Enhancing Fenton oxidation of TNT and RDX through pretreatment with zero-valent iron

Fe-zeolites for the adsorption and oxidative degradation of nitroaromatic compounds in water

Nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) are prominent explosives. In this context, these toxic substances were released into the environment and cause long-lasting groundwater contamination. In preparation of a possible in-situ remediation, colloidal Fe-zeolites were investigated for their capabilities as adsorbents and oxidation catalysts. It was shown that the Fe-zeolites FeBEA35 and FeFAU55 are potent inorganic adsorbents for NACs and simultaneously capable of activating H2O2 as Fenton-like oxidation catalysts. Adsorption isotherms of 15 NACs on both zeolites were measured to evaluate the option of coupling adsorptive contaminant enrichment with oxidative degradation. The faujasite-type zeolite FeFAU55 showed a distinct S-type adsorption behaviour and reached significantly higher NAC loadings of > 20 wt%. For FeBEA35, L-type adsorption isotherms and maximum loadings qmax of about 4 wt% were obtained. Degradation of all NACs, monitored by nitrate formation, was observed. Apparent rate constants of the NACs with hydroxyl radicals in a homogeneous, stoichiometric Fenton reaction were related to the heterogeneous system to examine the role of adsorption on the oxidative degradation. Beneficial influence of the adsorption on the oxidation rates was identified. The results of this work open up promising prospects for future application of Fe-zeolites for the in-situ remediation of NAC-contaminated groundwater.

An Ultrasound-Fenton Process for the Degradation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene

2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT), one of the main compounds in ammunition wastewater, is harmful to the environment. In this study, the treatment efficiency of 2,4,6-TNT by different treatment processes, including ferrous ion (Fe2+), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), Fenton, ultrasound (US) irradiation, US + Fe2+, US + H2O2 and US-Fenton process, was compared. The results showed that US-Fenton was the most effective among all methods studied. The effects of initial pH, reaction time and H2O2 to Fe2+ molar ratio were investigated. The results showed that the removal of TNT, TOC and COD was maximum at an initial pH of 3.0 and H2O2 to Fe2+ molar ratio of 10:1. TNT, TOC and COD removal was fast in the first 30 min, reaching 83%, 57% and 50%, then increased gradually to 99%, 67% and 87% until 300 min, respectively. Semi-batch mode operation increased the removal of TNT and TOC by approximately 5% and 10% at 60 min, respectively. The average carbon oxidation number (ACON) was increased from -1.7 at 30 min to a steady-state value of 0.4, indicating the mineralization of TNT. Based on GC-MS analysis, 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene acid, 3,5-dinitrobenznamine and 3,5-dinitro-p-toluidine were the major byproducts from the US-Fenton process. The TNT degradation pathway was proposed, which involved methyl group oxidation, decarboxylation, aromatic ring cleavage and hydrolysis.

Reductive destruction of multiple nitrated energetics over palladium nanoparticles in the H2-based membrane catalyst-film reactor (MCfR)

Nitrated energetics are widespread contaminants due to their improper disposal from ammunition facilities. Different classes of nitrated energetics commonly co-exist in ammunition wastewater, but co-removal of the classes has hardly been documented. In this study, we evaluated the catalytic destruction of three types of energetics using palladium (Pd⁰) nano-catalysts deposited on H₂-transfer membranes in membrane catalyst-film reactors (MCfRs). This work documented nitro-reduction of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), as well as, for the first time, denitration of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) over Pd⁰ at ambient temperature. The catalyst-specific activity was 20- to 90-fold higher than reported for other catalyst systems. Nitrite (NO₂^-) released from RDX and PETN also was catalytically reduced to dinitrogen gas (N₂). Continuous treatment of a synthetic wastewater containing TNT, RDX, and PETN (5 mg/L each) for more than 20 hydraulic retention times yielded removals higher than 96% for all three energetics. Furthermore, the concentrations of NO₂^- and NH₄⁺ were below the detection limit due to subsequent NO₂^- reduction with > 99% selectivity to N₂. Thus, the MCfR provides a promising strategy for sustainable catalytic removal of co-existing energetics in ammunition wastewater.

Optimization, Kinetics, Thermodynamic and Arrhenius Model of the Removal of Ciprofloxacin by Internal Electrolysis with Fe-Cu and Fe-C Materials

The ciprofloxacin (CIP) removal ability of a Fe-Cu electrolytic material was examined with respect to pH (2–9), time (15–150 min), shaking speed (100–250 rpm), material mass (0.2–3 g/L), temperature (298, 308, 323) and initial CIP concentration (30–200 mg/L). The Fe-Cu electrolytic materials were fabricated by the chemical plating method, and Fe-C materials were mechanically mixed from iron powder and graphite. The results show that at a pH value of 3, shaking time 120 min, shaking speed 250 rpm, a mass of Fe-Cu, Fe-C material of 2 g/L and initial CIP concentration of 203.79 mg/L, the CIP removal efficiency of Fe-Cu material reached 90.25% and that of Fe-C material was 85.12%. The removal of CIP on Fe-Cu and Fe-C materials follows pseudo-first-order kinetics. The activation energy of CIP removal of Fe-Cu material is 14.93 KJ/mol and of Fe-C material is 16.87 KJ/mol. The positive ΔH proves that CIP removal is endothermic. A negative entropy of 0.239 kJ/mol and 0.235 kJ/mol (which is near zero and is also relatively positive) indicated the rapid removal of the CIP molecules into the removed products.

