Immobilization of selenite in soil and groundwater using stabilized Fe-Mn binary oxide nanoparticles

Molybdenum-Oxysulfide-Functionalized MgAl-Layered Double Hydroxides─A Sorbent for Selenium Oxoanions

Effective removal of chemically toxic selenium oxoanions at high-capacity and trace levels from contaminated water remains a challenge in current scientific pursuits. Here, we report the functionalization of the MgAl layered double hydroxide with molybdenum-oxysulfide (MoO2S2) anion, referred to as LDH-MoO2S2, and its potential to sequester SeVIO42- and SeIVO32- from aqueous solution. LDH-MoO2S2 nanosheets were synthesized by an ion exchange method in solution. Synchrotron X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) revealed an unexpected transformation of the MoO2S22- to Mo2O2S62- like species during the intercalation process. LDH-MoO2S2 is remarkably efficient in removing SeO42- and SeO32- ions from the ppm to trace level (≤10 ppb), with distribution constant (Kd) ranging from 104 to 105 mL/g. This material showed exceptionally high sorption capacities of 237 and 358 mg/g for SeO42- and SeO32-, respectively. Furthermore, LDH-MoO2S2 demonstrates substantial affinity and efficiency to remove SeO32-/SeO42- even in the presence of competitive ions from contaminated water. Hence, the removal of selenium (VI/IV) oxoanions collectively occurs through reductive precipitation and ion exchange mechanisms. This work provides significant insights into the chemical structure of the MoO2S2 anion into LDH and emphasizes its exceptional potential for high-capacity selenium removal and positioning it as a premier sorbent for selenium oxoanions.

Involvement of Bacterial and Fungal Extracellular Products in Transformation of Manganese-Bearing Minerals and Its Environmental Impact

Manganese oxides are considered an essential component of natural geochemical barriers due to their redox and sorptive reactivity towards essential and potentially toxic trace elements. Despite the perception that they are in a relatively stable phase, microorganisms can actively alter the prevailing conditions in their microenvironment and initiate the dissolution of minerals, a process that is governed by various direct (enzymatic) or indirect mechanisms. Microorganisms are also capable of precipitating the bioavailable manganese ions via redox transformations into biogenic minerals, including manganese oxides (e.g., low-crystalline birnessite) or oxalates. Microbially mediated transformation influences the (bio)geochemistry of manganese and also the environmental chemistry of elements intimately associated with its oxides. Therefore, the biodeterioration of manganese-bearing phases and the subsequent biologically induced precipitation of new biogenic minerals may inevitably and severely impact the environment. This review highlights and discusses the role of microbially induced or catalyzed processes that affect the transformation of manganese oxides in the environment as relevant to the function of geochemical barriers.

Selenium Oxoanions Removal from Wastewater by MoS42− Intercalated FeMgAl LDH: Catalytic Roles of Fe and Mechanism Insights

FeMgAl−MoS4 LDH was successfully synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal process followed by ion-exchange methods, and this novel adsorbent was first conducted for aqueous selenite and selenate elimination. The Fe as a component for metal cation layers of LDHs could modulate the layer charge density, leading to more functional groups inserted into layers, and more importantly, this heterogeneous Fe can catalyze the surface reactions between Se(IV) or Se(VI) with S(-II) for oxoanions sequestration. The mechanisms are ion exchange between functional groups with HSeO3− and SeO32− for Se(IV) or SeO42− for Se(VI), followed by reduction by S(-II) from MoS42− groups. The existence of Fe in LDH cation layers, obviously enhanced the reactions (almost two times more for Se(IV) and three times more for Se(VI), respectively), resulting in satisfying adsorption capacities of 483.9 mg/g and 167.2 mg/g for Se(IV) and Se(VI), respectively. Mechanisms were further revealed by elementary analysis, XRD, FT−IR, SEM−EDX, and XPS, as well as the quantitative study. For sorption kinetics, the calculated values of capacities from the pseudo-second-order model are much closer to the experimental values. For sorption isotherms, Langmuir is better than the Freundlich isotherms model for closer capacities (505 mg/g for selenite and 172 mg/g for selenate). All these results demonstrated that the presence of heterogeneous Fe could catalyze the reduction of Se (IV/VI) for the aqueous system, and maybe other high oxidative states hazardous ions. So FeMgAl−MoS4 is a kind of novel adsorbent that offers a promising multi-functional and highly efficient solution for water selenium purification.

