Efficient peroxymonosulfate activation by nanoscale zerovalent iron for removal of sulfadiazine and sulfadiazine resistance bacteria: Sulfidated modification or not

Whether it's necessary to extra chemical synthesis steps to modify nZVI in peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation process are worth to further investigation. The 56 mg/L nZVI/153.65 mg/L PMS and 56 mg/L sulfidated nZVI (S-nZVI) (S/Fe molar ratio = 1:5)/153.65 mg/L PMS) processes could effectively attain 97.7% (with kobs of 3.7817 min-1) and 97.0% (with kobs of 3.4966 min-1) of the degradation of 20 mg/L sulfadiazine (SDZ) in 1 min, respectively. The nZVI/PMS system could quickly achieve 85.5% degradation of 20 mg/L SDZ in 1 min and effectively inactivate 99.99% of coexisting Pseudomonas. HLS-6 (5.81-log) in 30 min. Electron paramagnetic resonance tests and radical quenching experiments determined SO4•-, HO•, 1O2 and O2•- were responsible for SDZ degradation. The nZVI/PMS system could still achieve the satisfactory degradation efficiency of SDZ under the influence of humic acid (exceeded 96.1%), common anions (exceeded 67.3%), synthetic wastewater effluent (exceeded 90.7%) and real wastewater effluent (exceeded 78.7%). The high degradation efficiency of tetracycline (exceeded 98.9%) and five common disinfectants (exceeded 96.3%) confirmed the applicability of the two systems for pollutants removal. It's no necessary to extra chemical synthesis steps to modify nZVI for PMS activation to remove both chemical and biological pollutants.

Carboxymethyl cellulose stabilization induced changes in particle characteristics and dechlorination efficiency of sulfidated nanoscale zero-valent iron

Polymer stabilization, exemplified by carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), has demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing the transport of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI). And, sulfidation is recognized for enhancing the reactivity and selectivity of nZVI in dechlorination processes. The influence of polymer stabilization on sulfidated nZVI (S-nZVI) with various sulfur precursors remains unclear. In this study, CMC-stabilized S-nZVI (CMC-S-nZVI) was synthesized using three distinct sulfur precursors (S2-, S2O42-, and S2O32-) through one-step approach. The antioxidant properties of CMC significantly elevated the concentration of reduced sulfur species (S2-) on CMC-S-nZVIs, marking a 3.1-7.0-fold increase compared to S-nZVIs. The rate of trichloroethylene degradation (km) by CMC-S-nZVIs was observed to be 2.2-9.0 times higher than that achieved by their non-stabilized counterparts. Among the three CMC-S-nZVIs, CMC-S-nZVINa2S exhibited the highest km. Interesting, while the electron efficiency of CMC-S-nZVIs surged by 7.9-12 times relative to nZVI, it experienced a reduction of 7.0-34% when compared with S-nZVIs. This phenomenon is attributed to the increased hydrophilicity of S-nZVI particles due to CMC stabilization, which inadvertently promotes the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In conclusion, the findings of this study underscores the impact of CMC stabilization on the properties and dechlorination performance of S-nZVI sulfidated using different sulfur precursors, offering guidance for engineering CMC-S-nZVIs with desirable properties for contaminated groundwater remediation.

Biomass-derived cellulose nanocrystals modified nZVI for enhanced tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) removal

Nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) is an advanced environmental functional material for the degradation of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). However, high surface energy, self-agglomeration and low electron selectivity limit degradation rate and complete debromination of bare nZVI. Herein, we presented biomass-derived cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) modified nZVI (CNC/nZVI) for enhanced TBBPA removal. The effect of raw material (straw, filter paper and cotton), process (time, type and concentration of acid hydrolysis) and synthesis methods (in-situ and ex-situ) on fabrication of CNC/nZVI were systematically evaluated based on TBBPA removal performance. The optimized CNC-S(in)/nZVI was prepared via in-situ liquid-phase reduction using straw as raw material of CNC and processing through 44 % H2SO4 for 165 min. Characterizations illustrated nZVI was anchored to the active sites at CNC interface through electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonds and FeO coordinations. The batch experiments showed 0.5 g/L CNC-S(in)/nZVI achieved 96.5 % removal efficiency at pH = 7 for 10 mg/L initial TBBPA. The enhanced TBBPA dehalogenation by CNC-S/nZVI(in), involving in initial adsorption, reduction process and partial detachment of debrominated products, were possibly attributed to elevated pre-adsorption capacity and high-efficiency delivery of electrons synergistically. This study indicated that fine-tuned fabrication of CNC/nZVI could potentially be a promising alternative for remediation of TBBPA-contaminated aquatic environments.

Insights into the long-term immobilization performances and mechanisms of CMC-Fe0/FeS with different sulfur sources for uranium under anoxic and oxic aging

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (Fe0)-based materials have been demonstrated to be a effective method for the U(VI) removal. However, limited research has been conducted on the long-term immobilization efficiency and mechanism of Fe0-based materials for U(VI), which are essential for achieving safe handling and disposal of U(VI) on a large scale. In this study, the prepared carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and sulfurization dual stabilized Fe0 (CMC-Fe0/FeS) exhibited excellent long-term immobilization performances for U(VI) under both anoxic and oxic conditions, with the immobilization efficiencies were respectively reached over 98.0 % and 94.8 % after 180 days of aging. Most importantly, different from the immobilization mechanisms of the fresh CMC-Fe0/FeS for U(VI) (the adsorption effect of -COOH and -OH groups, coordination effect with sulfur species, as well as reduction effect of Fe0), the re-mobilized U(VI) were finally re-immobilized by the formed FeOOH and Fe3O4 on the aged CMC-Fe0/FeS. Under anoxic conditions, more Fe3O4 was produced, which may be the main reason for the long-term immobilization U(VI). Under oxic conditions, the production of Fe3O4 and FeOOH were relatively high, which both played significant roles in re-immobilizing U(VI) through surface complexation, reduction and incorporation effects.

Facile synthesis of biopolymer decorated magnetic coreshells for enhanced removal of xenobiotic azo dyes through experimental modelling

Since contamination of xenobiotics in water bodies has become a global issue, their removal is gaining ample attention lately. In the present study, nZVI was synthesized using chitosan for removal of two such xenobitic dyes, Bromocresol green and (BCG) and Brilliant blue (BB), which have high prevalence in freshwater and wastewater matrices. nZVI functionalization prevents nanoparticle aggregation and oxidation, enhancing the removal of BCG and BB with an efficiency of 84.96% and 86.21%, respectively. XRD, FESEM, EDS, and FTIR have been employed to investigate the morphology, elemental composition, and functional groups of chitosan-modified nanoscale-zerovalent iron (CS@nZVI). RSM-CCD model was utilized to assess the combined effect of five independent variables and determine the best condition for maximum dye removal. The interactions between adsorbent dose (2-4 mg), pH (4-8), time (20-40 min), temperature (35-65 0C), and initial dye concentration (40-60 mg/L) was modeled to study the response, i.e., dye removal percentage. The reaction fitted well with Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-first-order kinetics, with a maximum qe value of 426.97 and 452.4 mg/g for BCG and BB, respectively. Thermodynamic analysis revealed the adsorption was spontaneous, and endothermic in nature. Moreover, CS@nZVI could be used up to five cycles of dye removal with remarkable potential for real water samples.

