Zero-valent iron reduction of nitrate in the presence of ultraviolet light, organic matter and hydrogen peroxide

Performance of field-scale permeable reactive barriers: An overview on potentials and possible implications for in-situ groundwater remediation applications

Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are significant among all the promising remediation technologies for treating contaminated groundwater. Since the first commercial full field-scale PRB emplacement in Sunnyvale, California, in 1994-1995, >200 PRB systems have been installed worldwide. The main working principle of a PRB is to treat a variety of contaminants downstream from the contaminated source zone ("hot spot"). However, to accurately assess the longevity of PRBs, it is essential to know the total contaminant mass in the source area and its approximate geometry. PRBs are regarded as both a safeguarding and an advanced decontamination technique, depending on the contamination scenario and its outcome during the operational lifetime of the barrier. In the last three decades, many PRBs have performed very well, that is, met expected clean-up goals at a variety of contaminated sites. However, there is still the necessity of thoroughly evaluating the implications of the performance of different PRB designs and reactive or adsorptive materials worldwide. Therefore, this study presents a comprehensive overview of field-scale PRBs applications and their long-term performance after on-site emplacements. This paper provides in-depth insight into this passive in-situ remediation technology for treating and even eliminating a contaminated plume over a long time in the subsurface. The overview will help all stakeholders worldwide understand the implications of PRBs and guide them to take all the required measures before its on-site application to avoid any potential failure.

Carbon/iron by-product from catalytic methane decomposition as recyclable Fenton catalyst for pollutant degradation

Direct catalytic decomposition of methane (CDM) has been studied as a possible emission-free hydrogen production route for over 100 years. However, the high cost of catalyst regeneration limits its practical applications. Here, we demonstrate that the solid by-product from CDM using Fe ore catalysts comprising carbon nano onions encapsulated with magnetic Fe cores (Fe@C) can serve as efficient and recyclable Fenton catalysts for pollutant degradation. Fe@C/H₂O₂ has better performance than FeSO₄/H₂O₂ at similar Fe concentrations and can be used to decompose various pollutants. Mechanistic studies reveal that graphitic carbon layers and encapsulated Fe⁰ contribute to their high catalytic activity. Further, Fe@C can be easily recovered from an aqueous solution and reused due to the encapsulated magnetic Fe particles. Over three reused cycles, Fe@C/H₂O₂ only yields 1/8 of Fe sludges compared to FeSO₄/H₂O₂, significantly reducing Fe sludge treatment costs. Overall, Fe@C demonstrates excellent application potentials in water and wastewater treatment, making H₂ production via CDM economically more viable.

Three-dimensional hierarchical porous sludge-derived carbon supported on silicon carbide foams as effective and stable Fenton-like catalyst for odorous methyl mercaptan elimination

The poor reusability of catalysts and secondary pollution are critical issues for sulfur-containing volatile organic compounds (S-VOCs) removal. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical porous sludge-derived carbon supported on silicon carbide foams (SiC) has been fabricated for deep decomposition of S-VOCs under ambient conditions. The sludge-derived Fenton-like catalyst has been confirmed to be hierarchical 3D porous structure based on detailed characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements and Raman spectroscopy. Significantly, the catalyst after KOH activation (SC_FeK-SiC) shows excellent catalytic decomposition of methyl mercaptan (CH₃SH) with almost complete CH₃SH oxidation into sulfate using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant under ambient conditions. This catalyst also possesses relative low iron dissolution and excellent cycling performance. The efficient catalytic ability of SC_FeK-SiC can be attributed to SiC foam functioned as a stable 3D macroporous skeleton, in which the porous sludge-derived carbon immobilizes the active iron species and promotes the efficient capture of gaseous CH₃SH, thus facilitating the decomposition of CH₃SH by generating reactive species, specifically ·OH. The reaction mechanism was systematically investigated. Herein, the design of the porous sludge-derived carbonaceous Fenton-like catalyst paves an avenue for efficient VOCs treatment and rational sludge disposal.