A Rational Analysis on Key Parameters Ruling Zerovalent Iron-Based Treatment Trains: Towards the Separation of Reductive from Oxidative Phases

The development of treatment trains for pollutant degradation employing zerovalent iron has been attracting a lot of interest in the last few years. This approach consists of pre-treatment only with zerovalent iron, followed by a Fenton oxidation taking advantage of the iron ions released in the first step. In this work, the advantages/disadvantages of this strategy were studied employing commercial zerovalent iron microparticles (mZVI). The effect of the initial amount of mZVI, H₂O₂, pH, conductivity, anions and dissolved oxygen were analysed using p-nitrobenzoic acid (PNBA) as model pollutant. 83% reduction of PNBA 6 µM into p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) was achieved in natural water at an initial pH 3.0 and 1.4 g/L of mZVI, under aerobic conditions, in 2 h. An evaluation of the convenience of removing mZVI after the reductive phase before the Fenton oxidation was investigated together with mZVI reusability. The Fenton step against the more reactive PABA required 50 mg/L of H₂O₂ to achieve more than 96% removal in 15 min at pH 7.5 (final pH from the reductive step). At least one complete reuse cycle (reduction/oxidation) was achieved with the separated mZVI. This approach might be interesting to treat wastewater containing pollutants initially resistant to hydroxyl radicals.

Removal of Phenol from Aqueous Solution Using Internal Microelectrolysis with Fe-Cu: Optimization and Application on Real Coking Wastewater

Fe-Cu materials were synthesized using the chemical plating method from Fe powder and CuSO4 5% solution and then characterized for surface morphology, composition and structure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The as-synthesized Fe-Cu material was used for removal of phenol from aqueous solution by internal microelectrolysis. The internal electrolysis-induced phenol decomposition was then studied with respect to various parameters such as pH, time, Fe-Cu material weight, phenol concentration and shaking speed. The optimal phenol decomposition (92.7%) was achieved under the conditions of (1) a pH value of phenol solution of 3, (2) 12 h of shaking at the speed of 200 rpm, (3) Fe-Cu material weight of 10 g/L, (4) initial phenol concentration of 100.98 mg/L and (5) at room temperature (25 ± 0.5 °C). The degradation of phenol using Fe-Cu materials obeyed the second-order apparent kinetics equation with a reaction rate constant of k of 0.009 h−1L mg−1. The optimal process was then tested against real coking wastewater samples, resulting in treated wastewater with favorable water indicators. Current findings justify the use of Fe-Cu materials in practical internal electrolysis processes.

Research on enhancement of zero-valent iron on dissimilatory nitrate/nitrite reduction to ammonium of Desulfovibrio sp. CMX

The process of nitrate dissimilation to ammonium (DNRA) is an important way for storing nitrogen in nature and DNRA is a key step in efficient recovery of nitrogen in wastewater. However, in view of the low conversion efficiency of DNRA, zero-valent iron (ZVI) was used to enhance the DNRA process of Desulfovibrio sp. CMX. ZVI can obviously promote the nitrate/nitrite reduction. The experiment indicated that 5 g/L 300 mesh ZVI could convert 5 mmol/L nitrate or nitrite to ammonium in 48 h or 36 h respectively, and the conversion ratio of NO₂^- to NH₄⁺ could reach more than 90%. The ZVI provided a suitable growth environment for the Desulfovibrio sp. CMX through chemical reduction of nitrite, production of divalent iron (Fe²⁺), reduction of oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and adjustment of pH, which strengthened the DNRA performance. This experiment is advantageous for increasing efficiency of DNRA and provides a new idea for efficient recovery of nitrogen resources.

Aerobic biodegradation of high explosive hexahydro-1,3,5- trinitro-1,3,5-triazine by Janibacter cremeus isolated from contaminated soil

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the ability of Janibacter cremeus a soil bacterium isolated from explosive contaminated site in degradation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and to study enzyme responsible for degradation.

RESULTS

The isolate exhibited 88% degradation of RDX in 30 days of incubation. The biodegradation process followed the first order kinetics. The half- life of RDX was calculated to be 11.088 days. The RDX degradation process was complemented by concomitant release of nitrite ions with 0.78 mol of nitrite released per mole of RDX. The metabolites; Trinitroso- RDX, diamino-RDX, trimino-RDX, bis- (hydroxymethyl) nitramine and methylenedintramine derivative, viz, methylene- N- (hydroxy- methyl)- hydroxylamine- N-(hydroxymethyl) nitroamine corresponding to the molecular weights 174, 162, 132, 122 and 167 Da respectively were also detected. Nitroreductase enzyme was found to be responsible for RDX degradation.

