It is imperative to state that chromium(VI) effluent is a long-known toxic oxide not only to aquatic spaces but also to the human system. The study aligns with the sustainable development goal 3 that emphasises the physical condition and well-being of man. It investigates the reduction of Cr6+ ion with bisulphite ( \({\text{HSO}}_{3}^{ - }\) ) and exposes the possibility of electrostatic, hydrophobic, or hydrophilic behaviour of the Cr6+-bearing effluent in micellar milieu. The studied kinetic parameters reveal a first-order reaction with respect to the concentration of Cr6+ and \({\text{HSO}}_{3}^{ - }\) and a one-to-one stoichiometric mole ratio. The population of electrolyte and acid concentration leads to neutral and acceleratory effects on the reduction rate, respectively, whereas the aggregation of surfactant monomers (sodium dodecyl sulphate) aids the reduction rate efficiently. The binding affinity of the substrate with the micelles is strengthened by Piszkiewicz’s and Srinivasan-Raghavan’s models. The evidence of free radicals and the intermediate species are positive and transient, respectively. However, total trapping of Cr6+ in a green reaction system is sustainable and efficient for greater accessibility of a clean environment. The non-spontaneity of the reduction process with unstable transition molecules is supported by the thermodynamic parameters (ΔH* = +29.69 ± 0.004 kJ·mol−1, ΔG* = +71.58 ± 0.004 kJ·mol−1, and ΔS* = −139.65 ± 0.005 K−1·mol−1). Availability of intermediates is underscored, as the Michaelis–Menten type plot (MMTP) suggested.
Graphical Abstract