Fate and mechanistic insights into nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) activation of sludge derived biochar reacted with Cr(VI)

While nanoscale zero-valent iron modified biochar (nZVI-BC) have been widely investigated for the removal of heavy metals, the corrosion products of nZVI and their interaction with heavy metals have not been revealed yet. In this paper, nZVI-BC was synthesized and applied for the removal of Cr(VI). Batch experiments indicated that the adsorption of Cr(VI) fit Langmuir isotherm, with the maximum removal capacity at 172.4 mg/g at pH 2.0. SEM-EDS, BET, XRD, FT-IR, Raman and XPS investigation suggested that reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) was the major removal mechanism. pH played an important role on the corrosion of nZVI-BC, at pH 4.5 and 2.0, FeOOH and Fe₃O₄ were detected as the major iron oxide, respectively. Therefore, FeOOH-BC and Fe₃O₄-BC were further prepared and their interaction with Cr were studied. Combining with DFT calculations, it revealed that Fe₃O₄ has higher adsorption capacity and was responsible for the effective removal of Cr(VI) through electrostatic attraction and reduction under acidic conditions. However, Fe₃O₄ will continue to convert to the more stable FeOOH, which is the key to for the subsequent stabilization of the reduced Cr(III). The results showed that the oxide corrosion products of nZVI-BC were subjected to the environment, which will eventually affect the fate and transport of the adsorbed heavy metal.

Nano- and micro-scale zerovalent iron-activated peroxydisulfate for methyl phenyl sulfoxide probe transformation in aerobic water: Quantifying the relative roles of SO4·-, Fe(IV), and ·OH

Multiple reactive intermediates have been proposed to be involved in peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation by zerovalent iron (ZVI), including sulfate radical (SO₄^·-) produced via iron-oxide shell mediated electron transfer, ferryl ion species (Fe(IV)) formed from Fe(II)-PDS interaction, and hydroxyl radical (^·OH) generated by ZVI aerobic oxygenation. In this study, evolution of the relative role of these intermediates in microscale and nanoscale ZVI (mZVI vs. nZVI) activated PDS processes is comparatively investigated by using a methyl phenyl sulfoxide (PMSO) probe that selectively reacts with Fe(IV) to produce methyl phenyl sulfone (PMSO₂). Interestingly, during PMSO transformation by mZVI/PDS process, yields of PMSO₂ (η(PMSO₂)) exhibit three-stage behavior that they first increase to a maximum (∼80% but lower than 100%) (Stage I) and then plateau for a period (Stage II) followed by a decrease phase (Stage III). Accordingly, the relative role of Fe(IV) in PMSO transformation is unceasingly improved in Stage I and subsequently reaches equilibrium with that of free radicals in Stage II, while it finally decreases in Stage III. Similar η(PMSO₂) evolution trends are obtained in nZVI/PDS process, except that the η(PMSO₂) increase in Stage I is negligible, possibly due to the exceptional fast nZVI dissolution. It was further clarified by tert-butyl alcohol scavenging assay that, in addition to Fe(IV), the free radical involved in Stages I and II is SO₄^·-, while ^·OH was dominant in Stage III. Moreover, studies on O₂ effect reveal that ZVI aerobic oxygenation participates in mZVI corrosion during the entire process, while it is only involved in nZVI corrosion when PDS content is reduced to a low concentration, indicating that the reactivities of PDS and O₂ are similar in mZVI corrosion, but differ greatly in nZVI corrosion. Additionally, effects of reactant dose and pH on η(PMSO₂) evolution are also explored. Dynamics of the relative role of different reactive oxidants should be taken into account in further applications of ZVI/PDS in situ chemical remediation technology considering their different chemistries.

Polypyrrole supported Pd/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles with enhanced catalytic activity for simultaneous removal of 4-chlorophenol and Cr(VI)

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) represents a promising reduction technology for water remediation, but its broad application is largely hampered by the tendency of nZVI to aggregate and the low electron transferability due to the interfacial charge resistance. Herein, by combining the advantages of polypyrrole (PPY) and nZVI, we prepared a composite material (i.e., PPY supported palladium‑iron bimetallic nanoparticles (Pd/Fe@PPY)) and applied it for the simultaneous removal of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and Cr(VI). Our results showed that this material had superior catalytic performances with a complete removal of 4-CP (50 mg·L^-1) and Cr(VI) (10 mg·L^-1) within 60 and 1 min, respectively. As opposed to the bare Pd/Fe nanoparticles, the reactivity of Pd/Fe@PPY with 4-CP was significantly enhanced by nearly 8 times. The enhanced catalytic activity of Pd/Fe@PPY was attributed to the distinctive properties of PPY as i) a good support that resulted in the formation of Pd/Fe nanoparticles with high dispersibility; ii) an adsorbent that increased the accessibility of 4-CP and Cr(VI) with electrons or active species (e.g., H*) on the particles surface; iii) an electron transfer carrier that facilitated the reactivity of Pd/Fe@PPY with contaminants by reducing the interfacial charge resistance. Moreover, by conducting cyclic voltammetry and quenching investigations, we showed that two mechanisms (i.e., direct and H*-mediated indirect electron transfer) were involved in the reductive dehalogenation of 4-CP, while catalytic hydrodechlorination played a dominant role. This work offers an alternative material for the efficient removal of 4-CP and Cr(VI) and provides better understanding of the relationship between structure and catalytic activity of nZVI.

Pivotal roles of nanoscale zerovalent iron supported on metal-organic framework material in cadmium (II) migration and transformation in soil

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in soils is of great concern, and therefore the development of effective remediation technologies for cadmium contamination is urgent. In our study, nano zero-valent iron (NZVI) supported by metal-organic framework (MOF) materials (MOF-NZVI) were prepared using NaBH₄ and FeCl₃ to try to solve the soil Cd remediation problem. Herein, the effects and the mechanism of MOF-NZVI for the immobilization of Cd in contaminated soil was investigated. The results showed that MOF-NZVI was capable of converting Cd in soil from weak acid extractable and reducible fractions to oxidizable and residual states, thus effectively reducing the toxicity of Cd in soil. FTIR and XRD analysis confirmed that the dominant reaction mechanism between MOF-NVZI and Cd is adsorption with complexation, and the stabilization of Cd is achieved by the formation of compounds such as FeOCdOH.

Conductive-polymer-supported palladium-iron bimetallic nanocatalyst for simultaneous 4-chlorophenol and Cr(VI) removal: Enhanced interfacial electron transfer and mechanism

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) reduction offers a wide range of applications in source-zone remediation, but the reactivity of nZVI is largely hampered due to its low electron-transfer ability and tendency to aggregate. Based on the dual function of conductive polymers (CPs) as support and electron transfer carrier, we combined CPs with nZVI and prepared a series of Pd/Fe bimetallic materials that successfully address the challenges of nZVI reduction. These Pd/Fe@CPs particles showed strong catalytic ability for the simultaneous removal of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and Cr(VI). The removal rate of 4-CP was significantly enhanced by 1.5-6.2 times after supporting Pd/Fe nanoparticles (NPs) with CPs. The enhanced reactivity of supported Pd/Fe NPs was attributed to their highly stabilized and dispersed state and the promoted electron transfer due to the synergistic effect between CPs and nZVI bimetallic particles. The various catalytic activity over Pd/Fe@CPs was attributed to the distinctive properties of CPs and their different interfacial electron transfer ability. Importantly, this study provides insights into distinguishing both mechanisms of direct electron transfer and atomic-hydrogen-mediated indirect electron transfer, and their quantitative relationship to the dehalogenation performance over Pd/Fe@CPs materials. This work provides better understanding of the remediation process and mechanisms of nZVI reduction.