CONCLUSION

J. cremeus could degrade RDX as sole source of nitrogen, via three different pathways wherein, Nitroreductase enzyme was found to play a major role. The efficient degradation of RDX makes J. cremeus suitable in treatment of contaminated water and soil at field scale levels.

Surface-promoted hydrolysis of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and 2,4-dinitroanisole on pyrogenic carbonaceous matter

This study investigates the fate of sorbed nitroaromatics on the surface of pyrogenic carbonaceous matter (PCM) to assess the feasibility of a PCM-promoted hydrolysis. The degradation of two nitroaromatic compounds, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 2,4-dinitroanisole, was observed at pH 7 in the presence of graphite powder, a model PCM. By contrast, no decay occurred without graphite. Using TNT as a model compound, our results suggest that TNT decay demonstrated a strong pH dependence, with no reaction at pH 3-5 but rapid degradation at pH 6-10. Moreover, by fitting TNT decay at different pH conditions along with its sorption kinetics to the Langmuir Kinetic Model, our results suggest that the base-catalyzed hydrolysis was important. The activation energy for TNT decay was obtained by measuring reaction rates at different temperatures with or without graphite and no significant difference was observed. However, the addition of tetramethylammonium cation was able to promote TNT decay possibly due to its ability to attract more OH^- from the aqueous solution, leading to an increase in the sorbed OH^- concentrations. Nitrite and a Meisenheimer complex were identified as degradation products for TNT. Other PCM, such as biochar, also demonstrated a comparable ability in promoting TNT decay at pH 7. Furthermore, a rapid degradation of TNT at pH 7 was observed when biochar was used as a soil amendment (4% by weight). Our results suggest that PCM can facilitate TNT and 2,4-dinitroanisole decay via a surface-promoted hydrolysis at neutral pH conditions, suggesting a promising alternative for in situ soil remediation.

The decolorization and mineralization of orange II by microwave-assisted ball milling

This study proposed an integrated technique of reduction coupled with an oxidation process in order to acquire simultaneously both decolorization and mineralization of orange II under the condition of microwave-assisted milling. Experimental variables of initial dye concentration, iron dosage, microwave power, solution pH and initial H₂O₂ concentration were systematically studied. Under the optimal operational parameters (100 mg/L aqueous solution of pH 3 containing 400 mg/L H₂O₂ while controlling microwave power at 400 W), the results showed that the decolorization efficiency is up to 91% after reaction for 2 min and the total organic carbon removal efficiencies were 72.7% and 80.5% at a reaction time of 10 min and 60 min, respectively. It indicated that the decolorization and mineralization of orange II were largely enhanced by the reduction of zero-valent iron in the ball milling process and the oxidation of hydroxyl radicals generated by hydrogen peroxide. It suggested that microwave-assisted ball milling technology has potential application for degradation of azo dye in wastewater.

Mineralization of ammunition wastewater by a micron-size Fe0/O3 process (mFe0/O3)

A micron-size Fe⁰/O₃ process (mFe⁰/O₃) was set up to mineralize the pollutants in ammunition wastewater, and its key operational parameters (e.g., initial pH, ozone flow rate, and mFe⁰ dosage) were optimized by the batch experiments, respectively.

Are the reduction and oxidation properties of nitrocompounds dissolved in water different from those produced when adsorbed on a silica surface? A DFT M05-2X computational study

The reduction and oxidation properties of four nitrocompounds (trinitrotoluene [TNT], 2,4-dinitrotoluene, 2,4-dinitroanisole, and 5-nitro-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-one [NTO]) dissolved in water as compared with the same properties for compounds adsorbed on a silica surface were studied. To consider the influence of adsorption, cluster models were developed at the M05/tzvp level. A hydroxylated silica (001) surface was chosen to represent a key component of soil. The PCM(Pauling) and SMD solvation models were used to model water bulk influence. The following properties were analyzed: electron affinity, ionization potential, reduction Gibbs free energy, oxidation Gibbs free energy, and reduction and oxidation potentials. It was found that adsorption and solvation decrease gas phase electron affinity, ionization potential, and Gibbs free energy of reduction and oxidation, and thus, promote redox transformation of nitrocompounds. However, in case of solvation, the changes are more significant than for adsorption. This means that nitrocompounds dissolved in water are easier to transform by reduction or oxidation than adsorbed ones. Among the considered compounds, TNT was found to be the most reactive in an electron attachment process and the least reactive for an electron detachment transformation. During ionization, a deprotonation of adsorbed NTO was found to occur.

Degradation of toluene-2,4-diamine by persulphate: kinetics, intermediates and degradation pathway

In this study, the degradation of toluene-2,4-diamine (TDA) by persulphate (PS) in an aqueous solution at near-neutral pH was examined. The result showed that the degradation rate of TDA increased with increasing PS concentrations. The optimal dosage of PS in the reaction system was determined by efficiency indicator (I) coupling in the consumption of PS and decay half-life of TDA. Calculation showed that 0.74 mM of PS was the most effective dosage for TDA degradation, at that level the maximum I of 24.51 was obtained. PS can oxidize TDA for an extended reaction time period. Under neutral condition without activation, four degradation intermediates, 2,4-diamino-3-hydroxy-5-sulfonicacidtoluene, 2,4-diaminobenzaldehyde, 2,4-bis(vinylamino)benzaldehyde and 3,5-diamino-4-hydroxy-2-pentene, were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The tentative degradation pathway of TDA was proposed as well. It was found that hydroxyl radical played an important role in degradation of TDA with the activation of Fe2+, whereas PS anion and sulphate radicals were responsible for the degradation without activation of Fe2+.

