Removal of Chromium(III) from the Waste Solution of an Indian Tannery by Amberlite IR 120 Resin

The extraction of chromium(III) from a model waste solution and also from a waste solution of an Indian tannery with Amberlite IR 120 resin is described, and the performance of this resin is compared with other similar resins. The parameters that were optimized include effect of mixing time, pH, loading and elution behaviours of chromium(III) for this resin. Sorption of chromium(III) on Amberlite IR 120 followed Freundlich isotherm and Langmuir isotherm model, and the maximum sorption capacity was determined to be 142.86 mg Cr(III)/g of the resin. Higher Freundlich constant (Kf) values (6.30 and 13.46 for aqueous feed of 500 and 1000 ppm Cr(III)) indicated strong chemical interaction through ion exchange mechanism of the metal ion with the resin. The kinetic data showed good fit to the Lagergren first order model for extraction of chromium(III). Desorption of chromium(III) from the loaded resin increased with the increase in concentration of eluent (5% 20% H2SO4). With 20% (v/v) sulphuric acid solution 94% chromium(III) was eluted in three stages. Elution of the Cr(III) in the column experiments was however, found to be lower (82%) than that of the shake flask data. In case of Indian tannery’s waste solution, it was observed that almost total chromium was extracted in four stages with Amberlite IR 120.