Microalgal Activity and Nutrient Uptake from Wastewater Enhanced by Nanoscale Zerovalent Iron: Performance and Molecular Mechanism

Microalgae-based bioremediation presents an alternative to traditional biological wastewater treatment. However, its efficiency is still challenging due to low microalgal activities and growth rate in wastewater. Iron plays an important role in microbial metabolism and is effective to stimulate microbial growth. In this study, a novel approach was proposed to simultaneously promote microalgal activity and nutrient uptake from wastewater using nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI), and the underlying molecular mechanism was explored. Compared to the control, 0.05 mg/L of nZVI significantly enhanced biomass production by 113.3% as well as NH₄⁺-N and PO₄^3--P uptake rates by 32.2% and 75.0%, respectively. These observations were attributed to the enhanced metabolic pathways and intracellular regulations. Specifically, nZVI alleviated the cellular oxidative stress via decreased peroxisome biogenesis as indicated by reduced reactive oxygen species, enzymes, and genes involved. nZVI promoted ammonium assimilation, phosphate metabolism, carbon fixation, and energy generation. Moreover, nZVI regulated the biosynthesis and conversions of intracellular biocomposition, leading to increased carotenoid, carbohydrate, and lipid productions and decreased protein and fatty acid yields. The above metabolisms were supported by the regulations of differentially expressed genes involved. This study provided an nZVI-based approach and molecular mechanism for enhancing microalgal activities and nutrient uptake from wastewater.

A comprehensive assessment of the degradation of C1 and C2 chlorinated hydrocarbons by sulfidated nanoscale zerovalent iron

Sulfidated nanoscale zerovalent iron (S-nZVI) is a promising reductant for trichloroethylene in groundwater, yet a comprehensive understanding of its degradation efficiency for other chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs) is lacking. In this study, we assessed the benefits of using S-nZVI for the degradation of two chlorinated methanes, three chlorinated ethanes, and four chlorinated ethenes compared to unamended nZVI, by analyzing the degradation rate constants, the maximum degradation quantity, and the degradation pathways and products under both stoichiometrically electron excess and limited conditions. The improvement in rate constants induced by sulfidation was compound specific and was more significant for chlorinated ethenes (57-707 folds) than for the other CHCs (1.0-17 folds). This is likely because of the different reduction mechanisms of each CHC and sulfidation may favor specific mechanisms associated with the reduction of chlorinated ethenes more than the others. Sulfidation of nZVI enabled either higher (3.1-24.4 folds) or comparable (0.78-0.91) maximum degradation quantity, assessed under electron limited conditions, for all the CHCs investigated, indicating the promise of S-nZVI for remediation of groundwater contaminated by CHC mixtures. Furthermore, we proposed the degradation pathways of various CHCs based on the observed degradation intermediates and products and found that sulfidation suppressed the generation of partially dechlorinated products, particularly for chlorinated methanes and ethanes, and favor degradation pathways leading to the non-chlorinated benign products. This is the first comprehensive study on the efficacy of sulfidation in improving the degradation of a suite of CHCs and the results provide valuable insight to the assessment of applicability and benefits of S-nZVI for CHC remediation.

Feasibility of nanoscale zerovalent iron-loaded sediment-based biochar (nZVI-SBC) for simultaneous removal of nitrate and phosphate: high selectivity toward dinitrogen and synergistic mechanism

In the process of water treatment, excessive nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants are of great concern. Therefore, we prepared nanoscale zerovalent iron loaded on sediment-based biochar (nZVI-SBC) to conduct nitrate and phosphate removal at the same time. The characterization demonstrated that nZVI-SBC was successfully synthesized, which had obvious advantages for larger specific surface area and better dispersion compared with pure nZVI. The batch experiments indicated that the best loading ratio of nZVI to SBC and optimum dosage for nitrate and phosphate were 1:1and 2 g L^-1, respectively. Their removal by nZVI-SBC was an acid-driven process. Anoxic environment was more conducive to the reduction of nitrate while the phosphate removal was fond of oxygen environment. A total of 77.78% of nitrate and 99.21% of phosphate have been successfully removed, mainly depending on reduction and complexation mechanism, respectively. Moreover, nZVI-SBC had higher N₂ selectivity and produced less ammonium than nZVI. The interaction between nitrate and phosphate was studied to manifest that they had different degrees of inhibition during the removal of the other. Our research indicated that nZVI-SBC has great potential for remediation of nitrogen and phosphorus polluted water.

Designing of a nanoscale zerovalent iron@fly ash composite as efficient and sustainable adsorbents for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from water

The present study encompasses a unique concept involving the formation of core-shell particles with surface-activated fly ash (FA) as core and nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) particles as shell, which not only imparts high adsorption efficiency for Cr(VI) but also contributes to fruitful utilization of FA while overcoming the drawbacks associated with ZVI nanoparticles (aggregation, rapid oxidation and less durability). The otherwise inert surface of FA has been modified and activated to achieve a uniform and stable layer of nZVI over FA. The functionalized particles were studied using FE-SEM/EDAX, HR-TEM, XRD and FT-IR studies for its physical, functional and morphological characteristics. The results indicate the strong adsorption ability of nZVI@FA particles, with 100% removal efficiency within 10 min at low initial concentrations of Cr(VI), which is appreciably higher than that of pure fly ash (26%) after 60 min of reaction. Besides, the so-formed structure of composite aids to improve its life, as the synthesized nZVI@FA particles could be efficiently regenerated and reused up to 5 subsequent adsorption-desorption cycles, which is in contrast with the ability of fly ash considering its low desorption potential. Hence, the composite material proves to be an effective and sustainable alternative for treatment of a waste using a waste.

Effects of environmental factors on the removal of heavy metals by sulfide-modified nanoscale zerovalent iron

Sulfide-modified nanoscale zerovalent iron (S-nZVI) has excellent reducing performance for heavy metals in water. The influence of environmental factors on the reactivity can be used to explore the practical feasibility of S-nZVI and analyze the reaction mechanism in depth. This study compared the removal effect and mechanism of Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ by nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI), S-nZVI, and carboxymethyl cellulose-modified nanoscale zerovalent iron (CMC-nZVI). The results show that the pseudo-first-order kinetic constant of Cu²⁺ removal by nZVI, S-nZVI, and CMC-nZVI was 1.384, 1.919, and 2.890 min^-1, respectively, and the rate of Ni²⁺ removal was 0.304, 0.931, and 0.360 min^-1, respectively. The removal mechanism of S-nZVI was similar to that of nZVI and CMC-nZVI. Specifically, Cu²⁺ was predominantly removed by reduction, while Ni²⁺ removal included adsorption and reduction. Environmental factors had a specific inhibitory effect on the removal of Cu²⁺ but had a negligible impact on Ni²⁺. The condition of low pH, the presence of Cl^- and humic acid (HA) promoted the corrosion consumption of Fe⁰, in which H⁺ directly corroded Fe⁰ at low pH. At the same time, Cl^- and HA inhibited the adsorption or binding of heavy metal ions on the particle surface, thereby reducing the electron transfer and utilization efficiency. The passivation of NO₃^- reduced the anaerobic corrosion of the material in water but suppressed the release of electrons, thereby reducing the reduction efficiency of the three types of materials. The anaerobic corrosion of S-nZVI was less affected by environmental factors, and it can still maintain more than 80% of the electronic utilization efficiency under different environmental factors, which illustrates that S-nZVI has broad prospects for practical applications in heavy metal polluted water.