Novel self-assembled bimetallic structure of Bi/Fe(0): the oxidative and reductive degradation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)

A novel self-assembled bimetallic zero-valent bismuth/iron (Bi/Fe(0)) composite was synthesized, characterized, and used successfully to remove hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) from wastewater. To assess the oxidative and reductive reactivities of Bi/Fe(0) nanoparticles (NPs), RDX degradation experiments were conducted in either ambient or anaerobic conditions, respectively. The best RDX degradation was achieved using 4%-Bi/Fe(0) (atomic ratio) NPs. In ambient conditions, concentrations of Fe(2+) ions and H2O2 were lower in the Bi/Fe(0) solution than in the Fe(0) solution; this difference indicates that most Fe(2+) ions and H2O2 reacted to produce hydroxyl radicals (*OH) and superoxide radical anions (O2(*-)), thereby resulting in the remarkable degradation of RDX. In anaerobic conditions, the presence of Bi increased the electron generation rate from the surfaces of the Bi/Fe(0) NPs. This increase was responsible for the excellent reductive degradation of RDX. Based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, the adsorption of water was endothermic on Fe(0) NPs and exothermic on Bi/Fe(0) NPs. Therefore, only the dissociation reactions of H2O in the Bi/Fe(0) system were spontaneous, and these reactions resulted in the prominent reactivity of the Bi/Fe(0) NPs.

Degradation of bisphenol A in aqueous solution by persulfate activated with ferrous ion

Degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous solution was studied with high-efficiency sulfate radical (SO4(-·)), which was generated by the activation of persulfate (S2O8(2-)) with ferrous ion (Fe(2+)). S2O8(2-) was activated by Fe(2+) to produce SO4(-·), and iron powder (Fe(0)) was used as a slow-releasing source of dissolved Fe(2+). The major oxidation products of BPA were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer. The mineralization efficiency of BPA was monitored by total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer. BPA removal efficiency was improved by the increase of initial S2O8(2-) or Fe(2+) concentrations and then decreased with excess Fe(2+) concentration. The adding mode of Fe(2+) had significant impact on BPA degradation and mineralization. BPA removal rates increased from 49 to 97% with sequential addition of Fe(2+), while complete degradation was observed with continuous diffusion of Fe(2+), and the latter achieved higher TOC removal rate. When Fe(0) was employed as a slow-releasing source of dissolved Fe(2+), 100% of BPA degradation efficiency was achieved, and the highest removal rate of TOC (85%) was obtained within 2 h. In the Fe(0)-S2O8(2-) system, Fe(0) as the activator of S2O8(2-) could offer sustainable oxidation for BPA, and higher TOC removal rate was achieved. It was proved that Fe(0)-S2O8(2-) system has perspective for future works.

Combined ultrasound and Fenton (US-Fenton) process for the treatment of ammunition wastewater

A wastewater collected from a regional ammunition process site was treated with combined US-Fenton process. Factors such as pH, temperature, reaction time, US energy intensity, initial TOC concentration, and the molar ratio of iron to hydrogen peroxide that might affect the treatment efficiency were investigated. The removal of TOC, COD, and color increased with decreasing pH and increasing temperature and US intensity. Color was removed rapidly reaching 85% in 10 min; whereas TOC and COD were removed slowly, only about 20% for both in 10 min and approaching 65 and 92% removal in 120 min, respectively. The optimal molar ratio of Fe(II) to H(2)O(2) for TOC and COD removal was 500. The results showed that the change in the average carbon oxidation number (ACON) was parallel to that of the removal efficiency of TOC, COD, and color. The toxicity of treated wastewater was reduced as assessed by the respiration rate of Escherichia coli.

Adsorption of Trinitrotoluene on a MgO(001) Surface Including Surface Relaxation Effects

A thorough investigation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) adsorption on a MgO(001) surface was carried out using density functional theory (DFT) combined with periodic boundary conditions. Four different initial orientations of the TNT molecule, adsorbed on two different representations of the MgO(001) surface, were investigated. In the first surface representation, there were two fixed layers of atoms and in the second the surface had three layers, with the uppermost fully relaxed in geometry optimizations. Electron density difference maps for each case were computed and provided a detailed picture of the interactions. The results showed a physical adsorption process for both surface representations. In the most favorable situation—TNT adsorbed on the surface with three layers—the computed adsorption energy was −9.89 kcal/mol. The importance of allowing the uppermost layer of the surface to fully relax upon molecular desorption was shown.

Reduction of dinitrotoluene sulfonates in TNT red water using nanoscale zerovalent iron particles

PURPOSE

This research was designed to investigate the feasibility of converting the dinitrotoluene sulfonates (DNTS) in TNT red water into the corresponding aromatic amino compounds using nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI).

