Influence of chemical compositions and molecular weights of humic acids on Cr(VI) photo-reduction

Journal
Journal of Hazardous Materials
Journal Volume
197
Pages
337-344
Date Issued
2011-12
Date
2011-12
Author(s)
S.Y. Chena
S.W. Huang
P.N. Chiang
J. C. Liu 
W.H. Kuan
J.H. Huang
J.T. Hung
Y.M. Tzou
C.C. Chen
M.K. Wang
DOI
URI
Abstract
Humic acids (HA) strongly affect the fate of trace metals in soils and aquatic environments. One of the remarkable properties of HA is its ability to reduce Cr(VI), an extremely toxic anion. However, it is unclear which HA components are involved in Cr(VI) reduction and possess the photo-induced properties. In this study, an ultrafiltration technique was used to fractionate HAs into four fractions of different nominal molecular weights (Mw): >100, 50–100, 10–50 and <10 kDa. Each HA fraction was characterized by spectroscopic analyses followed by examining Cr(VI) removal on each fraction of HA at pH 1–5. Spectroscopic results indicated that low-Mw HA was enriched with polar and aromatic domains. These polar, including polar C in aliphatic region, and aromatic groups were the major sites for Cr(VI) reduction because they disappeared rapidly upon interaction with Cr(VI). As a result, low Mw of HA exhibited greater efficiency of Cr(VI) reduction. Light induced the rapid transfer of electrons between chromate-phenol/carboxyl ester, or the formation of peroxide radicals or H2O2 through the ready decay of peroxy radicals associated with polar substituents, explained the rapid scavenging of Cr(VI) on polar and aromatic groups of HAs under illumination.
Subjects
Humic acid
Molecular weight
Chromate
Photo-reduction
Fractionation
Publisher
Elsevier Scientific Pub. Co.
Type
journal article
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