Enhanced removal of vanadium(V) from groundwater by layered double hydroxide-supported nanoscale zerovalent iron

To reduce the toxicity of vanadium(V) [V(V)] and inhibit the desorption of adsorbed vanadium in groundwater, we synthesized nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) dispersed on layered double hydroxide (LDH) composites (nZVI@LDH) to remove V(V) from simulated groundwater. We found that nZVI@LDH could reduce high-valence vanadium to low-valence vanadium, then forming vanadium-containing precipitation to reduce the toxicity and inhibiting vanadium from returning to groundwater. SEM and XRD characterizations exhibited the uniform dispersal of nZVI on the surface of LDH. nZVI@LDH with nZVI/LDH at a mass ratio of 1:2 provided the maximum adsorption capacity of 93.7 mg g^-1 at pH 3.0. Coexisting anions and dissolved oxygen in groundwater have little effect on V(V) removal. nZVI@LDH performed well across a wide pH range (3.0-8.0). The surface characterizations and XPS analysis revealed that LDH as supporting materials inhibited the aggregation and passivation of nZVI. The adsorbed V(V) was reduced to V(IV) and V(III) by nZVI and spontaneously transformed into insoluble VO₂ and V₂O₃. The DFT calculations indicated the strong complexation and better stability of the V(IV) and V(III) species with nZVI@LDH than V(V). This work suggests that nZVI@LDH has the potential to serve as an efficient material for the immobilization of V(V) in groundwater.

Optimization ofS/Fe ratio for enhanced nitrobenzene biological removal in anaerobicSystem amended withSulfide-modified nanoscale zerovalent iron

Anaerobic reduction of nitrobenzene (NB) can be efficiently enhanced bySupplementing withSulfide-modified nanoscale zerovalent iron (S-nZVI). In thisStudy,S/Fe ratio ofS-nZVI was further optimized for enhancing biological NB removal in anaerobicSystem amended withS-nZVI and inoculated by anaerobicSludge. The results indicated that the performance andStability of the coupled anaerobicSystem for NB reduction and aniline formation were remarkably improved byS-nZVI atS/Fe molar ratio of 0.3 (0.3S-nZVI). TheSecretion of extracellular polymericSubstances (EPS), transformation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), yield of methane and activity ofSeveral key enzymes could be efficiently improved by 0.3S-nZVI. Furthermore,Species related to NB reduction, fermentation, electroactivity and methanogenesis could be enriched in 0.3S-nZVI coupled anaerobicSystem, with remarkable improvement in the biodiversity observed. ThisStudy demonstrated thatSulfidation would be a promising method to improve the performance of nZVI in coupled anaerobicSystems for the removal of recalcitrant nitroaromatic compounds from wastewater.

Pyrolytic production of zerovalent iron nanoparticles supported on rice husk-derived biochar: simple, in situ synthesis and use for remediation of Cr(VI)-polluted soils

The pollution of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in soil is a serious environmental issue. Herein, nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) supported on rice husk-derived biochar (RBC) was employed as an efficient remediation material to minimize the harm of Cr(VI) in soil. A one-step carbothermal reduction method was used instead of the conventional wet chemistry method for material preparation in this study. Rice husk, an agricultural waste, was adopted as the carbon source (reductant) and support for nanometal synthesis simultaneously, so that the NZVI could be in-situ generated on the acquired biochar during the pyrolysis process. By pyrolyzing at 800 °C, the obtained biochar-supported nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI-RBC) exhibited high thermal stability and oxidation resistance. In the treatment of contaminated soil, the Cr(VI) no longer leached out from the soil after a complete removal of Cr(VI) (62.4 mg/L) from soil leachate in 120 min when the used NZVI-RBC dosage was above 8% of the soil in weight. This long-term remediation effect of NZVI-RBC may be related to the electron shuttle function of biochar. Furthermore, the bioavailability of Cr in the contaminated soil was significantly decreased. The present study provided a simple, feasible, and sustainable alternative to make full use of the agricultural waste resource to synthesize composite remediation agent containing NZVI and remediate Cr(VI) contaminated groundwater and soil.

Novel synthesis of aluminum hydroxide gel-coated nano zero-valent iron and studies of its activity in flocculation-enhanced removal of tetracycline

A newly designed aluminum hydroxide gel-coated nanoscale zero-valent iron (AHG@NZVI) with enhanced activity and dispersibility of NZVI was successfully synthesized. The AHG@NZVI composite was synthesized via control of the surface AHG content. AHG@NZVI-1, AHG@NZVI-2 and AHG@NZVI-3 were prepared under centrifugal mixing speeds of 1000, 2000 and 4000 r/min, respectively. The activity of AHG@NZVI was evaluated by its tetracycline (TC) removal efficiency. The effects of AHG content, pH value, reaction temperature, and presence of competitive anions on TC removal were investigated. TC could be removed by both adsorption and chemical reduction on AHG@NZVI-2 (centrifugal speed 2000 r/min) in a short time with high removal efficiency (≥98.1%) at the optimal conditions. Such excellent performance can be attributed to a synergistic interaction between aluminum hydroxide gel and NZVI: (1) AHG could enhance the stability and dispersity of NZVI; (2) aluminum hydroxide gel could absorb a certain amount of TC and Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺, which facilitated the mass transfer of TC onto the NZVI surface, resulting in acceleration of the reduction rate of TC by the AHG@NZVI composite; and (3) AHG-Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ could absorb a certain amount of TC by flocculation. The kinetics of TC removal by AHG@NZVI composite was found to follow a two-parameter pseudo-first-order model. The presence of competitive anions slightly inhibited the activity of AHG@NZVI systems for TC removal. Overall, this study provides a promising alternative material and environmental pollution management option for antibiotic wastewater treatment.

Mechanism and influence factors of chromium(VI) removal by sulfide-modified nanoscale zerovalent iron

Sulfidation of nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) has attracted increasing interest for improving the reactivity and selectivity of nZVI towards various contaminants, such as aqueous Cr(VI) removal. However, the benefits derived from sulfide modification that govern the removal of Cr(VI) remains unclear, which was studied in this work. S-nZVI with higher S/Fe molar ratio showed higher surface area, the discrepancy between the surface-area-normalized removal capacity of Cr(VI) by S-nZVI with different S/Fe indicated that the removal of Cr(VI) was also affected by other factors, such as electron transfer ability, surface-bounded Fe(II) species, and surface charges. High specific surface area would provide more active site for Cr(VI) removal, and as an efficient electron conductor, acicular-like FeS_x phase would also favor electron transfer from Fe⁰ core to Cr(VI). Low initial pH also enhanced the Cr(VI) removal, and the Cr(VI) removal capacity by S-nZVI and nZVI was not affected by aging process, these results confirmed that the Fe(II) species also played an important role in the Cr(VI) removal. Other influence factors were also investigated for potential application, including temperature, initial Cr(VI) concentration, ionic strength, and co-existed ions. The removal mechanism of Cr(VI) by S-nZVI involved the sulfide modification to increase the specific surface area and provide more active sites, the corrosion of Fe⁰ to produce surface-bounded Fe(II) species to adsorb Cr(VI) species, followed by the favored reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) due to the electron transfer ability of FeS_x, then the formation of Cr(III)/Fe(III) hydroxides precipitates.