Application of Geopolymer in Stabilization/Solidification of Hazardous Pollutants: A Review

Geopolymers, as a kind of inorganic polymer, possess excellent properties and have been broadly studied for the stabilization/solidification (S/S) of hazardous pollutants. Even though many reviews about geopolymers have been published, the summary of geopolymer-based S/S for various contaminants has not been well conducted. Therefore, the S/S of hazardous pollutants using geopolymers are comprehensively summarized in this review. Geopolymer-based S/S of typical cations, including Pb, Zn, Cd, Cs, Cu, Sr, Ni, etc., were involved and elucidated. The S/S mechanisms for cationic heavy metals were concluded, mainly including physical encapsulation, sorption, precipitation, and bonding with a silicate structure. In addition, compared to cationic ions, geopolymers have a poor immobilization ability on anions due to the repulsive effect between them, presenting a high leaching percentage. However, some anions, such as Se or As oxyanions, have been proved to exist in geopolymers through electrostatic interaction, which provides a direction to enhance the geopolymer-based S/S for anions. Besides, few reports about geopolymer-based S/S of organic pollutants have been published. Furthermore, the adsorbents of geopolymer-based composites designed and studied for the removal of hazardous pollutants from aqueous conditions are also briefly discussed. On the whole, this review will offer insights into geopolymer-based S/S technology. Furthermore, the challenges to geopolymer-based S/S technology outlined in this work are expected to be of direct relevance to the focus of future research.

Treatment technologies for selenium contaminated water: A critical review

Selenium is an indispensable trace element for humans and other organisms; however, excessive selenium in water can jeopardize the aquatic environment. Investigations on the biogeochemical cycle of selenium have shown that anthropogenic activities such as mining, refinery, and coal combustion mainly contribute to aquatic selenium pollution, imposing tremendous risks on ecosystems and human beings. Various technologies thus have been developed recently to treat selenium contaminated water to reduce its environmental impacts. This work provides a critical review on the applications, characteristics, and latest developments of current treatment technologies for selenium polluted water. It first outlines the present status of the characteristics, sources, and toxicity of selenium in water. Selenium treatment technologies are then classified into three categories: 1) physicochemical separation including membrane filtration, adsorption, coagulation/precipitation, 2) redox decontamination including chemical reduction and catalysis, and 3) biological transformation including microbial treatment and constructed wetland. Details of these methods including their overall efficiencies, applicability, advantages and drawbacks, and latest developments are systematically analyzed and compared. Although all these methods are promising in treating selenium in water, further studies are still needed to develop sustainable strategies based on existing and new technologies. Perspectives on future research directions are laid out at the end.

Recent Advances of Nanoremediation Technologies for Soil and Groundwater Remediation: A Review

Nanotechnology has been widely used in many fields including in soil and groundwater remediation. Nanoremediation has emerged as an effective, rapid, and efficient technology for soil and groundwater contaminated with petroleum pollutants and heavy metals. This review provides an overview of the application of nanomaterials for environmental cleanup, such as soil and groundwater remediation. Four types of nanomaterials, namely nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and metallic and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), are presented and discussed. In addition, the potential environmental risks of the nanomaterial application in soil remediation are highlighted. Moreover, this review provides insight into the combination of nanoremediation with other remediation technologies. The study demonstrates that nZVI had been widely studied for high-efficiency environmental remediation due to its high reactivity and excellent contaminant immobilization capability. CNTs have received more attention for remediation of organic and inorganic contaminants because of their unique adsorption characteristics. Environmental remediations using metal and MNPs are also favorable due to their facile magnetic separation and unique metal-ion adsorption. The modified nZVI showed less toxicity towards soil bacteria than bare nZVI; thus, modifying or coating nZVI could reduce its ecotoxicity. The combination of nanoremediation with other remediation technology is shown to be a valuable soil remediation technique as the synergetic effects may increase the sustainability of the applied process towards green technology for soil remediation.

