A sodium hyposulfite fuel cell for efficient Cr(VI) removal

Dongfang Wang; Zhiqiang Zong; Jinghong Ye; Qingchuan Wu; Xiaojiang Zhang; Zhengyan Wu; Jing Zhang; He Xu; Dongqing Cai

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133803

A sodium hyposulfite fuel cell for efficient Cr(VI) removal

Chemosphere. 2022 May:294:133803. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133803. Epub 2022 Jan 29.

Authors

Dongfang Wang¹, Zhiqiang Zong², Jinghong Ye², Qingchuan Wu³, Xiaojiang Zhang², Zhengyan Wu³, Jing Zhang⁴, He Xu⁵, Dongqing Cai⁶

Affiliations

¹ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.
² College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China.
³ Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, People's Republic of China.
⁴ National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Mineral Salt Deep Utilization, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003, People's Republic of China.
⁵ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: hexu@dhu.edu.cn.
⁶ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: dqcai@dhu.edu.cn.

PMID: 35104540
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133803

Abstract

This work shows a strategy of reducing hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) by sodium hyposulfite (Na₂S₂O₃) with self-generated electricity via a dual-chamber non-biological fuel cell (D-nBFC). Therein, Na₂S₂O₃ was electro-oxidized on graphite felt (GF) at anode and Cr(VI) in strong acidic solution was electro-reduced at GF/CCP cathode (GF decorated with conductive carbon paint (CCP)). Additionally, an agar salt bridge, consisting of saturated KCl solution, was introduced to form complete circuit by offering ions. The results showed that Cr(VI) was reduced to trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) and the D-nBFC system could produce electricity in this process. This system could obtain a high Cr(VI) removal efficiency (97.0%), 110 μA maximum current, and 13.4 mW m^-2 maximum power density in 4 h. In addition, the proposed system had high reusability after five cycles and the relative standard deviation was only 3.4% (n = 5). Thus, this D-nBFC system provides a promising and eco-friendly method for treatment of Cr(VI) pollution and generating electricity simultaneously, and also has potential application value for other heavy metals remediation.

Keywords: Cr(VI); Dual-chamber non-biological fuel cell; Electricity; Graphite felt; Na(2)S(2)O(3).

MeSH terms

Bioelectric Energy Sources*
Chromium / metabolism
Dithionite
Sodium

Substances

Chromium
Dithionite
chromium hexavalent ion
Sodium