Enhanced catalytic degradation process of o-nitrochlorobenzene by palladium-catalyzed Fe0 particles

Over Pd/Fe bimetallic catalyst, o-nitrochlorobenzene(o-NCB), at a concentration of 20 mg/L in aqueous solutions, is rapidly converted to o-chloroaniline(o-CAN) first, and then quickly dechlorinated to aniline(AN) and Cl~-, without other intermediate reaction products. The aminated and dechlorinated reactions are believed to take place on the surface site of the Pd/Fe. The o-NCB removal efficiency and the next dechlorination rate increase with an increase of bulk loading of palladium and catalysts addition due to the increase of both the surface loading of palladium and the total surface area. These results indicate that reduction, amination and dechlorination of o-NCB by palladium-catalyzed Fe~0 particles, can be designed for remediation of contaminated groundwater.