Enhanced reductive degradation of carbon tetrachloride by carbon dioxide radical anion-based sodium percarbonate/Fe(II)/formic acid system in aqueous solution

Complete CT degradation was achieved by SPC/Fe(II)/FA system.Formic acid established the reductive circumstance by producing CO₂·^–.CO₂·^– was the dominant active species responsible for CT degradation.CT degradation was favorable in the pH range from 3.0 to 9.0.SPC/Fe(II)/FA system may be suitable for CT remediation in contaminated groundwater.The performance of sodium percarbonate (SPC) activated with ferrous ion (Fe(II)) with the addition of formic acid (FA) to stimulate the degradation of carbon tetrachloride (CT) was investigated. Results showed that CT could be entirely reduced within 15 min in the system at a variety of SPC/Fe(II)/FA/CT molar ratios in experimental level. Scavenging tests indicated that carbon dioxide radical anion (CO2·^–) was the dominant reactive oxygen species responsible for CT degradation. CT degradation rate, to a large extent, increased with increasing dosages of chemical agents and the optimal molar ratio of SPC/Fe(II)/FA/CT was set as 60/60/60/1. The initial concentration of CT can hardly affect the CT removal, while CT degradation was favorable in the pH range of 3.0–9.0, but apparently inhibited at pH 12. Cl^– and HCO₃^– of high concentration showed negative impact on CT removal. Cl^– released from CT was detected and the results confirmed nearly complete mineralization of CT. CT degradation was proposed by reductive C-Cl bond splitting. This study demonstrated that SPC activated with Fe(II) with the addition of FA may be promising technique for CT remediation in contaminated groundwater.