Novel synthesis of nanoscale zerovalent iron from coal fly ash and its application in oxidative degradation of methyl orange by Fenton reaction

We firstly developed a novel synthesis method of nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) using Fe sources in coal fly ash (CFA) for the oxidative degradation of methyl orange by Fenton reaction. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) were used for Fe dissolution from CFA and selective Fe(III) chelation, respectively. Among varied HCl concentrations, 7 N HCl showed the best performance for the oxidation of aqueous Fe(II) to Fe(III) and efficient chelation of Fe(III) with MIBK. The NZVI-CFA was synthesized by adding NaBH₄ to a solution of Fe(III)-chelated MIBK, yielding NZVI transformation >95% from Fe(III) in HCl. Various surface analyses were performed to characterize the NZVI-CFA, which was almost identical to typical NZVI-Bare. HCl and MIBK could be reused several times, indicating potential reusability of chemicals used in the synthesis. Remarkable >96% decolorization of methyl orange was obtained by the NZVI-CFA-induced Fenton reaction at pH 3, with a ∼22% decrease in total organic carbon in 7 min. The heterogeneous Fenton reaction initiated by NZVI-CFA with H₂O₂ showed reactivity similar to that of the homogeneous Fenton reaction (i.e., aqueous Fe(II) with H₂O₂), indicating the importance of homogeneous reaction for the oxidative degradation of methyl orange.

Immobilization of uranium(VI) in a cementitious matrix with nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI)

We developed a novel solidification and stabilization process using a nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI)-cement system for reductive immobilization of hexavalent uranium (U(VI)) in a soil-cement matrix. The NZVI suspension without cement demonstrated high removal efficiency (100% in 2 h) and fast removal kinetics (53.7 Lm^-2d^-1), which surpassed those of other Fe-containing minerals (i.e., green rust, mackinawite, magnetite, and pyrite). Significant removal of aqueous U(VI) was observed in NZVI-cement slurries and minimal adsorbed U was desorbed by a bicarbonate/carbonate (CARB) solution. Surface analysis using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed U distributed homogeneously on the surface of the NZVI-cement and transformed considerably from U(VI) to reduced U species by coupled oxidation of Fe(0)/Fe(II) to Fe(III). Furthermore, the increase in pH and NZVI concentration, and presence of humic acid resulted in the enhanced U(VI) reduction in NZVI-cement slurries. The NZVI-cement system was tested with a soil matrix, resulting in successful immobilization of aqueous U(VI) in both batch and column experiments. Moreover, the U(VI) removed in the NZVI-cement system was not leached out by the CARB solution during long-term experiments. The results suggest an NZVI-cement system could represent a promising remediation alternative for effective and stable immobilization of U(VI) in contaminated sites.

Dynamic study of Cr(VI) removal performance and mechanism from water using multilayer material coated nanoscale zerovalent iron

In this study, the dynamic Cr(VI) removal process from water by the synthesized multilayer material coated nanoscale zerovalent iron (SBC-nZVI) was systematically discussed at different treatment conditions. The results showed that initial pH, contact time, Cr(VI) concentration and the dosage of SBC-nZVI were important parameters that influenced the Cr(VI) removal efficiency. The major Cr(VI) removal occurred within 60 min and gradually tend to equilibrium with consistent treatment. The removal efficiency was highly depended on pH values and the adsorption kinetics agreed well with the pseduo-second-order model (PSO). When the initial Cr(VI) concentration was below 15 mg/L, the removal rate could reach to about 100%. Moreover, the removal efficiency increased with the increase of SBC-nZVI dosage, which related to the increase of reactive sites. To understand the removal mechanism, SBC-nZVI before and after reaction with Cr(VI) were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These analysis showed that the interaction of SBC-nZVI with Cr(VI) was mainly controlled by reduction and electrostatic attraction. Therefore, these results explained the interaction between Cr(VI) and SBC-nZVI material in detail, and further proved that SBC-nZVI could be an effective material to remove Cr(VI) from water.

Rapid debromination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) by zero valent metal and bimetals: Mechanisms and pathways assisted by density function theory calculation

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) undergo debromination when they were exposed in zerovalent metal or bimetallic systems. Yet their debromination pathways and mechanisms in these systems were not well understood. Here we reported the debromination pathways of three BDE congeners (BDE-21, 25 and 29) by nano-zerovalent iron (n-ZVI). All these BDE congeners have three bromine substituents that were located in ortho-, meta- and para-positions. Results demonstrated that BDE-21, 25 and 29 preferentially debrominate meta-, ortho- and para-bromines, respectively, suggesting that bromine substituent at each position (i.e. ortho-, meta- or para-) of PBDEs can be preferentially removed. Singly occupied molecular orbitals of BDE anions are well correlated with their actual debromination pathways, which successfully explain why these BDE congeners exhibit certain debromination pathways in n-ZVI system. In addition, microscale zerovalent zinc (m-ZVZ), iron-based bimetals (Fe/Ag and Fe/Pd) were also used to debrominate PBDEs, with BDE-21 as target pollutant. We found that the debromination pathways of BDE-21 in m-ZVZ and Fe/Ag systems are the same to those in n-ZVI system, but were partially different from those in Fe/Pd systems. The debromination of BDE-21 in Pd-H₂ system as well as the solvent kinetic isotope effect in single metal and bimetallic systems suggests that H atom transfer is the dominant mechanism in Fe/Pd system, while e-transfer is still the dominant mechanism in Fe/Ag system.

Investigation of nanoscale zerovalent iron-based magnetic and thermal dual-responsive composite materials for the removal and detection of phenols

In this study, well-defined magnetic and thermal dual-responsive nanomaterials were synthesized, which contained ultrafine core-shell Fe@SiO₂ nanoparticles as magnetic core and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) as thermosensitive outer shell. The fabricated nanoparticles were characterized and investigated for the adsorption of four phenolic compounds, including bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), 4-tert-octylphenol (4-OP) and 4-n-nonylphenol (4-NP). The experimental results demonstrated that the excellent adsorption rates were attributed to hydrophobic effect, hydrogen-bonding interaction, and electrostatic attraction. The adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics model and nonlinear isotherms, indicating heterogeneous adsorption process. The adsorption efficiency of 4-NP using Fe@SiO₂@PNIPAM was more than 90% under optimized condition within 2 h. The determined maximum adsorption amounts of BPA, TBBPA, 4-OP and 4-NP were 2.43, 6.83, 24.75, and 49.34 mg g^-1, respectively. Meanwhile, a magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) method with Fe@SiO₂@PNIPAM was established to determine these four compounds simultaneously. Under the optimal conditions, the linearity ranges were in the range of 2-200, 2-300, 2-100 and 2-100 μg L^-1 for BPA, 4-OP, TBBPA, and 4-NP, respectively, and the detection limits were in the range of 0.58-0.76 μg L^-1, respectively. The applicability of the proposed method was evaluated by analyzing three fresh water samples, and satisfactory spiked recoveries in the range 70.9-119.9% were achieved. It was proved that these adsorbents could be easily collected and recycled owing to the appropriate magnetism. The results also demonstrated that the as-prepared adsorbents had promising potential in the enrichment and analysis of detrimental organic pollutants from water.

