contamination into larger areas. It includes
stabilization or solidification, bio stabilization, Phyto stabilization, precipitation,
encapsulation, and vitrification of soil
• Toxicity Reduction Methods
▪ Chemical Reduction - Refers to abiotic in-situ or ex-situ reduction with an
electron donor such as S, Fe(II) or Fe(0).
▪ Microbial Reduction- The process is the same as chemical reduction, but is
biologically mediated and is thus kinetically advantageous to nonbiological
reactions, particularly under aerobic conditions.
▪ Phytoremediation- Like biological and chemical reduction, phytoremediation
is a multi-faceted approach towards Cr remediation. Plants contain the Cr by
converting it to the less mobile Cr(III) (phytostabilization) and simultaneously
reduce its toxicity.
• Removal Technologies
- Ex-Situ Technologies/ Ion Exchange/ Granular Activated Carbon/ Adsorbents/
Membrane Filtration

2. What is the better oxidising procedure: oxidation using cyanide or using ozone?

Answers:

- Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent yet it offers the advantage that little or no
secondary products are formed upon treatment of the wastewater containing cyanide. Ozone
concentrations vary, from 5 to 25 mg/l of air, depending on ozone generator parameters (air flow,
generator power, etc.) and concentration can reach 35 mg/l with pure oxygen. Ozonation arises
as an interesting option in the treatment of cyanidation effluents. Depending on the composition
of the solution, it could be used both to destroy cyanide in order to comply with the
environmental regulations and to transform the thiocyanate into cyanide for recycling purposes.

- Ozone has a higher redox potential than chlorine, thus there is a higher driving force
toward the oxidized state. When ozone is used, the pH considerations are similar to those
discussed for chlorine. Ozone cannot be purchased. It must be made on site as part of the
process.