Factors affecting chemical and biological reduction of hexavalent chromium in soil

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620131103· OSTI ID:6813199

Losi, M E; Amrhein, C; Frankenberger, Jr, W T ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Riverside, CA (United States). Dept. of Soil and Environmental Sciences

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a common environmental pollutant that is mobile in soils and is a known mutagen. The trivalent form [Cr(III)] has not known mutagenic properties and is highly insoluble and immobile above pH 5.5. Reduction to the trivalent state thus represents an effective mechanism for detoxification and immobilization of Cr(VI) in soil/water systems. In this study, the authors conducted experiments to examine various parameters involving aerobic reduction of Cr(VI) in a field soil. They found that organic matter content, bioactivity, and oxygen status were important factors. Under optimum conditions, the soil reduced 96% of added Cr(VI) under aerobic, field-moist conditions. The pH of the system was shown to have little effect. Both biological and nonbiological processes were influential, and, of 20 chromate-resistant bacterial cultures isolated from soils, 9 were found to actively reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in liquid media. Their study suggests that organic-amended soils can readily reduce Cr(VI) and could promote excellent removal efficiency either as a primary treatment technique, or in conjunction with bioreactor-type wastewater treatment systems.

• OSTI ID: 6813199
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 13:11; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMIUM
CLEANING
DECOMPOSITION
DECONTAMINATION
ELEMENTS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
METALS
PROCESSING
REDOX REACTIONS
REMEDIAL ACTION
REMOVAL
SOILS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS