Nanoencapsulation of hexavalent chromium with nanoscale zero-valent iron: High resolution chemical mapping of the passivation layer

Solid phase reactions of Cr(Ⅵ) with Fe(0) were investigated with spherical-aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy(Cs-STEM) integrated with X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy(XEDS). Near-atomic resolution elemental mappings of Cr(Ⅵ)–Fe(0) reactions were acquired. Experimental results show that rate and extent of Cr(Ⅵ) encapsulation are strongly dependent on the initial concentration of Cr(Ⅵ) in solution. Low Cr loading in nZⅥ(1.0 wt%) promotes the electrochemical oxidation and continuous corrosion of n ZⅥ while high Cr loading(1.0 wt%) can quickly shut down the Cr uptake. With the progress of iron oxidation and dissolution, elements of Cr and O counter-diffuse into the nanoparticles and accumulate in the core region at low levels of Cr(Ⅵ)(e.g., 10 mg/L). Whereas the reacted n ZⅥ is quickly coated with a newly-formed layer of 2–4 nm in the presence of concentrated Cr(Ⅵ)(e.g., 100 mg/L). The passivation structure is stable over a wide range of pH unless pH is low enough to dissolve the passivation layer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) depth profiling reconfirms that the composition of the newly-formed surface layer consists of Fe(Ⅲ)–Cr(Ⅲ)(oxy)hydroxides with Cr(Ⅵ) adsorbed on the outside surface. The insoluble and insulating Fe(Ⅲ)–Cr(Ⅲ)(oxy)hydroxide layer can completely cover the n ZⅥ surface above the critical Cr loading and shield the electron transfer. Thus, the fast passivation of nZⅥ in high Cr(Ⅵ) solution is detrimental to the performance of nZⅥ for Cr(Ⅵ) treatment and remediation.     

Kinetics and pathways for the debromination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by bimetallic and nanoscale zerovalent iron: effects of particle properties and catalyst

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are recognized as a new class of widely-distributed and persistent contaminants for which effective treatment and remediation technologies are needed. In this study, two kinds of commercially available nanoscale Fe⁰ slurries (Nanofer N25 and N25S), a freeze-dried laboratory-synthesized Fe⁰ nanoparticle (nZVI), and their palladized forms were used to investigate the effect of particle properties and catalyst on PBDE debromination kinetics and pathways. Nanofers and their palladized forms were found to debrominate PBDEs effectively. The laboratory-synthesized Fe⁰ nanoparticles also debrominated PBDEs, but were slower due to deactivation by the freeze-drying and stabilization processes in the laboratory synthesis. An organic modifier, polyacrylic acid (PAA), bound on N25S slowed PBDE debromination by a factor of three to four compared to N25. The activity of palladized nZVI (nZVI/Pd) was optimized at 0.3 Pd/Fe wt% in our system. N25 could debrominate selected environmentally-abundant PBDEs, including BDE 209, 183, 153, 99, and 47, to end products di-BDEs, mono-BDEs and diphenyl ether (DE) in one week, while nZVI/Pd (0.3 Pd/Fe wt%) mainly resulted in DE as a final product. Step-wise major PBDE debromination pathways by unamended and palladized Fe⁰ are described and compared. Surface precursor complex formation is an important limiting factor for palladized Fe⁰ reduction as demonstrated by PBDE pathways where steric hindrance and rapid sequential debromination of adjacent bromines play an important role.     

纳米零价铁耦合黏土修复污染土壤的研究进展

黏土负载型nZVI具有低成本、易制备、环境相容性好、综合性能优越的特点.本文在归纳nZVI改性策略的基础上,比较了黏土种类对nZVI形貌和性能的影响,提出了理想黏土载体的优选顺序,分析了复合材料的铁含量、比表面积、nZVI尺寸等与去除性能之间的关系,对nZVI耦合黏土在修复土壤重金属、卤代有机物、硝酸盐、新型污染物等方面的研究进行了总结,并概述了nZVI技术在土壤修复中的负面效应,最后对nZVI耦合黏土修复污染土壤的未来方向进行了展望.     