METHODS

NZVI particles were simultaneously synthesized and stabilized by sodium borohydride reduction in a nondeoxygenated system. The morphology, elemental content, specific surface area, and crystal properties of the NZVI were characterized before and after the reaction by environmental scanning electron microscope; energy dispersive X-ray; Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller; and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The reduction process was conducted at pH = 6.3 at ambient temperature. The efficiency of the NZVI-mediated DNTS reduction process was monitored by HPLC, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses.

RESULTS

The properties of the NZVI particles prepared were found to be similar to those obtained through oxygen-free preparation and inert stabilization processes. Both 2,4-DNT-3-sulfonate (2,220 mg L(-1)) and 2,4-DNT-5-sulfonate (3,270 mg L(-1)) in TNT red water underwent a pseudo-first-order transformation when mixed with NZVI at room temperature and near-neutral pH. Their observed rate constants were 0.11 and 0.30 min(-1), respectively. Within 1 h of processing, more than 99% of DNTS was converted by NZVI-mediated reduction into the corresponding diaminotoluene sulfonates.

CONCLUSIONS

NZVI can be simultaneously prepared and stabilized in a nondeoxygenated system. NZVI reduction is a highly efficient method for the conversion of DNTS into the corresponding diaminotoluene sulfonates under near-neutral pH conditions. Therefore, NZVI reduction may be useful in the treatment of TNT red water and subsequent recovery of diaminotoluene from explosive wastewater.

Feasibility of a two-stage reduction/subsequent oxidation for treating Tetrabromobisphenol A in aqueous solutions

A "two-stage reduction/subsequent oxidation" (T-SRO) process consists of Fe-Ag reduction and Fenton-like oxidation under ultrasound (US) radiation. Due to the refractory oxidation of brominated flame retardant, T-SRO was employed to remove Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) by the combination of first debromination and succeeding oxidation. It indicated that the T-SRO process resulted in a complete decrease in TBBPA concentration and a 99.2% decrease in BPA concentration. The T-SRO process for the removal of TBBPA is much effective than Fenton-like oxidation of TBBPA alone. The result showed that US radiation improved the Fenton-like oxidation rate of BPA solutions. The addition of dissolved iron into the Fenton-like oxidation system could accelerate the first 2 min reaction, but had little effect on the following process. The main intermediate products resulting from TBBPA reduction and BPA oxidation were identified by GC-MS and LC-MS/MS. On the basis of this analysis, reactions with •OH radical were identified as the major chemical pathways during BPA oxidation.

Parathion degradation and its intermediate formation by Fenton process in neutral environment

The purpose of this study is to investigate parathion degradation by Fenton process in neutral environment. The initial parathion concentration for all the degradation experiments was 20 ppm. For hydrogen ion effect on Fenton degradation, the pH varied from 2 to 8 at the [H₂O₂] to [Fe²(+)] ratio of 2-2 mM, and the result showed pH 3 as the most effective environment for parathion degradation by Fenton process. Apparent degradation was also observed at pH 7. The subsequent analysis for parathion degradation was conducted at pH 7 because most environmental parathion exists in the neutral environment. Comparing the parathion degradation results at various Fenton dosages revealed that at Fe²(+) concentrations of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mM, the Fenton reagent ratio ([H₂O₂]/[Fe²(+)]) for best-removing performance were found as 4, 3, and 2, resulting in the removal efficiencies of 19%, 48% and 36%, respectively. Further increase in Fe²(+) concentration did not cause any increase of the optimum Fenton reagent ratio for the best parathion removal. The result from LC-MS also indicated that hydroxyl radicals might attack the PS double bond, the single bonds connecting nitro-group, nitrophenol, or the single bond within ethyl groups of parathion molecules forming paraoxons, nitrophenols, nitrate/nitrite, thiophosphates, and other smaller molecules. Lastly, the parathion degradation by Fenton process at the presence of humic acids was investigated, and the results showed that the presence of 10 mg L⁻¹ of humic acids in the aqueous solution enhanced the parathion removal by Fenton process twice as much as that without the presence of humic acids.

Degradation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene by persulfate activated with zero-valent iron

The oxidation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) by persulfate (S(2)O(8)(2-)) activated with zero-valent iron (Fe(o)) was studied through a series of batch experiments. The mechanism for Fe(o) activation was investigated by comparing with Fe(2+), and the effects of persulfate-to-iron ratio and pre-reduction on DNT oxidation were examined. DNT was stable in the presence of persulfate and transformed only when Fe(o) was added. Most DNT was degraded oxidatively by Fe(o)-activated persulfate, whereas direct reduction of DNT by Fe(o) was unimportant. The rate of DNT degradation increased with higher Fe(o) dose, presumably due to increasing activation of persulfate by Fe(o) and Fe(2+). In contrast to the Fe(o)-persulfate system, where complete oxidation DNT was achieved, only </=20% of DNT was degraded and the reaction was terminated rapidly when Fe(o) was replaced with equimolar Fe(2+). This indicates that Fe(o) is more effective than Fe(2+) as activating agent and potentially more suitable for environmental applications. The reduction products of DNT were more rapidly oxidized by persulfate than DNT, suggesting that converting the nitro groups of NACs to amino groups prior to oxidation can greatly enhance their oxidation. This suggests that a sequential Fe(o) reduction-persulfate oxidation process may be an effective strategy to promote NAC degradation.

