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Design and develop a prototype fixed column using bacterial cellulose and ferric chloride for Cr(VI) removal.
Uriel Fernando Carreño Sayago1, Vladimir Ballesteros Ballesteros1, Angelica Maria Lozano Aguilar1
1Investigador de Fundación Universitaria los Libertadores, Bogotá, Colombia.
Frontiers in Systems Biology
|July 16, 2026
Summary
This study developed a bacterial cellulose and Ferric chloride fixed column to remove chromium (VI) from water. The optimized system achieved a high adsorption capacity, offering a practical solution for protecting aquatic ecosystems from heavy metal pollution.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Aquatic ecosystems face degradation due to heavy metal pollution, notably chromium (VI).
- Chromium (VI) bioaccumulates, posing risks to aquatic life and human health.
- Effective effluent treatment is crucial to mitigate heavy metal contamination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and develop a prototype fixed column for chromium (VI) removal.
- To evaluate the adsorption capacity of bacterial cellulose enhanced with Ferric chloride.
- To optimize the treatment mixture for efficient heavy metal removal.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing bacterial cellulose as an adsorbent in a fixed-column continuous-flow system.
- Enhancing adsorption capacity with varying concentrations of Ferric chloride.
- Analyzing chromium (VI) adsorption processes over multiple cycles.
Main Results:
- An optimal treatment mixture of 85% bacterial cellulose and 15% Ferric chloride was identified.
- The optimized system demonstrated a high adsorption capacity of 456 mg/g for chromium (VI).
- The system proved effective over six adsorption cycles.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial cellulose and Ferric chloride offer a promising solution for chromium (VI) removal.
- The developed fixed-column system provides a practical approach to treating heavy metal effluents.
- This method can significantly reduce the environmental impact of chromium (VI) on aquatic ecosystems.
