Light-induced desorption of trivalent chromium from adsorbents: one step closer to sustainability

Abstract

The environmental sustainability of existing adsorbents in remediating chromium-contaminated water has long been plagued by the necessity of using chemical desorbents in regenerating the adsorbents. Here, we demonstrate that trivalent chromium can be repelled from surface-bound merocyanine upon visible-light irradiation, avoiding any chemical desorbent, and thus secondary contamination, to restore the adsorption capacity of the exhausted adsorbents.