Biological reduction of hexavalent chromium--a field study

When ferrochromium is produced at Vargön Alloys AB (Vargön, Sweden), an offgas dust is generated as a byproduct. A leachate that contains hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) is formed when rainwater percolates through the dust deposit. In this study, Cr6+ in the leachate was reduced to trivalent chromium (Cr3+) by biological treatment in a biofilm process operated under anaerobic conditions. The reactor volume was 26 m3 and it was filled with 16 m3 plastic packing. Acetic acid was added as an electron donor. The Cr6+ was reduced from 10 to 20 mg/L to below 0.03 mg/L when the reactor was operated at a hydraulic retention time of 11 hours. The reduction activity in the process gradually decreased as the water temperature dropped below 10 degrees C.