Removal of chromium (VI) from water using nanoscale zerovalent iron particles supported on herb-residue biochar

A composite material consisting of nanoscale zerovalent iron particles supported on herb-residue biochar (nZVI/BC) was synthesized and used for treatment of Cr(VI)-contaminated water. The effects of initial pH, chromium concentration, contact time, and competition with coexisting anions and natural organic matter (NOM) were also investigated. nZVI/BC was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy analysis (SEM), and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area was measured. TEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis before and after reaction with Cr(VI) showed that reduction and coprecipitation occurred during hexavalent chromium adsorption. The removal of Cr(VI) was highly pH-dependent and the adsorption kinetics data agreed well with the pseudo-second-order model. The presence of SO₄^2- and humic acid promoted Cr(VI) removal at both low and high concentrations, while the HCO₃^- inhibited the reaction. These results prove that nZVI/BC can be an effective reagent for removal of Cr(VI) from solutions.

Bacterial effects and interfacial inactivation mechanism of nZVI/Pd on Pseudomonas putida strain

With the introduction of nano zero valent iron (nZVI) technology into our environment, its potential environmental risk to environmental microorganisms has attracted considerable attention. In this study, Pseudomonas putida was chosen as a typical strain to study the bacterial toxicity of nZVI/Pd. The CFU assay results indicated that nZVI/Pd was toxic to P. putida cells but the toxicity decreased with an increase in DO. The experiments isolated by dialysis bag and flow cytometry analysis suggested that both membrane disruption caused by direct contact and oxidative stress were the main bactericidal mechanisms under the aerobic condition, while membrane disruption resulting from direct contact was the primary bactericidal mechanism in the anaerobic system. Furthermore, according to TEM, SEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR and XPS, it was indicated that in the aerobic system, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by nZVI/Pd could oxidize the amide and hydroxyl groups into carboxyl groups, resulting in a decline in peptides and increase in polysaccharides. In addition, the ROS also accumulated inside the cell and caused cell inactivation via oxidative stress. In the anaerobic system, the adhered nZVI/Pd particles would attack the functional groups such as carboxyl, ester and amide, leading to the decline in proteins and polysaccharides and subsequent damage of the membrane. The findings provide a significant guide for the application of nano-bio combined technology.

The biochemical and toxicological responses of earthworm (Eisenia fetida) following exposure to nanoscale zerovalent iron in a soil system

Nanomaterials have increasingly gained a great amount of interest due to their widespread applications, while their potential impacts on invertebrates in soil lack thorough investigation. This study is mainly aimed at determining the acute and subacute toxicity to the earthworm Eisenia fetida, induced by different levels of nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) (100, 500, 1000 mg kg^-1) in natural soils. The results showed that compared to the controls, exposure to 500 and 1000 mg kg^-1 of nZVI significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited growth and respiration and increased avoidance response in earthworms. The perturbations of antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase-SOD and catalase-CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) clearly revealed that oxidative stress was induced in E. fetida exposed to nZVI. Good correlations were observed in current results among the growth, respiration, MDA, and ROS (R > 0.8; P < 0.05), and that ROS was the most sensitive parameter in response to the stress caused by nZVI. Additionally, the histopathological examination of transverse sections of the exposed earthworms passing through the body wall illustrated that there was a serious injury in epidermal tissue after an exposure of 28 days. These findings will provide a comprehensive understanding of toxicological effects of nZVI in a soil-earthworm system.

pH-dependent degradation of p-nitrophenol by sulfidated nanoscale zerovalent iron under aerobic or anoxic conditions

Sulfidated nanoscale zerovalent iron (S-NZVI) is attracting considerable attention due to its easy production and high reactivity to pollutants. We studied the reactivity of optimized S-NZVI (Fe/S molar ratio 6.9), comparing with pristine nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI), at various pH solutions (6.77-9.11) towards p-nitrophenol (PNP) under aerobic and anoxic conditions. Studies showed that the optimized extent of sulfidation could utterly enhance PNP degradation compared to NZVI. Batch experiments indicated that in anoxic S-NZVI systems the degradation rate constant increased with increasing pH up to 7.60, and then declined. However, in aerobic S-NZVI, and in anoxic or aerobic NZVI systems, it decreased as pH increased. It was manifested that anoxic S-NZVI systems preferred to weaker alkaline solutions, whereas aerobic S-NZVI systems performed better in acidic solutions. The highest TOC removal efficiency of PNP (17.59%) was achieved in the aerobic S-NZVI system at pH 6.77, revealing that oxygen improved the degradation of PNP by excessive amounts of hydroxyl radicals in slightly acidic conditions, and the TOC removal efficiency was supposed to be further improved in moderate acidic solutions. Acetic acid, a nontoxic ring opening by-product, confirms that the S-NZVI system could be a promising process for industrial wastewater containing sulfide ions.

Removal of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by biomass carbon-supported nanoscale zerovalent iron particles: influencing factors, kinetics, and mechanism

In this study, nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) immobilized on biomass carbon was used for the high efficient removal of BDE 209. NZVI supported on biomass carbon minimized the aggregation of NZVI particles resulting in the increased reaction performance. The proposed removal mechanism included the adsorption of BDE 209 on the surface or interior of the biomass carbon NZVI (BC-NZVI) particles and the subsequent debromination of BDE 209 by NZVI while biomass carbon served as an electron shuttle. BC-NZVI particles and the interaction between BC-NZVI particles and BDE 209 were characterized by TEM, XRD, and XPS. The removal reaction followed a pseudo-first-order rate expression under different reaction conditions, and the k _obs was higher than that of other NZVI-supported materials. The debromination of BDE 209 by BC-NZVI was a stepwise process from nona-BDE to DE. A proposed pathway suggested that supporting NZVI on biomass carbon has potential as a promising technique for in situ organic-contaminated groundwater remediation.

Reductive sequestration of chromate by hierarchical FeS@Fe(0) particles

Nanoscale Fe(0) (nFe(0)) can detoxify Cr(VI)-bearing wastewater and groundwater, but rapid passivation is a negative factor for large-scale remediation applications. In this study, a magnetic FeS@Fe(0) hybrid material was fabricated by immobilization of iron sulfide (FeS) onto Fe(0) particles to improve the Cr(VI) removal capacity. The solid characterization confirmed that Fe(0) particles were encapsulated by amorphous iron monosulfide. The Cr(VI) uptake by FeS@Fe(0) hybrid particles was found to follow pseudo-second-order rate kinetics, and the Langmuir isotherm was most appropriate to describe Cr(VI) sorption. Meanwhile, the FeS@Fe(0) hybrid particles showed a much higher efficiency towards Cr(VI) sequestration compared to individual nFe(0). Moreover, the results of batch experiments with various adsorbent doses indicated that the reactivity of FeS@Fe(0) varies with different FeS-to-Fe(0) molar ratios. The reaction rate constants for Cr(VI) removal first increased with an increasing FeS-to-Fe(0) ratio from 0/1 to 1/9, and then decreased for the FeS-to-Fe(0) ratio increased further 1/5 or 1/3. For environmental parameters, there was a negative effect of increasing the solution pH and dissolved oxygen on Cr(VI) removal. Furthermore, a mechanistic analysis revealed that Cr(VI) reduction occurred predominantly at the solid-liquid interface, and that Fe(II) regenerated from FeS@Fe(0) corrosion may account for 52% of the Cr(VI) reduction, while electrons from Fe(0) and FeS account for the rest. After treatment, Cr(VI) was completely transformed and immobilized as solid Fe-Cr hydroxide precipitates, thus avoiding secondary contamination. The FeS@Fe(0) hybrid material has a better potential for treating Cr(VI)-bearing wastewater than nano Fe(0).