双表面活性剂修饰下纳米零价铁对水中Cr(Ⅵ)污染去除研究

为解决纳米级零价铁（nZVI）在环境中易团聚、易氧化的问题,强化其去除水中Cr（VI）的能力,选择非离子型表面活性剂聚乙烯吡咯烷酮（PVP）和阴离子表面活性剂油酸钠（NaOA）同时对nZVI进行修饰.同时,通过对比不同pH值、材料干湿状态、初始浓度及共存离子条件下的反应效果,结合材料的XRD和XPS表征、动力学实验和25℃等温线的拟合进行机理分析.结果表明：酸性条件有利于Cr（VI）的去除;材料的干湿状态对去除效率影响较大;材料去除水中Cr（VI）可在3 h内达到反应平衡,去除效率在90%以上,实验条件下最大去除量为183.1 mg·g^-1,反应过程符合准二级动力学模型及Langmuir模型;反应过程中Cr（VI）大部分转化为Cr（Ⅲ）.     

Removal of 2-ClBP from soil–water system using activated carbon supported nanoscale zerovalent iron

We explored the feasibility and removal mechanism of removing 2-chlorobiphenyl(2-Cl BP)from soil–water system using granular activated carbon(GAC) impregnated with nanoscale zerovalent iron(reactive activated carbon or RAC).The RAC samples were successfully synthesized by the liquid precipitation method.The mesoporous GAC based RAC with low iron content(1.32%) exhibited higher 2-Cl BP removal efficiency(54.6%) in the water phase.The result of Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model implied that the different molecular structures between 2-Cl BP and trichloroethylene(TCE) resulted in more difference in dechlorination reaction rates on RAC than adsorption capacities.Compared to removing2-Cl BP in the water phase,RAC removed the 2-Cl BP more slowly in the soil phase due to the significant external mass transfer resistance.However,in the soil phase,a better removal capacity of RAC was observed than its base GAC because the chemical dechlorination played a more important role in total removal process for 2-Cl BP.This important result verified the effectiveness of RAC for removing 2-Cl BP in the soil phase.Although reducing the total RAC removal rate of 2-Cl BP,soil organic matter(SOM),especially the soft carbon,also served as an electron transfer medium to promote the dechlorination of 2-Cl BP in the long term.     

Optimizing synthesis conditions of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) through aqueous reactivity assessment

Nanoscale iron particles (nZVI) is one of the most important engineered nanomaterials applied to environmental pollution control and abatement. Although a multitude of synthesis approaches have been proposed, a facile method to screen the reactivity of candidate nZVI materials produced using different methods or under varying synthesis conditions has yet been established. In this study, four reaction parameters were adjusted in the preparation of borohydride-reduced nZVI. The reductive properties of the resultant nanoparticles were assayed independently using two model aqueous contaminants, Cu(II) and nitrate. The results confirm that the reductive reactivity of nZVI is most sensitive to the initial concentration of iron precursor, borohydride feed rate, and the loading ratio of borohydride to ferric ion during particle synthesis. Solution mixing speed, in contrast, carries a relative small weight on the reactivity of nZVI. The two probing reactions (i.e., Cu(II) and nitrate reduction) are able to generate consistent and quantitative inference about the mass-normalized surface activity of nZVI. However, the nitrate assay is valid in dilute aqueous solutions only (50 mg·L⁻¹ or lower) due to accelerated deactivation of iron surface at elevated nitrate concentrations. Additional insights including the structural and chemical makeup of nZVI can be garnered from Cu(II) reduction assessments. The reactivity assays investigated in this study can facilitate screening of candidate materials or optimization of nZVI production parameters, which complement some of the more sophisticated but less chemically specific material characterization methods used in the nZVI research.     