Removal of nitrate from water by acid-washed zero-valent iron/ferrous ion/hydrogen peroxide: influencing factors and reaction mechanism

In this paper, a system consisting of acid-washed zero-valent iron (ZVI), ferrous ion (Fe²⁺), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was employed for the removal of nitrate (NO₃^-) from water, and the reaction mechanism for this is discussed. The effects of acid-washed ZVI, Fe²⁺, H₂O₂, and initial NO₃^- concentration on nitrate removal were investigated. Acid-washed ZVI before and after reaction with nitrate were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results reveal that the combined system can enhance the corrosion of ZVI and facilitate aqueous nitrate reduction. The products of nitrate reduction are mainly ammonium, with some N₂. The ZVI particles after reaction may have a core of ZVI with an oxidation layer mainly consisting of Fe₃O₄.

High nitrate removal by starch-stabilized Fe0 nanoparticles in aqueous solution in a controlled system

This study was conducted to investigate biodenitrification efficiency with starch-stabilized nano zero valent iron (S-nZVI) as the additional electron donor in the presence of S₂O₃ in aqueous solutions, under anaerobic conditions. The main challenge for nZVI application is their tendency to agglomeration, thereby resulting in loss of reactivity that necessitates the use of stabilizers to improve their stability. In this study, S-nZVI was synthesized by chemical reduction method with starch as a stabilizer. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, XRD, and FTIR. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image shows S-nZVI has a size in the range of 5-27.5 nanometer. Temperature and S-nZVI concentration were the important factors affecting nitrate removal. Biodenitrification increased at 35°C and 500 mg/L of S-nZVI, in these conditions, biodenitrification efficiency increased from 40.45 to 78.84%. Experimental results suggested that biodenitrification increased by decreasing initial nitrate concentration. In the bioreactor biodenitrification rate was 94.07% in the presence of S-nZVI. This study indicated that, Fe²⁺ could be used as the only electron donor or as the additional electron donor in the presence of S₂O₃ to increase denitrification efficiency.

Removal of waterborne phage and NO3− in the nZVI/phage/NO3− system: competition effect

There was competition between phage f2 and NO₃⁻ to react with nZVI, and the interaction was affected by nZVI dosage and pH.

An insight in magnetic field enhanced zero-valent iron/H2O2 Fenton-like systems: Critical role and evolution of the pristine iron oxides layer

This study demonstrated the synergistic degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) achieved in a magnetic field (MF) enhanced zero-valent iron (ZVI)/H2O2 Fenton-like (FL) system and revealed an interesting correlative dependence relationship between MF and the pristine iron oxides layer (FexOy) on ZVI particles. First, a comparative investigation between the FL and MF-FL systems was conducted under different experimental conditions. The MF-FL system could suppress the duration of initial lag degradation phase one order of magnitude in addition of the significant enhancement in overall 4-CP degradation. Monitoring of intermediates/products indicated that MF would just accelerate the Fenton reactions to produce hydroxyl radical more rapidly. Evolutions of simultaneously released dissolved iron species suggested that MF would not only improve mass-transfer of the initial heterogeneous reactions, but also modify the pristine ZVI surface. Characterizations of the specific prepared ZVI samples evidenced that MF would induce a special evolution mechanism of the ZVI particles surface depending on the existence of FexOy layer. It comprised of an initial rapid point dissolution of FexOy and a following pitting corrosion of the exposed Fe(0) reactive sites, finally leading to appearance of a particular rugged surface topography with numerous adjacent Fe(0) pits and FexOy tubercles.

Enhanced ultrasound-assisted degradation of methyl orange and metronidazole by rectorite-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron

In this study, the rectorite-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI/R) was synthesized through a reduction method. X-ray diffraction analysis showed the existence of the nZVI in the nZVI/R composite and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated that the nZVI particles were partly oxidized into iron oxide. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the nZVI particles were highly dispersed on the surface of the rectorite. The specific surface area of the nZVI/R composite is 21.43 m(2)/g, which was higher than that of rectorite (4.30 m(2)/g) and nZVI (17.97 m(2)/g). In the presence of ultrasound (US), the degradation of methyl orange and metronidazole by the nZVI/R composite was over 93% and 97% within 20 min, respectively, which is much higher than that by the rectorite and the nZVI. The degradation ratio of methyl orange and metronidazole by the nZVI/R composite under US was 1.7 and 1.8 times as high as that by the nZVI/R composite without US, respectively. The mechanism of the enhanced degradation of methyl orange and metronidazole under US irradiation was studied. These results indicate that the US/nZVI/R process has great potential application value for treatment of dye wastewater and medicine wastewater.