A review of the environmental implications of in situ remediation by nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI): Behavior, transport and impacts on microbial communities

The increasing use of strategies incorporating nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI) for soil and groundwater in situ remediation is raising some concerns regarding the potential adverse effects nZVI could have on indigenous microbial communities and ecosystem functioning. This review provides an overview of the current literature pertaining to the impacts of nZVI applications on microbial communities. Toxicity studies suggest that cell membrane disruption and oxidative stress through the generation of Fe(2+) and reactive oxygen species by nZVI are the main mechanisms contributing to nZVI cytotoxicity. In addition, nZVI has been shown to substantially alter the taxonomic and functional composition of indigenous microbial communities. However, because the physico-chemical conditions encountered in situ highly modulate nZVI toxicity, a better understanding of the environmental factors affecting nZVI toxicity and transport in the environment is of primary importance in evaluating the ecological consequences that could result from a more extensive use of nZVI.

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) at environmentally relevant concentrations induced multigenerational reproductive toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) is widely used with large scale for environmental remediation for in situ or ex situ applications. The potential impact of nZVI on biota at environmentally relevant concentrations needs to be elucidated. In this study, the reproductive toxicities of three irons species: carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-stabilized nZVI, nanoscale iron oxide (nFe3O4), and ferrous ion (Fe(II)aq) in the soil-dwelling nematode Caenorhabditis elegans were examined. In addition, the generational transfer of reproductive toxicity of CMC-nZVI on C. elegans was investigated. The results showed that CMC-nZVI, nFe3O4, and Fe(II)aq did not cause significant mortality after 24 h exposure at the examined concentrations. Reproductive toxicity assays revealed that CMC-nZVI, nFe3O4, and Fe(II)aq significantly decreased offsprings in parental generation (F0) in accompany with the increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, the reproductive toxicity of CMC-nZVI at environmentally relevant concentrations was transferrable from the F0 to the F1 and F2 generations, but then recovered in the F3 and F4 generations. Further evidence showed that total irons were accumulated in the F0 and F1 generations of C. elegans after CMC-nZVI parental exposure. This study demonstrated that environmentally relevant concentrations of CMC-nZVI induced multigenerational reproductive toxicity which can be ascribed to its high production of ROS in F0 generation, toxicity of Fe(II)aq, and iron accumulation in C. elegans. Since nZVI is widely used for environmental remediation, considering the multigenerational toxicity, this study thus implicates a potential environmental risk of nZVI-induced nanotoxicity in the environment.

Nanoscale zerovalent iron-mediated degradation of DDT in soil

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI)-mediated degradation of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) was investigated in a spiked soil under different conditions (iron sources, iron dosage, soil moisture, temperature, and soil types) and DDT-contaminated field. The degradation efficiency of p,p'-DDT by nZVI and nZVI coated with sodium oleate (SO-nZVI) was much higher than that by nZVI coated with polyimide (PI-nZVI). The rapid degradation of p,p'-DDT by nZVI only occurred in flooded soil. The degradation half-life of p,p'-DDT decreased significantly from 58.3 to 27.6 h with nZVI dosage from 0.5 to 2.0% and from 46.5 to 32.0 h with temperature from 15 to 35 °C. The degradation efficiency of p,p'-DDT by nZVI differed in Jinhua (JH), Jiaxing (JX), Xiaoshan (XS), Huajiachi (HJC), and Heilongjiang (HLJ) soils. A good correlation was found between the degradation half-life of p,p'-DDT and multiple soil properties. The probable nZVI-mediated degradation pathway of p,p'-DDT in soil was proposed as DDT → DDD/DDE → DDNS → DDOH based on the metabolites identified by GC-MS. The in situ degradation efficiency of residual DDTs in a contaminated field was profoundly enhanced by the addition of nZVI as compared to the control. It is concluded that nZVI might be an efficient agent for the remediation of DDT-contaminated soil under anaerobic environment.

Probing effects of polymer adsorption in colloidal particle suspensions by light scattering as relevant for the aquatic environment: An overview

Modification of particle surfaces by adsorption of polymers is a process that governs particle behavior in aqueous environmental systems. The present article briefly reviews the current understanding of the adsorption mechanisms and the properties of the resulting layers, and it discusses two environmentally relevant cases of particle modification by polymers. In particular, the discussion focuses on the usefulness of methods based on light scattering to probe such adsorbed layers together with the resulting properties of the particle suspensions, and it highlights advantages and disadvantages of these techniques. Measurement of the electrophoretic mobility allows to follow the development of the adsorption layer and to characterize the charge of the modified particles. At saturation, the surface charge is governed by the charge of the adsorbed film. Dynamic light scattering provides information on the film thickness and on the behavior of the modified suspensions. The charge and the structure of the adsorbed layer influence the stability of the particles, as well as the applicability of the classical theory of Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek (DLVO). This fundamental knowledge is presented in the light of environmental systems and its significance for applied systems is underlined. In particular, the article discusses two examples of environmental processes involving adsorption of polymers, namely, the modification of particles by natural adsorption of humic substances and the tailoring of surface properties of iron-based particles used to remediate contaminated aquifers.

Stability and pH-independence of nano-zero-valent iron intercalated montmorillonite and its application on Cr(VI) removal

Composite of nano-zero-valent iron and montmorillonite (NZVI/MMT) was prepared by inserting NZVI into the interlayer of montmorillonite. The unique structure montmorillonite with isolated exchangeable Fe(III) cations residing near the sites of structural negative charges inhibited the agglomeration of ZVI and result in the formation of ZVI particles in the montmorillonite interlayer regions. NZVI/MMT was demonstrated to possess large specific surface area and outstanding reducibility that encourage rapid and stable reaction with Cr (VI). Besides, the intercalation also makes NZVI well dispersed and more stable in the interlayer, thereby improving the reaction capacity by 16 times. The effects of pH value, initial concentration of Cr (VI) and reaction time on Cr (VI) removal have also been investigated in detail. According to PXRD and XPS characterization, NZVI/Cr (VI) redox reaction occurred in the interlayer of MMT. The study of NZVI/MMT is instrumental to the development of remediation technologies for persistent environmental contaminants.

Magnetic sulfide-modified nanoscale zerovalent iron (S-nZVI) for dissolved metal ion removal

Sulfide-modified nanoscale zerovalent iron (S-nZVI) is attracting a lot of attention due to its ease of production and high reactivity with organic pollutants. However, its structure is still poorly understood and its potential application in heavy metal remediation has not been explored. Herein, the structure of S-nZVI and its cadmium (Cd) removal performance under different aqueous conditions were carefully investigated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis suggested that sulfur was incorporated into the zerovalent iron core. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDS analysis demonstrated that sulfur was also homogeneously distributed within the nanoparticles. When the concentration of Na2S2O4 was increased during synthesis, a flake-like structure (FeSx) increased significantly. S-nZVI had an optimal Cd removal capacity of 85 mg/g, which was >100% higher than for pristine nZVI. Even at pH 5, over 95% removal efficiency was observed, indicating sulfide compounds played a crucial role in metal ion removal and particle chemical stability. Oxygen impaired the structure of S-nZVI but enhanced Cd removal capacity to about 120 mg/g. Particle aging had no negative effect on removal capacity of S-nZVI, and Cd-containing mixtures remained stable in a two months experiment. S-nZVI can efficiently sequester dissolved metal ions from different contaminated water matrices.