Environmental application and ecological significance of nano-zero valent iron

Toxicity studies considering both the bare and stabilized forms of zero valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) could be timely, given that ecological risks identified are minimized through modification or with substitution of approaches in the synthesis, development and environmental application of the nanoparticles before succeeding to volume production. This review is focused on the fate, transport and toxicological implications of the bare nZVI and surface modified particles used for environmental applications.     

纳米零价铁及其双金属体系对菲的降解研究

以实验室合成的纳米零价铁(n ZVI)及其双金属(n ZVI/Cu和n ZVI/Ni)为反应材料,对菲(Phenanthrene)的去除进行研究.表征结果表明:纳米颗粒平均粒径均为80~100 nm,主要以α-Fe0的形式存在.批实验结果表明,5 g·L-1的n ZVI,n ZVI/Cu和n ZVI/Ni对菲溶液均有去除效果,其去除效率依次为n ZVI/Nin ZVI/Cun ZVI.溶液初始p H为7.5时,5 g·L-1的n ZVI/Ni去除88%0.5 mg·L-1的菲只需3 h,而n ZVI/Cu和n ZVI分别需要29 h和40 h.3种纳米铁对菲的去除率均随着n ZVI投加量的增加而升高,随着菲溶液初始浓度的增加而降低.反应温度的升高可提高n ZVI/Ni对菲的去除效率,高温时(≥30℃)菲的降解遵循一级反应动力学模型.p H对反应影响不大.GC-MS结果表明,n ZVI/Ni降解菲溶液主要为催化加氢反应,而n ZVI/Cu和n ZVI对菲溶液的去除主要为吸附作用.     

Kinetics of Solvent Blue and Reactive Yellow removal using microwave radiation in combination with nanoscale zero-valent iron

We investigated the efficiency and kinetics of the degradation of soluble dyes over the p H range 5.0–9.0 using a method employing microwave radiation in combination with nanoscale zero-valent iron(MW–n ZVI). The n ZVI particles(40–70 nm in diameter) were prepared by a liquid-phase chemical reduction method employing starch as a dispersant.Compared to the removal of Solvent Blue 36 and Reactive Yellow K-RN using only n ZVI,more rapid and efficient dye removal and total organic carbon removal were achieved using MW–n ZVI. The dye removal efficiency increased significantly with decreasing p H, but was negligibly affected by variation in the microwave power. The kinetics of dye removal by MW–n ZVI followed both an empirical equation and the pseudo first-order model, while the kinetics of dye removal using n ZVI could only be described by an empirical equation. It was also concluded that microwave heating of the dye solutions as well as acceleration of corrosion of n ZVI and consumption of Fe(II) were possible reasons behind the enhanced dye degradation.     

纳米零价铁降解水中多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)及降解途径研究

纳米零价铁(nZVI)法是多溴联苯醚(polybrominated biphenyl ethers,PBDEs)脱溴的有效方法.其反应动力学与途径对阐明PBDEs降解机制具有重要意义.本研究采用液相还原法制备的nZVI,在含有表面活性剂聚乙二醇辛基苯基醚(Triton X-100)的条件下,46 h内完全降解商用八溴联苯醚(octa-BDE)混合物中高溴代物质(7~9个溴代的同系物),其降解过程符合类一级反应动力学(pseudo-first-order)方程,平均降解速率常数(k)为0.106 h-1.本研究利用数量结构保留关系(quantatitivestructure retention relationship,QSRR)模型建立了在缺乏全系标准样品的情况下PBDEs降解产物的有效分析方法.通过混标中39种PBDEs各标准物在气相色谱中的保留时间,再以BDE47和BDE183的平均保留时间归一化后得到每种标准物的相对保留时间(relative retention time,RRT),再将数据库中的相对保留时间指数(relative retention time index,RRTI)与实验测得的相对保留时间拟合,得到QSRR模型.利用该模型对octa-BDE降解产物进行定性分析,推导得出nZVI对octa-BDE的还原降解途径.结果表明,nZVI对PBDEs的逐级脱溴过程中,间位的溴原子最容易被取代.