Applications and Biological Activity of Nanoparticles of Manganese and Manganese Oxides in In Vitro and In Vivo Models

The expanding applications of nanotechnology seem to be a response to many technological, environmental, and medical challenges. The unique properties of nanoparticles allow for developing new technologies and therapies. Among many investigated compounds is manganese and its oxides, which in the form of nanoparticles, could be a promising alternative for gadolinium-based contrast agents used in diagnostic imaging. Manganese, which is essential for living organisms as an enzyme cofactor, under excessive exposure-for example, due to water contamination or as an occupational hazard for welders-can lead to neurological disorders, including manganism-a condition similar to Parkinson's disease. This review attempts to summarise the available literature data on the potential applications of manganese and manganese oxide nanoparticles and their biological activity. Some of the published studies, both in vitro and in vivo, show negative effects of exposure to manganese, mainly on the nervous system, whereas other data suggest that it is possible to develop functionalised nanoparticles with negligible toxicity and novel promising properties.

Efficient and selective removal of SeVI and AsV mixed contaminants from aqueous media by montmorillonite-nanoscale zero valent iron nanocomposite

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) and NZVI supported onto montmorillonite (NZVI-Mt) were synthetized and used in this study to remove Se^VI and As^V from water in mono- and binary-adsorbate systems. The adsorption kinetics and isotherm data for Se^VI and As^V were adequately described by the pseudo-second-order (PSO) (r²>0.94) and Freundlich (r²>0.93) equations. Results from scanning electron microscopy showed that the dimension of the NZVI immobilized on the Mt was smaller than pure NZVI. Using 0.05 g of adsorbent and an initial 200 mg L^-1 As^V and Se^VI concentration, the maximum adsorption capacity (q_max) and partition coefficient (PC) for As^V on NZVI-Mt in monocomponent system were 54.75 mg g^-1 and 0.065 mg g^-1·μM^-1, which dropped respectively to 49.91 mg g^-1 and 0.055 mg g^-1·μM^-1 under competitive system. For Se^VI adsorption on NZVI-Mt in monocomponent system, q_max and PC were 28.63 mg g^-1 and 0.024 mg g^-1·μM^-1, respectively. Values of q_max and PC were higher for NZVI-Mt than NZVI and montmorillonite, indicating that the nanocomposite contained greater adsorption sites for removing both oxyanions, but with a marked preference for As^V. Future research should evaluate the effect of different operational variables on the removal efficiency of both oxyanions by NZVI-Mt.

Arsenic(V) removal behavior of schwertmannite synthesized by KMnO4 rapid oxidation with high adsorption capacity and Fe utilization

Adsorption is a simple and efficient way for arsenic contamination purification in water, with a pressing challenge to find a cheap and efficient adsorbent. As a poorly crystalline Fe(III)-oxyhydroxy sulfate mineral, schwertmannite can be As(V) adsorbent because of its tunnel structure and low cost. However, the schwertmannite synthesized commonly by H₂O₂ rapid oxidation suffers from the low Fe utilization and limited As(V) adsorption capacity. In this research, the schwertmannite is synthesized by KMnO₄. The results show that the Fe utilization can be improved from 40% to 56%, with the As(V) adsorption capacities double times better than those synthesized by H₂O₂ at pH 7 and 2. The As(V) adsorption mechanisms at different pHs and the reason for the improvement of As(V) adsorption capacity are thoroughly investigated. The FTIR and EDS images confirm that As(V) adsorption exchange with SO₄^2- is the dominant mechanism at pH 7 and 2. At pH 11, the As(V) is mainly removed by surface complexation because the surface SO₄^2- is exchanged by OH^-. The intraparticle diffusion model fitting and XPS results further reveal that the tunnel structure built by Fe-SO₄ in the KMnO₄ oxidized schwertmannite is more stable, possibly resulting in the better As(V) adsorption performance.

Enhanced removal of zinc and cadmium from water using carboxymethyl cellulose-bridged chlorapatite nanoparticles

Zinc (Zn²⁺) and cadmium (Cd²⁺) in water pose serious threats to human health and the environment. In search for a more effective treatment technology, we prepared a type of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) bridged chlorapatite (CMC-CAP) nanoparticles and tested the material for removal of Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ from water. CMC macromolecules were attached to CAP by bidentate bridging and hydrogen bonding, preserving the high adsorption capacity of CAP nanoparticles while allowing for easy gravity-separation of the nanoparticles. CMC-CAP showed rapid adsorption kinetics and 22.8% and 11.2% higher equilibrium uptake for Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺, respectively, than pristine CAP. An extended dual-mode isotherm model, which takes into account both sorption and chemical precipitation, provided the best fits to the sorption isotherms, giving a maximum Langmuir sorption capacity of 141.1 mg g^-1 for Zn²⁺ and 150.2 mg g^-1 for Cd²⁺ by CMC-CAP. Na⁺ at up to 5 mM showed modest effects on the uptake of the heavy metals, while 2-5 mM of Ca²⁺ exerted notable inhibitive effects. Dissolved organic matter (up to 5 mg L^-1 as TOC) inhibited the Zn²⁺ uptake by 16.5% but enhanced the Cd²⁺ removal by 8.6%. Material characterizations and surface binding analyses revealed that ion exchange, surface precipitation, and surface complexation were the removal mechanisms for the heavy metals. This study demonstrates stabilizer bridging may serve as a convenient strategy to facilitate water treatment uses of nanoparticles.

Biochar based sorptive remediation of steroidal estrogen contaminated aqueous systems: A critical review

Remediation of steroidal estrogens from aqueous ecosystems is of prevailing concern due to their potential impact on organisms even at trace concentrations. Biochar (BC) is capable of estrogen removal due to its rich porosity and surface functionality. The presented review emphasizes on the adsorption mechanisms, isotherms, kinetics, ionic strength and the effect of matrix components associated with the removal of steroidal estrogens. The dominant sorption mechanisms reported for estrogen were π-π electron donor-acceptor interactions and hydrogen bonding. Natural organic matter and ionic species were seen to influence the hydrophobicity of the estrogen in multiple ways. Zinc activation and magnetization of the BC increased the surface area and surface functionalities leading to high adsorption capacities. The contribution by persistent free radicals and the arene network of BC have promoted the catalytic degradation of adsorbates via electron transfer mechanisms. The presence of surface functional groups and the redox activity of BC facilitates the bacterial degradation of estrogens. The sorptive removal of estrogens from aqueous systems has been minimally reviewed as a part of a collective evaluation of micropollutants. However, to the best of our knowledge, a critique focusing specifically and comprehensively on BC-based removal of steroidal estrogens does not exist. The presented review is a critical assessment of the existing literature on BC based steroidal estrogen adsorption and attempts to converge the scattered knowledge regarding its mechanistic interpretations. Sorption studies using natural water matrices containing residue level concentrations, and dynamic sorption experiments can be identified as future research directions.

Influence of silicate on the structural memory effect of layered double hydroxides for the immobilization of selenium

The influence of silicate on the structural memory effect of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) has been rarely reported. In this study, five kinds of calcined LDHs (CLDHs) were synthesized and used as adsorbents for the sorption of selenium with or without silicate, under the initial pH 10 and 13, respectively, characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherm. The results indicated that silicate can significantly affect the phase transformation of CLDHs, and the sorption amounts of selenite and selenate dramatically decreased in the presence of silicate. Specifically, silicate can react with MgO and Al₂O₃ in CLDHs to generate magnesium silicate hydrate and geopolymer-like substance which were covered on the surface of particles, blocking the hydroxylation of metal oxides. However, higher pH suppressed the interaction between MgO and silicate and enhanced the formation of geopolymer-like substance, which promoted the regeneration of LDHs. Al in CLDHs plays a critical role in the regeneration of LDHs. Besides, the ternary oxides (CLDH-2, Mg₂Al_0.75Fe_0.25-oxide; CLDH-3, Mg₂Al_0.5Fe_0.5-oxide) possessed larger specific surface areas (127.7 and 158.2 m²/g) and consequently presented more resistance to the effect of silicate.

Mechanism analysis of selenium (VI) immobilization using alkaline-earth metal oxides and ferrous salt

The immobilization of selenate (SeO₄^2-) using metal oxides (CaO and MgO) and ferrous salt as the immobilization reagents were examined by the leaching test and solid-phase analysis via XRD, XAFS, TGA, and XPS. The results indicated that nearly all of SeO₄^2- was reduced to SeO₃^2- in the CaO-based reaction within 7 days. Then, the generated SeO₃^2- was mainly sorbed onto the iron-based minerals (Fe₂O₃ and FeOOH) through the formation of both bidentate mononuclear edge-sharing (¹E) and monodentate mononuclear corner-sharing (¹V) inner-sphere surface complexes, suggested by PHREEQC simulation and EXAFS analysis. Differently, less amount of SeO₄^2- (approximately 45.50%) was reduced to SeO₃^2- for the MgO-based reaction. However, if the curing time increases to a longer time (more than 7 days), the further reduction could occur because there are still Fe(II) species in the matrix. As for the associations of Se in the solid residue, most of the selenium (SeO₃^2- and SeO₄^2-) was preferentially distributed onto the Mg(OH)₂ through outer-sphere adsorption. Definitely, this research can provide a deep understanding of the immobilization of selenium using alkaline-earth metal oxide related materials and ferrous substances.

Hierarchical porous structured polysulfide supported nZVI/biochar and efficient immobilization of selenium in the soil

Soil pollution with selenium is a significant environmental problem in several areas of the world, which extremely affects the growth of plants and human health. Thus, it is necessary to find an effective method to immobilize selenium in the soil to make it less bioavailable and less accessible. In this study, the low-cost biochar-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron and polysulfide (PS-nZVI@BC) are produced and used for the immobilization of selenium (Se) in soil. The FTIR, UV-Vis, XRD, VSM, SEM and XPS techniques validate surface properties and morphology of PS-nZVI@BC. Introduction of S^2- led to the in-situ formation of FeS on the surface of the biochar supported zero valent iron. Two intense Bragg peaks (2θ) of 40.5°, 44.5° were corresponded to Fe⁰ basal plane, indicating the presence of nZVI in nZVI@BC and PS-nZVI@BC. The modified biochar presents a magnetic saturation value of 0.008 emu/mg, reasonably less than the reported values of bare nZVI. The soil immobilization showed that the PS-nZVI@BC is more effective for the control of selenium than the biochar and nZVI@BC. The available selenium content decreased by 77.29% in PS-nZVI@BC amended soil after 30 days. From sequential extraction procedure (SEP) results, it was observed that PS-nZVI@BC promoted the conversion of more accessible Se (water-soluble and exchangeable fractions) into the less accessible forms (acid-soluble, organic, and residual fractions) to reduce the toxicity of Se. Surface sorption, reduction and complexation were dominant mechanisms for Se immobilization. Hence, PS-nZVI@BC is promising and effective for immobilizing Se in contaminated soils and improving the soil properties.

Adsorption studies of 17β-estradiol from aqueous solution using a novel stabilized Fe-Mn binary oxide nanocomposite

The removal of 17β-estradiol (E2) from contaminated water on nanoscale Fe-Mn binary oxide-loaded multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs/FMBO) was evaluated in this work. The characterizations of the mesoporous adsorbent were analyzed by using SEM, TEM, VSM, XRD, XPS, and FTIR measurements. The effects of experimental conditions in E2 removal, including stabilizer additional level, adsorption time, initial E2 concentration, solution pH, reaction temperature, and foreign ions, were examined. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity (q_m) of MWCNTs/FMBO for E2 in the experiment was 47.25 mg/g as verified by the Langmuir sorption isotherm study. The adsorption process was pH-sensitive with an optimum pH of 7.0. On the kinetics study, the adsorption data could be satisfactorily fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetics. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermal. In addition, the foreign ions did not show any noticeable inhibition for E2 removal from the water solution except for PO₄^3- that was adversely affected for E2 uptake than other anions in a certain concentration. The adsorption capacities of the mesoporous adsorbent remained at 86.16% even after five adsorption-desorption cycles without significant loss of capacity, which demonstrated the stability and reusability for further removal of E2. Moreover, both hydrogen bond and π-π interaction might be the dominating adsorption mechanisms for E2 adsorption onto MWCNTs/FMBO.

An overview of field-scale studies on remediation of soil contaminated with heavy metals and metalloids: Technical progress over the last decade

Soil contamination by heavy metals and metalloids has been a major concern to human health and environmental quality. While many remediation technologies have been tested at the bench scale, there have been only limited reports at the field scale. This paper aimed to provide a comprehensive overview on the field applications of various soil remediation technologies performed over the last decade or so. Under the general categories of physical, chemical, and biological approaches, ten remediation techniques were critically reviewed. The technical feasibility and economic effectiveness were evaluated, and the pros and cons were appraised. In addition, attention was placed to the environmental impacts of the remediation practices and long-term stability of the contaminants, which should be taken into account in the establishment of remediation goals and environmental criteria. Moreover, key knowledge gaps and practical challenges are identified.