Modification of ultrafiltration membrane with nanoscale zerovalent iron layers for humic acid fouling reduction

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) was layered onto ultrafiltration (UF) membrane surface and tested for antifouling properties using humic acid (HA). Scanning electron microscopy showed that a relatively homogeneous layer was formed across the membrane surface by NZVI particles. Strong adhesion was observed between NZVI and UF membrane used. HA was significantly removed and membrane flux was increased in the presence of NZVI layer. Increased loadings of NZVI onto the membrane surface increased resistance to fouling while slightly reducing the clean water permeability of the membrane. However, the pore size of the layer formed by pristine NZVI was large, resulting in more chances of HA molecules getting to the membrane surface even blocking the membrane pores at the beginning. Membrane loaded with NZVI layer performed much better under acidic conditions. During NZVI synthesis, specific surface area of NZVI particle increased with increasing the ratio of ethanol (Vethanol/Vsolution), which also gradually decreased the average pore size of NZVI layer. As a result, the corresponding membrane flux steadily increased. Additionally, the results for permeate samples under different conditions showed that large molecular weight (MW, >30 kDa) and medium MW HA molecules (3-30 kDa) were removed much faster than those of small MW HA molecules (<3 kDa).

Biochar supported nanoscale zerovalent iron composite used as persulfate activator for removing trichloroethylene

Biochar (BC) supported nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) composite was synthesized and used as an activator for persulfate to enhance the trichloroethylene (TCE) removal in aqueous solutions. The degradation efficiency of TCE (0.15mmolL(-1)) was 99.4% in the presence of nZVI/BC (4.5mmolL(-1), nZVI to BC mass ratio was 1:5) and persulfate (4.5mmolL(-1)) within 5min, which was significantly higher than that (56.6%) in nZVI-persulfate system under the same conditions. Owing to large specific surface area and oxygen-containing functional groups of BC, nZVI/BC enhanced the SO4(-) generation and accelerated TCE degradation. On the basis of the characterization and analysis data, possible activation mechanisms of the Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) (Fe(II)/Fe(III)) redox action and the electron-transfer mediator of the BC oxygen functional groups promoting the generation of SO4(-) in nZVI/BC-persulfate system were clarified.

Simultaneous removal of cadmium and nitrate in aqueous media by nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) and Au doped nZVI particles

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) has demonstrated high efficacy for treating nitrate or cadmium (Cd) contamination, but its efficiency for simultaneous removal of nitrate and Cd has not been investigated. This study evaluated the reactivity of nZVI to the co-contaminants and by-product formation, employed different catalysts to reduce nitrite yield from nitrate, and examined the transformation of nZVI after reaction. Nitrate reduction resulted in high solution pH, negatively charged surface of nZVI, formation of Fe3O4 (a stable transformation of nZVI), and no release of ionic iron. Increased pH and negative charge contributed to significant increase in Cd(II) removal capacity (from 40 mg/g to 188 mg/g) with nitrate present. In addition, nitrate reduction by nZVI could be catalyzed by Cd(II): while 30% of nitrate was reduced by nZVI within 2 h in the absence of Cd(II), complete nitrate reduction was observed in the presence of 40 mg-Cd/L due to the formation of Cd islands (Cd(0) and CdO) on the nZVI particles. While nitrate was reduced mostly to ammonium when Cd(II) was not present or at Cd(II) concentrations ≥ 40 mg/L, up to 20% of the initial nitrate was reduced to nitrite at Cd(II) concentrations < 40 mg/L. Among nZVI particles doped with 1 wt. % Cu, Ag, or Au, nZVI deposited with 1 wt. % Au reduced nitrite yield to less than 3% of the initial nitrate, while maintaining a high Cd(II) removal capacity.

Simultaneous adsorption and reduction of U(VI) on reduced graphene oxide-supported nanoscale zerovalent iron

The reduced graphene oxide-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI/rGO) composites were synthesized by chemical deposition method and were characterized by SEM, high resolution TEM, Raman and potentiometric acid-base titrations. The characteristic results showed that the nZVI nanoparticles can be uniformly dispersed on the surface of rGO. The removal of U(VI) on nZVI/rGO composites as a function of contact time, pH and U(VI) initial concentration was investigated by batch technique. The removal kinetics of U(VI) on nZVI and nZVI/rGO were well simulated by a pseudo-first-order kinetic model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, respectively. The presence of rGO on nZVI nanoparticles increased the reaction rate and removal capacity of U(VI) significantly, which was attributed to the chemisorbed OH(-) groups of rGO and the massive enrichment of Fe(2+) on rGO surface by XPS analysis. The XRD analysis revealed that the presence of rGO retarded the transformation of iron corrosion products from magnetite/maghemite to lepidocrocite. According to the fitting of EXAFS spectra, the UC (at ∼2.9Å) and UFe (at ∼3.2Å) shells were observed, indicating the formation of inner-sphere surface complexes on nZVI/rGO composites. Therefore, the nZVI/rGO composites can be suitable as efficient materials for the in-situ remediation of uranium-contaminated groundwater in the environmental pollution management.

Effects of nitrate on the treatment of lead contaminated groundwater by nanoscale zerovalent iron

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) is efficient for removing Pb(2+) and nitrate from water. However, the influence of nitrate, a common groundwater anion, on Pb(2+) removal by nZVI is not well understood. In this study, we showed that under excess Fe(0) conditions (molar ratio of Fe(0)/nitrate>4), Pb(2+) ions were immobilized more quickly (<5 min) than in nitrate-free systems (∼ 15 min) due to increasing pH. With nitrate in excess (molar ratio of Fe(0)/nitrate<4), nitrate stimulated the formation of crystal PbxFe3-xO4 (ferrite), which provided additional Pb(2+) removal. However, ∼ 7% of immobilized Pb(2+) ions were released into aqueous phase within 2h due to ferrite deformation. Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) values below -600 mV correlated with excess Fe(0) conditions (complete Pb(2+) immobilization), while ORP values ≥-475 mV characterized excess nitrate conditions (ferrite process and Pb(2+) release occurrence). This study indicates that ORP monitoring is important for proper management of nZVI-based remediation in the subsurface to avoid lead remobilization in the presence of nitrate.

Carboxymethyl cellulose coating decreases toxicity and oxidizing capacity of nanoscale zerovalent iron

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) with modified surface via coating with organic stabilizers has been documented with enhanced colloidal stability and dispersity. Therefore, the expanded application potential and accompanying intrinsic exposure of such nanoparticle can be anticipated. In our study, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-stabilized NZVI (CNZVI) exerted minimized oxidative stress response and slower disruption of cell membrane integrity, resulting in mitigated cytotoxicity towards bacteria Agrobacterium sp. PH-08 as compared with the uncoated counterpart. The corrosive oxidation of both nanoparticles in oxygenic water provided a better understanding of coating effect. The decreased oxidative degradation of probe 4-chlorophenol with CNZVI than NZVI implicated a weaker oxidizing capacity, which might overweight massive adhesion-mediated redox damage and explain the different exposure outcome. However, enhanced evolution of iron oxide as well as the promoted production of hydrogen peroxide adversely demonstrated CMC-coating facilitated iron corrosion by oxygen, suggesting CMC was most likely to act as a radical scavenger and compete with organics or bacteria for oxidants. Moreover, XRD, XPS and TEM results showed that the spherical NZVI was oxidized to form needle-shaped iron oxide-hydroxide (γFeOOH) with no detectable oxidative stress for PH-08, alleviating worries regarding exotoxicological impact of iron nanotechnology.