Hexavalent chromium removal by reduction with ferrous sulfate, coagulation, and filtration: a pilot-scale study

A flow-through pilot-scale system was tested for removal of Cr(VI) from contaminated groundwater in Glendale, California. The process consisted of the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(lll) using ferrous sulfate followed by coagulation and filtration. Results indicated that the technology could reduce influent Cr(VI) concentrations of 100 microg L(-1) to below detectable levels and also remove total Cr (Cr(VI) plus Cr(lll)) to very low concentrations (< 5 microg L(-1)) under optimized conditions. Complete reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(lll) was accomplished with Fe(ll) doses of 10-50 times the Cr(Vl) concentration even in the presence of significant dissolved oxygen levels. The overall Cr removal efficiency was largely determined by the filterability of Cr(lll) and Fe(lll) precipitates, of which a relatively high filtration pH (7.5-7.6) and high filter loading rate (6 gpm ft(-2)) had negative impacts. The pilot system was able to operate for an extended time period (23-46 h depending on the Fe:Cr mass ratio) before turbidity breakthrough or high head loss. Backwash water was effectively settled with low doses (0.2-1.0 mg L(-1)) of high molecular weight polymer. Backwash solids were found to be nonhazardous bythe toxicity characteristic leaching procedure but hazardous by the California waste extraction test.