Enhanced removal of selenate from mining effluent by H2O2/HCl-pretreated zero-valent iron

Direct use of zero-valent iron (ZVI) in reductive removal of selenate (Se(VI)) is inefficient due to the intrinsic passive layer of ZVI. Here we observed that ZVI pretreated with H₂O₂ (P-ZVI-O) performs much better in Se(VI) removal from a mining effluent than other three modes of ZVI alone, acid washing ZVI (P-ZVI-A), and simultaneous addition of H₂O₂ and ZVI (ZVI-O) as well. The P-ZVI-O exhibits exceptionally high Se(VI) removal at a low dosage, wide pH range, with Se dropping down from 93.5 mg/L to <0.4 μg/L after 7-h reaction. Interestingly, the initial pH (2-6) of the mining effluent exerted little influence on the final Se(VI) removal. H₂O₂/HCl pretreatment results in the formation of various reducing corrosion products (e.g. Fe₃O₄, FeO and Fe²⁺), which greatly favors the efficient Se(VI) removal. In addition, surface-bound Fe²⁺ ions participated in the reduction of Se(VI). Combined with the influence of Se valence as well as pH and Fe²⁺ (whether dissolved or surface bound), it is deduced that the P-ZVI-O mode induced efficient Se(VI) removal via the adsorption-reduction and/or co-precipitation. This study demonstrates that H₂O₂/HCl pretreatment of ZVI is a very promising option to enhance the efficiency of reductive removal of Se(VI) from real effluents.

Fabrication of Stabilized Fe⁻Mn Binary Oxide Nanoparticles: Effective Adsorption of 17β-Estradiol and Influencing Factors

Fe–Mn binary oxide nanoparticles (FMBON) were reported to be high performance as adsorbent for pollutants removal from aqueous solution. However, there are still limitations in practice application due to the FMBON tend to aggregate into the micro millimeter level. In order to avoid the agglomeration of nanoparticles, this work synthesized the stabilized Fe–Mn binary oxide nanoparticles (CMC-FMBON) by using water-soluble carboxymethyl celluloses (CMC) as the stabilizer. The characteristics of CMC-FMBON and FMBON were measured by using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Zeta potential. This work systematically investigated the adsorption capacity of CMC-FMBON for 17β-estradiol (E2) and the influences of external environmental factors on E2 removal. The results indicated that CMC-FMBON had much smaller particles, wider dispersion and larger surface area than the FMBON. CMC-FMBON showed better adsorption performance for E2 than FMBON with the maximum adsorption capacity of CMC-FMBON and FMBON were 124.10 and 98.14 mg/g at 298 K, respectively. The experimental data can be well fitted by the model of pseudo-second-order and Langmuir model. The E2 removal by CMC-FMBON was obviously dependent on pH with the maximum adsorption occurring when the pH was acidic. The removal capacity of CMC-FMBON increased when enhancing ionic strength in solution. Background electrolytes promoted slightly E2 adsorption process whereas the presence of humic acid inhibited the E2 removal. π-π interactions, hydrogen bonds, and oxidation might be responsible for E2 removal. This research suggested that the CMC-FMBON has been considered to be a cost-efficient adsorbent for removing E2 from water.

Cadmium immobilization in river sediment using stabilized nanoscale zero-valent iron with enhanced transport by polysaccharide coating

Proper management of metal-contaminated sediment plays a key role in sediment recovery and reuse. This study synthesized two kinds of stabilized nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) with starch (S-nZVI) and carboxymethyl cellulose (C-nZVI) for the in situ immobilization of Cd(II) in river sediment and investigated their transport in porous media. Experimental data showed that when the sediment sample was treated with C-nZVI for 56 days at a dosage ranging from 5 to 10 mg/g-sediment as Fe⁰, the TCLP (toxicity characteristic leaching procedure) leachability of Cd(II) in the sediment decreased by 93.75-96.43%, and the PBET (physiologically-based extraction test) bioaccessibility of Cd(II) decreased by 22.79-71.32%. Additionally, the acid soluble fraction of Cd(II) was partially transformed to a residual fraction, resulting in a 32.4-33.1% decrease of acid soluble Cd(II) and a 125.4-205.6% increase of the residual-Cd(II) fraction. Surface complexation with iron oxyhydroxide minerals might be the main mechanism of Cd(II) immobilization in sediment. Column experiments indicate that starch or carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) could extend the travel distance of nZVI, but inherent site physical and chemical heterogeneities still posed challenges for nanoparticle transport. Over all, this study verifies the effectiveness of stabilized nZVI for Cd(II) immobilization in sediment and discusses the potential immobilization mechanism.

