Objective:-Photocatalytic removal of

Cr(VI) using Three-phase Fluidized Bed

Reactor

PROJECT GUIDE :-PROF. H. M. JENA

BY :- SHRITIK RAJ AWADHIYA
118CH0766
 Chromium (VI)

 Chromium is a naturally-occurring element found in rocks,

animals, plants, and soil.
 It is widely used in manufacturing processes and can be
found in many consumer products such as wood treated with
copper dichromate, leather tanned with chromic sulfate, and
stainless steel cookware.
 Chromium can be found in air, soil, and water after release
from the manufacture, use, and disposal of chromium-based
products, and during the manufacturing process.
 Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is one of the valence states
(+6) of the element chromium. It is usually produced by an
industrial process.
Chromium (VI)
 Chromium (VI)

 But ,Hexavalent Chromium can occur naturally in the environment from

the erosion of natural chromium deposits or produced during industrial
processes.
 Chromium VI can naturally occur from the transformation of Cr(III)
under the right conditions such as exposure to UV light, high
temperatures, low humidity, low pH-values, or oxidizing agents.
 Major uses of Cr(VI) compounds include metal plating, manufacture of
pigments and dyes, corrosion inhibitors, chemical synthesis, refractory
production, leather tanning, and wood preservation
 Industrial uses of hexavalent chromium compounds include chromate
pigments in dyes, paints, inks, and plastics; chromates added as
anticorrosive agents to paints, primers, and other surface coatings;
and chromic acid electroplated onto metal parts to provide a decorative
or protective coating.
 Environment Hazards of Cr(VI)

 All hexavalent chromium compounds are toxic (due to their

oxidizing power) as well as carcinogenic (IARC Group 1),
especially if airborne and inhaled where they cause lung
cancer.

 Exposure to chromium (VI) compounds also causes cancer

 of the nose and nasal sinuses.

 Also the dermal exposure to Cr(VI) compounds can cause

skin irritation, ulceration, sensitization, and allergic contact
dermatitis 
 Environment Hazards of Cr(VI)

The details of Cr(VI) toxic activity assumed that genotoxicity,

including a wide variety of effects such as DNA damage, gene
mutation, sister chromatid exchange, chromosomal aberrations,
cell transformation, and dominant lethal mutations, may be due to
the reduced forms of intracellular origin, formed by the reduction of
Cr(VI) to Cr(III) 

Studies of chromium-6 have established that breathing the particles

can cause lung cancer.
The chemical has also been connected to liver damage, reproductive
problems and developmental harm, according to the EWG, and
presents greater risks to infants and children, people who take
antacids, and people with poorly functioning livers.
 What is Photocatalysis ?

 In chemistry, photocatalysis is the acceleration of a

photoreaction in the presence of a catalyst.
 A catalyst does not change in itself or being consumed in the
chemical reaction. This definition includes photosensitization,
a process by which a photochemical alteration occurs in one
molecular entity as a result of initial absorption of radiation
by another molecular entity called the photosensitized
 Generally, this term is used to describe a chemical reaction
caused by absorption of ultraviolet (100 to 400 nm), visible
light (400 – 750 nm) or infrared radiation (750 – 2500 nm). A
catalyst does not change in itself or being consumed in the
overall chemical reaction. 
 Roadmap for the research work

 Basic Literature Study

 Collection of raw material
 Cr(VI) adsorption on activated carbon
 Installment of Three-phase Fluidized Bed Reactor
 Photocatalytic removal of Cr(VI)
 Thesis writing
Cr(VI) adsorption on activated carbon

 Adsorption of Cr (VI) on GAC particles is through a redox

reaction leading to the fast formation of a thin layer of
Cr2O3(s) coating the surface of the GAC, acting as a strong
barrier for the Cr (VI) diffusion into the GAC particle and
leading to a very low uptake.
 Adsorption isotherms at various temperatures showed that
Cr (VI) adsorption increased with temperature and took
place in two stages. In the first stage Cr(VI) adsorption was
very fast with the formation of a Cr2O3(s) thin continuous
layer on the GAC surface. In the second stage, Cr(VI)
adsorption was very slow with the formation of disperse
Cr2O3(s) phases inside the GAC.
Cr(VI) adsorption on activated carbon

 Modeling of the overall adsorption process through the

intra-particle diffusional model revealed that Cr (VI)
adsorption in the first stage was controlled by surface
diffusion and by both pore volume and surface diffusion in
the second step.
 The adsorbed chromium can be easily diffused to another
site of the GAC as the temperature increase. Cr (VI)
adsorption in the first stage required
more energy than in the second stage
 Conclusion

 Among all of the most commonly methods for removing

Cr(VI) from wastewater, adsorption has been widely used
due to its low treatment cost and high removal efficiency .

 Granular activated carbon (GAC) has proved to be an

efficient adsorbent to remove Cr (VI) from water due to its
high specific surface area, simplicity of preparation, high
efficiency and relatively low cost.
 References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromium
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photocatalysis
https://
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221334
3720303791
https://
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12403-018-0284
-z
https://
www3.epa.gov/region1/eco/uep/chromium6.html
Thank you