An efficient hexavalent chromium scavenger: Polyaniline

Abstract

Hexavalent chromium ions are a significant type of heavy metal pollutant in water, posing a severe threat to the environment and biological health. Various methods are employed for treating heavy metal wastewater, including traditional, biological, physical, and chemical adsorption, and membrane separation methods. This study focuses on utilizing chemical oxidation polymerization to synthesize polyaniline, followed by structural characterization and performance evaluation. The research shows the material’s exceptional adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) ions under different conditions. The experiments specifically demonstrate a direct relationship between the rate of removal and the proportion of adsorbent utilized in comparison to the Cr(VI) initial concentration. Furthermore, adjusting the pH level during testing shows an increase in the removal rate as the pH decreases, with a peak removal rate of 57.94% at pH 1.02. By aligning with a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, the material demonstrates its potential for efficient and effective removal of Cr(VI) contaminants.