Separation of Cr(VI), acetonitrile, and tetrahydrofuran from water using reducing sugars and HCl

Telepanich, Alicia; Marshall, Tatianna; Marangoni, Alejandro G.; Pensini, Erica

Separation of Cr(VI), acetonitrile, and tetrahydrofuran from water using reducing sugars and HCl

2022

Telepanich, Alicia | Marshall, Tatianna | Marangoni, Alejandro G. | Pensini, Erica

Acetonitrile (AN), tetrahydrofuran (THF), and Cr(VI) are toxic pollutants found in industrial wastewater and groundwater. The reducing sugar fructose separates AN and THF from water, at either neutral or acidic pH (pH = 4), either with or without Cr(VI) (as observed in bottle tests). This is because it preferentially hydrogen bonds water, inhibiting its interactions with AN and THF. When HCl is added to solutions of Cr(VI) and fructose in AN-water or THF-water, it induces Cr(VI) migration from the water to the separated THF- or AN-rich layers. Cr(VI) partitioning in the AN- and THF-rich phases is evident from their discoloration (from transparent to orange). Therefore, when fructose and HCl are used together, they enable the simultaneous removal of Cr(VI) and organic solvents from water. Other acids (e.g., H₂SO₄) enable Cr(VI) migration to AN or THF only in the presence of chloride salts, demonstrating that pH and chloride ions are both responsible for Cr(VI) migration in AN or THF.

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