Application of advanced oxidation processes for TNT removal: A review

Nowadays, there are increasingly stringent regulations requiring drastic treatment of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) contaminated waters to generate treated waters which could be easily reused or released into the environment without any harmful effects. TNT is among the most highly suspected explosive compounds that interfere with groundwater system due to its high toxicity and low biodegradability. The present work is an overview of the literature on TNT removal from polluted waters and soils and, more particularly, its treatability by advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Among the remediation technologies, AOPs constitute a promising technology for the treatment of wastewaters containing non-easily biodegradable organic compounds. Data concerning the degradation of TNT reported during the period 1990-2009 are evaluated in this review. Among the AOPs, the following techniques are successively debated: processes based on hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)+UV, Fenton, photo-Fenton and Fenton-like processes), photocatalysis, processes based on ozone (O(3), O(3)+UV) and electrochemical processes. Kinetic constants related to TNT degradation and the different mechanistic degradation pathways are discussed. Possible future treatment strategies, such as, coupling AOP with biological treatment is also considered as a mean to improve TNT remediation efficiency and kinetic.

Gamma radiation-induced degradation of p-nitrophenol (PNP) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in aqueous solution

The synergistic effect of gamma radiation with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) for p-nitrophenol (PNP) decomposition in aqueous solution was evaluated. The PNP solution with initial concentration of 50mg/L was irradiated in the presence of extra H(2)O(2) at initial concentration of 0, 20, 40, and 80 mg/L. The experimental results showed that the decomposition of PNP conformed to the pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics under the applied conditions. When initial H(2)O(2) concentration was in the range of 0-80 mg/L, higher concentration of H(2)O(2) was more effective for the decomposition, mineralization and nitrogen release of PNP. However, the removal of total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) was not as effective as that of PNP. Ammonia and nitrate were detected as the main inorganic nitrogen products of PNP decomposition without extra H(2)O(2), whereas nitrate was considered as a final inorganic nitrogen product with extra H(2)O(2) in the initial concentration range of 0-80 mg/L. Major decomposition products, including organic acids were identified by LC/MS and IC. Possible pathways for PNP decomposition by gamma radiation in aqueous solution were proposed.

Environmental factors influencing remediation of TNT-contaminated water and soil with nanoscale zero-valent iron particles

This study evaluated the application of nanoscale metallic particles (nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) particles) in the remediation of TNT in contaminated water and soil samples. The effects of treatment dosages of synthesized nZVI particles and reaction time on degradation rate of TNT were determined. The synthesized nZVI particles (99.99% pure) size distribution was between 20-100 nm (average particle size 80 nm), with a surface area of 21.63 +/- 0.24 m(2)/g. The optimum dosage of nZVI for degradation of 10 mg/L TNT in the contaminated water was 2000 mg/L (w/v) at a reaction time 20 min. However, trace level of TNT remained since the BOD(5) and COD levels at the optimum nZVI treatment dosage were 834 +/- 8 mg/L and 1280 +/- 900 mg/L, respectively. The BOD(5)/COD ratio was 0.65, which was higher than the BOD(5)/COD ratios for the other nZVI dosages which supports the beneficial effect of using nZVI particles for enhancing degradation of TNT. The observed first-order degradation rate of TNT at 25 degrees C was 0.137 min(-1) corresponding to a degradation rate of 0.156 L/m(2) h. In experiments using sandy clay loam soil containing 20 mg/kg TNT in slurry form (1:2 soil to solution ratio, the optimum nZVI treatment dosage that resulted in 99.88% TNT removal was 5000 mg/kg soil. Less toxic intermediate products and their concentrations following degradation were 2-ADNT and 4-ADNT at 0.90 and 0.10 mg/kg, respectively. Results of this study indicate it is feasible to use nZVI for the remediation of TNT-contaminated water and soil samples as a pre-treatment step however secondary treatments such as phyto-remediation or other biological processes may be needed to remove any residue or intermediate products of TNT degradation.

Optimization of Brazilian TNT industry wastewater treatment using combined zero-valent iron and fenton processes

This work explores the optimization of combined zero-valent iron and fenton processes for the treatment of TNT industry wastewater, a residue with recognized polluting potential due to its high concentration of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and extremely acidic pH due of the nature of the product purification process. The results of the optimization study indicate that the most efficient condition for reducing the concentration of TNT also generates sufficient amounts of iron(II)for the subsequent oxidative treatment through the Fenton reaction. In general, it was observed that the treatment was highly efficient in terms of meeting the main associated environmental parameters, since it reduced acute toxicity, removed 100% of TNT, 100% of the organic nitrogen and 95.4% of the COD.

