Interaction mechanism of dissolved Cr(VI) and manganite in the presence of goethite coating

Hexavalent chromium has aroused a series of environmental concerns due to its high mobility and toxicity. Iron and manganese oxides usually coexist in the environments and influence the speciation and geochemical cycling of chromium. However, the interaction mechanism of iron-manganese oxides with dissolved Cr(VI) remains largely unknown. In this work, the interaction processes of dissolved Cr(VI) and manganite in the presence of goethite coating were investigated, and the effects of pH (2.0–9.0) and iron oxide content were also studied. Manganite-goethite composites were formed with uniform micromorphologies in the system of manganite and Fe(II). In the reaction system of single manganite and Cr(VI), manganite could only adsorb but not reduce Cr(VI), with the adsorption amount decreasing at higher pHs. In the reaction system of manganite-goethite composites and Cr(VI), adsorbed Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) by Fe(II) on composites surface. The generated Cr(III) was then retained as Cr(OH)3 on the mineral surface. Goethite coating suppressed the re-oxidation of newly formed Cr(III) by manganite. The amounts of adsorbed Cr(VI) and generated Cr(III) increased with increasing iron oxide content, and increased first and then decreased with increasing pH. The Cr(III) formation and Cr(VI) adsorption amount reached the maximum at pH 5.0–6.0. The present work highlights the transformation and retention of Cr(VI) by iron-manganese oxides and provides potential implications for the use of such oxides in the remediation of Cr(VI) polluted waters and soils. Goethite is uniformly coated on manganite surface in the reaction system of manganite and Fe(II). The Fe(II) on the surface of the manganite-goethite composites promotes the reduction of adsorbed Cr(VI) to Cr(III) existing as Cr(OH)3 precipitate. Goethite coating facilitates the Cr(VI) adsorption and Cr(III) generation. [Display omitted] •Cr(VI) is adsorbed and reduced to Cr(III) by goethite-manganite composite.•The formed Cr(III) amount increases and then decreases with increasing pH.•Goethite coating facilitates the Cr(VI) adsorption and Cr(III) generation.•The oxidation of Cr(III) by manganite is inhibited by goethite coating.