Investigation of mechanism and critical parameters for removal of arsenic from water using Zr-TiO2 composite

Using the microwave-hydrothermal method for the synthesis of composite, high surface density of hydroxyl groups, as an active adsorption sites for arsenic, was obtained. Adsorption mechanisms of As(III) and As(V) onto zirconium-doped titanium dioxide (Zr-TiO₂) were investigated and proposed using macroscopic and microscopic methods. Obtained results are suggesting inner-sphere and outer-sphere adsorption mechanisms for As(III) and As(V), respectively. This allowed us to identify parameters that are critical for the successful removal of arsenic from water, which is essential information for further optimization of the removal process. The composite was further applied for the removal of As(III) and As(V) from water in a dynamic flow through the reactor. Column study proved that the removal of both arsenic species below the value recommended by WHO can be achieved. Elution of As(III) and As(V) from the composite can be done by using small amounts of 0.01 M NaOH solution resulting in preconcentration of arsenic species and possible multiple usage of composite.

Sorption-desorption of selenite and selenate on Mg-Al layered double hydroxide in competition with nitrate, sulfate and phosphate

Selenate and selenite are considered emerging contaminants and pose a risk to living organisms. Since selenium anion species are at low concentration in aquatic environments, materials for its retention are required to enable monitoring. Herein, hydrotalcite was calcined and characterised to investigate sorption and desorption of selenite and selenate in competition with nitrate, sulfate and phosphate. Sorption experiments were carried out in batch system and desorption by sequential dilution. Selenite and selenate concentration remaining after N desorption steps was determined by mass balance. The isotherms were adjusted to the dual-mode Langmuir-Freundlich model (R² > 0.99). Maximum sorption capacity ranged from 494 to 563 meq kg^-1 for selenite and from 609 to 659 meq kg^-1 for selenate. Sulfate and phosphate ions showed greater competitive effect on the sorption of selenate and selenite, respectively. Low mobilization factors and high sorption efficiency (MF<3%; SE ≈ 100%) indicated that calcined hydrotalcite has the wanted characteristics for retention of relevant selenium anion species in aqueous media.

Selenium Sequestration in a Cationic Layered Rare Earth Hydroxide: A Combined Batch Experiments and EXAFS Investigation

Selenium is of great concern owing to its acutely toxic characteristic at elevated dosage and the long-term radiotoxicity of ⁷⁹Se. The contents of selenium in industrial wastewater, agricultural runoff, and drinking water have to be constrained to a value of 50 μg/L as the maximum concentration limit. We reported here the selenium uptake using a structurally well-defined cationic layered rare earth hydroxide, Y₂(OH)₅Cl·1.5H₂O. The sorption kinetics, isotherms, selectivity, and desorption of selenite and selenate on Y₂(OH)₅Cl·1.5H₂O at pH 7 and 8.5 were systematically investigated using a batch method. The maximum sorption capacities of selenite and selenate are 207 and 124 mg/g, respectively, both representing the new records among those of inorganic sorbents. In the low concentration region, Y₂(OH)₅Cl·1.5H₂O is able to almost completely remove selenium from aqueous solution even in the presence of competitive anions such as NO₃^-, Cl^-, CO₃^2-, SO₄^2-, and HPO₄^2-. The resulting concentration of selenium is below 10 μg/L, well meeting the strictest criterion for the drinking water. The selenate on loaded samples could be desorbed by rinsing with concentrated noncomplexing NaCl solutions whereas complexing ligands have to be employed to elute selenite for the material regeneration. After desorption, Y₂(OH)₅Cl·1.5H₂O could be reused to remove selenate and selenite. In addition, the sorption mechanism was unraveled by the combination of EDS, FT-IR, Raman, PXRD, and EXAFS techniques. Specifically, the selenate ions were exchanged with chloride ions in the interlayer space, forming outer-sphere complexes. In comparison, besides anion exchange mechanism, the selenite ions were directly bound to the Y³⁺ center in the positively charged layer of [Y₂(OH)₅(H₂O)]⁺ through strong bidentate binuclear inner-sphere complexation, consistent with the observation of the higher uptake of selenite over selenate. The results presented in this work confirm that the cationic layered rare earth hydroxide is an emerging and promising material for efficient removal of selenite and selenate as well as other anionic environmental pollutants.