Reductive transformation and mineralization of an azo dye by hydroxysulphate green rust preceding oxidation using H(2)O(2) at neutral pH

In this study, the reactivity of hydroxysulphate green rust (GR(SO(4)(2-))) toward reductive transformation, oxidative degradation and mineralization of organic compounds was evaluated using Methyl Red (MR) as model pollutant. The GR(SO(4)(2-)) was synthesized by co-precipitation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mössbauer spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analyses. Reductive decolourization of MR solution occurred in the presence of GR(SO(4)(2-)), while no total organic carbon (TOC) decay was observed during the equilibration time. Significant TOC removal (87%) was noted when H(2)O(2) was added to the GR(SO(4)(2-))/MR mixture after the preliminary reduction step. UV-Vis analysis, dissolved iron and H(2)O(2) concentration measurement, and batch sorption test showed that the heterogeneous Fenton-like reaction is the main mechanism by which the pollutant was mineralized. Increasing of H(2)O(2)/Fe(II) ratio did not affect significantly the mineralization rate of MR. However, slight decolourization of MR and absence of TOC abatement were noted when both MR and H(2)O(2) were simultaneously mixed with the GR(SO(4)(2-)). XRD analysis, Mössbauer spectroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy revealed that the oxidation end-products of GR(SO(4)(2-)) were mainly a poorly crystallized goethite when GR was oxidized after equilibrating with MR in solution. However, a badly crystallized iron oxide was formed when GR was immediately oxidized. In all cases, the interlayer anion (SO(4)(2-)) was ejected from GR structure to aqueous solution. These results suggest that the GR(SO(4)(2-))/H(2)O(2) system could be used to promote the reduction/oxidation reaction of organic pollutants.

Enhanced reduction of nitrate by zero-valent iron at elevated temperatures

Kinetics of nitrate reduction by zero-valent iron at elevated temperatures was studied through batch and column experiments. It was hypothesized that under increased solution temperatures, the zero-valent iron may accelerate the reduction of nitrate by overcoming the activation energy barrier to nitrate reduction. The results of the batch experiment showed the synergistic effects of elevated temperature (75 degrees C) and a buffered condition (pH 7.4 with 0.1 M HEPES) to enhance the rate of nitrate reduction by zero-valent iron from 0.072+/-0.006 h(-1) ((0.35+/-0.03) x 10(-4) L m(-2) h(-1)) at room temperature to 1.39+/-0.23 h(-1) ((1.03+/-0.07) x 10(-3) L m(-2) h(-1)). Complete nitrate removal was obtained in a Fe(0) column after 30 min under both buffered and unbuffered conditions at 75 degrees C. These results indicate that a temperature increase could overcome the energy barrier. We suggest that an iron reduction process at moderately elevated temperature (50-75 degrees C) may be a suitable method for removing nitrate from industrial discharges.

Single-step treatment of 2,4-dinitrotoluene via zero-valent metal reduction and chemical oxidation

Many nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) are considered toxic and potential carcinogens. The purpose of this study was to develop an integrated reductive/oxidative process for treating NACs contaminated waters. The process consists of the combination of zero-valent iron and an ozonation based treatment technique. Corrosion promoters are added to the contaminated water to minimize passivation of the metallic species. Water contaminated with 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) was treated with the integrated process using a recirculated batch reactor. It was demonstrated that addition of corrosion promoters to the contaminated water enhances the reduction of 2,4-DNT with zero-valent iron. The addition of corrosion promoters resulted in 62% decrease in 2,4-DNT concentration to 2,4-diaminotoluene. The data shows that iron reduced the 2,4-DNT and ozone oxidized these products resulting in a 73% removal of TOC and a 96% decrease in 2,4-DNT concentration.

A Novel Route for Waste Water Treatment: Photo-Assisted Fenton Degradation of Naphthol Green B

This study was conducted to assess the removal of the Naphthol Green B dye from aqueous medium using the photo-Fenton process. The Fenton reagent, a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and Fe3+ ions, was used to generate the hydroxyl radical (•OH) that degrades the dye. Experiments were conducted at laboratory temperature and atmospheric pressure to examine the effect of reaction conditions such as the concentration of Fe3+ ions, the dye and hydrogen peroxide, pH, and light intensity on the reaction rate. The progress of the photochemical degradation was monitored spectrophotometrically. The optimum photochemical degradation conditions were determined. Naphthol Green B was completely degraded into CO2 and H2O. A tentative mechanism for photochemical bleaching of the dye by the photo- Fenton reaction has been proposed.

Recovery of nitrotoluenes in wastewater by solvent extraction

Toluene extraction was utilized to recover 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), 2,6-DNT, and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) from wastewater of toluene nitration process. The batch-wise experiments were performed to elucidate the influence of various operating variables on the extracting behavior, including extracting temperature, volume ratios of solvent versus wastewater, agitation time, acidity of wastewater, and extraction stages. It was found that recovery of total organic compounds (TOC) was significantly elevated with increasing extraction temperature. Besides, high volume ratio of toluene/wastewater (2.0) and wastewater acidified to lower pH value enhanced the recovery percentage of TOC, in which extractable tendency was as follows: 2,6-DNT>2,4-DNT>2,4,6-TNT. It is worth noting that the nitrotoluenes in wastewater would be almost completely recovered using three sequential stages toluene extraction at the agitation time of 12min and pH 3.0. It is apparent that this established method is promising for the treatment of wastewater from toluene nitration processed industrially.

