Adsorption of Chromium (VI) on Raw and Modified Carpathian Diatomite

The paper presents the research on the usability of natural Carpathian diatomite for removing chromate ions from water solutions. The concentration of chromium (VI) in test water was C₀ = 1 g/m³. Both raw diatomite and the diatomite modified with iron compounds of granulation 0.5–1.0 mm were tested. The process kinetics, as well as the effect of water reaction and the diatomite type on chromium sorption were determined under static conditions (no through flow). For both diatomite types, the chromium adsorption proceeded most effectively at pH 4. The effect of diatomite modification with iron compounds on the effectiveness of chromium (VI) adsorption was determined on the basis of Freundlich adsorption isotherm. Compared to raw diatomite, the modified adsorbent (diatomite-Fe) exhibited great sorption capacity for chromate ions from water. When applied under dynamic conditions (v = 4 m/h), as filtration bed, it removed chromium compounds from water very effectively. It makes diatomite-Fe material a promising candidate for application in water treatment systems. The chromium concentration in the effluent oscillated within C_k = 0.001–0.002 mg/dm³, and the adsorption capacity of the bed, determined in the bed breakthrough point, reached P_p = 316.8 mg/kg.