Photochemical elimination of Cr(VI) from neutral–alkaline solutions

The elimination of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions at neutral and low alkaline pH by photocatalytic reduction to Cr(III), using ZnO powder as catalyst, is investigated. The study has been performed by determination of the percentage of Cr(VI) eliminated in the presence of some species (i.e. Zn(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Ca(II), CH₃COO^?, PO^3-₄, CO^2-₃, S^2- and NH₃) which usually are found in wastes together with Cr(VI). The results obtained show that the presence of some species prevents the alkalinization of the solution during irradiation, which increases the yield of Cr(VI) photoreduction. Other species, such as S^2- and NH 3 , are oxidized during illumination: thus they prevent electron–hole recombination and, consequently, increase the yield of the Cr(VI) elimination.