Optimization of Fenton's oxidation of chemical laboratory wastewaters using the response surface methodology

Establishing a treatment process for practical and economic disposal of laboratory wastewaters has become an urgent environmental concern of the Department of Chemical Engineering of the Universidade Estadual de Maringá (State University of Maringá), Brazil. Fenton and related reactions are potentially useful oxidation processes for destroying toxic organic compounds in water. In these reactions, hydrogen peroxide is combined with ferrous or ferric iron in the presence or absence of light to generate hydroxyl radicals (.OH). The feasibility of Fenton's reagent to treat waste chemicals from an academic research laboratory was investigated in this study. A response surface methodology was applied to optimize the Fenton oxidation process conditions using chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal as the target parameter to optimize, and the reagent concentrations, as related to the initial concentration of organic matter in the effluent, and pH as the control factors to be optimized. Maximal COD removal (92.3%) was achieved when wastewater samples were treated at pH 4 in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and iron in the ratios [COD]:[H2O2]=1:9 and [H2O2]:[Fe2+]=4.5:1. Under these conditions, it was possible to obtain simultaneously maximal COD removal and minimal chemical sludge after treatment, which is a residue that needs further processing.

Zero-valent iron pretreatment for enhancing the biodegradability of RDX

Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (C3H6N3(NO2)3, royal demolition explosive or RDX) is a common nitramine explosive and one of the major constituents in wastewaters from ammunitions plants. The objective of this study is to investigate zero-valent iron (Fe0) pretreatment for enhancing the biodegradability of recalcitrant RDX. It was hypothesized that iron pretreatment can reductively transform RDX to products that are more amenable to biological treatment processes such as activated sludge. Results of batch and column experiments showed rapid and complete removal of RDX by Fe0 regardless of the buffering capacity. Formaldehyde (HCHO), a major reduction product of RDX, was readily biodegraded by a mixed culture. Respirometric data indicate that iron-treated RDX solution exerted substantially higher biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) than untreated RDX solution. We propose that an integrated iron reduction-activated sludge process may be a feasible option for treating RDX-laden wastewater.

Mineralization of dinitrotoluenes and trinitrotoluene of spent acid in toluene nitration process by Fenton oxidation

Fenton's reagent, UV/H2O2 and UV/Fenton's reagent were employed to mineralize dinitrotoluene (DNT) isomers and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) of spent acid in toluene nitration process. The bench-scale experiments were conducted to elucidate the influence of various operating variables on the performance of removal of total organic compounds (TOC) from spent acid, including reaction temperature, concentration of ferrous ion and H2O2 dosage. It is remarkable that organic compounds were completely mineralized by Fenton oxidation, of which removal efficiency is superior to that of UV/H2O2. Nevertheless, it makes slight difference between Fenton oxidation and UV/Fenton oxidation. According to the spectra identified by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS), it is proposed that oxidative degradation of DNT isomers leads to o-, m-, p-mononitrotoluene (MNT) and 1,3-dinitrobenzene respectively. Besides, the oxidation of 2,4,6-TNT gives the 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene intermediate. Apparently, Fenton oxidation is promising for purification of spent acid industrially.

Quantification and modelling of 2,4-dinitrotoluene reduction with high-purity and cast iron

Cast iron has been used as a reactive material in permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) for site remediation. While reactions are generally believed to occur on the iron (oxide) surface, a recent study by [Oh, S.Y., Cha, D.K., Chiu, P.C., 2002a. Graphite-mediated reduction of 2,4-dinitrotoluene with elemental iron. Environ. Sci. Technol. 36 (10), 2178-2184] showed that graphite inclusions in cast iron can also serve as reaction sites for 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT). These authors also found that graphite-mediated reduction of DNT has a regioselectivity that is different from that for iron surface. In this study, we quantified the observations reported by Oh et al. and examined the role of graphite in cast iron through numerical modelling. Models containing one and two reaction sites were developed to evaluate the mass transfer, sorption and reaction rates for DNT reduction in batch systems containing high-purity and cast iron. Our simulations showed that the regioselectivity, defined as the ratio of the ortho- and para-nitro reduction rate constants, was 0.37+/-0.04 S.E. (S.E.=one estimated standard error) for iron surface and 3.59+/-0.76 S.E. for graphite surface. In the cast iron-water system, we estimated that at least 66+/-2% S.E. of the DNT was reduced on graphite surface, despite the low graphite content and the lower DNT reduction rate with graphite than with iron. Graphite played such an important role because of the rapid adsorption of DNT to graphite. In the batch experiments conducted by Oh et al., external mass transfer was not rate limiting. Surface reaction was the rate-limiting step for DNT reduction on the graphite surface in cast iron, whereas internal mass transfer and/or adsorption and surface reaction were important for high-purity iron.