Chitosan (CS) is a reproducible resource and environmental
friendly material which can be completely degraded by the chitosan
enzyme, bacteriolysis enzyme and animalcule [17]. Particularly,
chitosan, a derivative from N-deacetylation of chitin, has been
found to be capable of chemically or physically adsorbing various
heavy metal ions [18]. Previous investigations have demonstrated
that chitosan dydrogel beads are porous and stable in aqueous
phase, and effective to remove copper, mercury ions, andchromium
[19,20]. However, there are scarce studies of reduction of Cr (VI)
using entrapment of nanoscale zero-valent iron in CS beads (CSNZVI
beads).
The goal of this study is to prepare a new class of CS-NZVI beads
for the remediation of Cr (VI) in wastewater. The main objectives
are to: (1) synthesize and characterize CS-NZVI beads, (2) test the
role of chitosan in Cr (VI) reduction by CS-NZVI beads, as well as elemental
composition of final products, and (3) evaluate the influence
of different factors on the Cr (VI) removal by CS-NZVI beads.