Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Chromium Isotope Fractionation During Reduction of Cr(VI) Under Saturated Flow Conditions

Journal Article · · Environ. Sci. Technol.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es2042383· OSTI ID:1045042

Chromium isotopes are potentially useful indicators of Cr(VI) reduction reactions in groundwater flow systems; however, the influence of transport on Cr isotope fractionation has not been fully examined. Laboratory batch and column experiments were conducted to evaluate isotopic fractionation of Cr during Cr(VI) reduction under both static and controlled flow conditions. Organic carbon was used to reduce Cr(VI) in simulated groundwater containing 20 mg L{sup -1} Cr(VI) in both batch and column experiments. Isotope measurements were performed on dissolved Cr on samples from the batch experiments, and on effluent and profile samples from the column experiment. Analysis of the residual solid-phase materials by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy confirmed association of Cr(III) with organic carbon in the column solids. Decreases in dissolved Cr(VI) concentrations were coupled with increases in {delta}{sup 53}Cr, indicating that Cr isotope enrichment occurred during reduction of Cr(VI). The {delta}{sup 53}Cr data from the column experiment was fit by linear regression yielding a fractionation factor ({alpha}) of 0.9979, whereas the batch experiments exhibited Rayleigh-type isotope fractionation ({alpha} = 0.9965). The linear characteristic of the column {delta}{sup 53}Cr data may reflect the contribution of transport on Cr isotope fractionation.

Research Organization:
Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
FOREIGN
OSTI ID:
1045042
Journal Information:
Environ. Sci. Technol., Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol. Journal Issue: (12) ; 06, 2012 Vol. 46; ISSN ESTHAG; ISSN 0013-936X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH

Similar Records

Microbial reduction of hexavalent Chromium under vadose zone conditions
Journal Article · Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 2002 · Journal of Environmental Quality · OSTI ID:15005565

Removal of hexavalent chromium from groundwater by granular activated carbon
Journal Article · Mon Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 2000 · Water Environment Research · OSTI ID:20014585

Reduction of hexavalent chromium in water samples acidified for preservation
Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) · OSTI ID:5187221