Fabrication of hydrochar functionalized Fe–Mn binary oxide nanocomposites: characterization and 17β-estradiol removal

In this work, Fe–Mn binary oxide modified hydrochar (hydrochar-FMBO) was successfully prepared by deposition of Fe–Mn binary oxide (FMBO) nanoparticles on pristine hydrochar.

Application of iron sulfide particles for groundwater and soil remediation: A review

Rapid industrialization and urbanization have resulted in elevated concentrations of hazardous inorganic and organic contaminants in groundwater and soil, which has become a paramount concern to the environment and the public health. In recent years, iron sulfide (FeS), a major constituent of acid-volatile sulfides, has elicited extensive interests in environmental remediation due to its ubiquitous presence and high treatment efficiency in anoxic environment. This paper provides a comprehensive review on recent advances in: (1) synthesis of FeS particles (including nanoscale FeS); and (2) reactivity of FeS towards a variety of common environmental contaminants in groundwater and soil over extended periods of time, namely, heavy metals (Hg(II), Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cr(VI)), oxyanions (arsenite, arsenate, selenite, and selenate), radionuclides (e.g., uranium (U) and neptunium (Np)), chlorinated organic compounds (e.g., trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, and p-chloroaniline), nitroaromatic compounds, and polychlorinated biphenyls. Different physiochemical and biological methods for preparing FeS with desired particle size, structure, and surface properties are discussed. Reaction principles and removal effectiveness/constraints are discussed in details. Special attention is placed to the application of nanoscale FeS particles because of their unique properties, such as small particle size, large specific surface area, high surface reactivity, and soil deliverability in the subsurface. Moreover, current knowledge gaps and further research needs are identified.

Controlling phosphate releasing from poultry litter using stabilized Fe-Mn binary oxide nanoparticles

Animal wastes contain high concentrations of phosphorus (P), most of which is lost into the environment due to uncontrolled release rates. Polysaccharide stabilized Fe-Mn binary oxide nanoparticles were prepared and tested for phosphate adsorption from water and for controlling leachability of P from poultry litter. A water soluble starch and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were used as a stabilizer. Both the Freundlich and Langmuir models were able to adequately interpret the isotherm data. The Langmuir maximum capacity was determined at 252, 298 and 313 mg-P/g for bare, CMC- and starch-stabilized nanoparticles, respectively. The presence of the stabilizers not only enhanced the sorption capacity, but facilitated delivery and dispersion of the nanoparticles in poultry litter (PL) and in soil. High phosphate sorption capacity was observed over a broad pH range of 4-9. FTIR analyses indicated that inner sphere surface complexation (Fe-O-P) was the key mechanism for the enhanced uptake of P. When applied to poultry litter, the stabilized nanoparticles reduced water leachable phosphate by >86% at a dose of 0.2 g/L as Fe, and simultaneously, water leachable arsenic by >87-95%. Under conditions of simulated land application of PL, the nanoparticle amendment of PL reduced the water soluble P from 66% (for untreated PL) to 4.4%, and lowered the peak soluble P concentration from 300 to <20 mg/L. By transferring the peak soluble P to the nanoparticle-bound P, the nanoparticles not only greatly reduce the potential runoff loss of P from PL, but also provide a long-term slow-releasing nutrient source. Fortuitously, the nanoparticle treatment was able to immobilize arsenic from PL. With excellent adsorption capacity, easy deliverability, low cost and environmental innocuousness, the stabilized Fe-Mn nanoparticles appear promising for controlling P releases from poultry litter or other animal wastes and for phosphate recovery from water.

Synthesis and use of bimetals and bimetal oxides in contaminants removal from water: a review

This paper gives an overview of the recent advances of the synthesis methods of bimetals and bimetal oxides and applying them in contaminant removal from water.