The role of magnetite nanoparticles in the reduction of nitrate in groundwater by zero-valent iron

Magnetite nanoparticles were used as an additive material in a zero-valent iron (Fe0) reaction to reduce nitrate in groundwater and its effects on nitrate removal were investigated. The addition of nano-sized magnetite (NMT) to Fe0 reactor markedly increased nitrate reduction, with the rate proportionally increasing with NMT loading. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that NMT aggregates were evenly distributed and attached on the Fe0 surface due to their magnetic properties. The rate enhancement effect of NMT is presumed to arise from its role as a corrosion promoter for Fe0 corrosion as well as an electron mediator that facilitated electron transport from Fe0 to adsorbed nitrate. Nitrate reduction by Fe0 in the presence of NMT proceeded much faster in groundwater (GW) than in de-ionized water. The enhanced reduction of nitrate in GW was attributed to the adsorption or formation of surface complex by the cationic components in GW, i.e., Ca2+ and Mg2+, in the Fe0-H2O interface that promoted electrostatic attraction of nitrate to the reaction sites. Moreover, the addition of NMT imparted superior longevity to Fe0, enabling completion of four nitrate reduction cycles, which otherwise would have been inactivated during the first cycle without an addition of NMT. The results demonstrate the potential applicability of a Fe0/NMT system in the treatment of nitrate-contaminated GW.

An overview of permeable reactive barriers for in situ sustainable groundwater remediation

Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are one of the innovative technologies widely accepted as an alternative to the 'pump and treat' (P&T) for sustainable in situ remediation of contaminated groundwater. The concept of the technology involves the emplacement of a permeable barrier containing reactive materials across the flow path of the contaminated groundwater to intercept and treat the contaminants as the plume flows through it under the influence of the natural hydraulic gradient. Since the invention of PRBs in the early 1990s, a variety of materials has been employed to remove contaminants including heavy metals, chlorinated solvents, aromatic hydrocarbons, and pesticides. Contaminant removal is usually accomplished via processes such as adsorption, precipitation, denitrification and biodegradation. Despite wide acknowledgment, there are still unresolved issues about long term-performance of PRBs, which have somewhat affected their acceptability and full-scale implementation. The current paper presents an overview of the PRB technology, which includes the state of art, the merits and limitations, the reactive media used so far, and the mechanisms employed to transform or immobilize contaminants. The paper also looks at the design, construction and the long-term performance of PRBs.

Use of tar pitch as a binding and reductant of BFD waste to produce reactive materials for environmental applications

In this work, a new approach is presented for the modification of the hazardous steel industry waste BFD (Blast Furnace Dust) into a versatile material for application in environmental remediation processes. Tar pitch, another waste, was used to agglomerate the very fine (submicrometric) dust particles to produce a compact and robust pelletized material that under simple thermal treatment produces notably reactive reduced Fe phases. SEM, TG/DTA, Mössbauer, XRD, Raman, BET and elemental analyses indicated that the tar/BFD composite (1:1wt ratio) pellets treated at 400, 600 and 800°C lead to tar decomposition to form a carbon binding coat concomitant with the reduction of the Fe oxides to produce primarily Fe3O4 (magnetite), FeO (wüstite) and Fe(0). Preliminary reactivity studies indicated that these treated composites, especially at 800°C, are active for the reduction of Cr(VI)aq and for the elimination of textile dye via reduction and the Fenton reaction.

Effect of common ions on nitrate removal by zero-valent iron from alkaline soil

Zero-valent iron (Fe(0))-based permeable reactive barrier (PRB) technology has been proved to be effective for soil and groundwater nitrate remediation under acidic or near neutral conditions. But few studies have been reported about it and the effects of coexistent ions under alkaline conditions. In this study, nitrate reduction by Fe(0) was evaluated via batch tests in the presence of alkaline soil and common cation (Fe(2+), Fe(3+) and Cu(2+)) and anion (citrate, oxalate, acetate, SO(4)(2-), PO(4)(3-), Cl(-) and HCO(3)(-)). The results showed that cation significantly enhanced nitrate reduction with an order of Fe(3+)>Fe(2+)>Cu(2+) due to providing Fe(2+) directly or indirectly. Most anions enhanced nitrate reduction, but PO(4)(3-) behaved inhibition. The promotion decreased in the order of citrate>acetate>SO(4)(2-)>Cl(-)≈HCO(3)(-)≈oxalate≫PO(4)(3-). Ammonium was the major final product from nitrate reduction by Fe(0), while a little nitrite accumulated in the beginning of reaction. The nitrogen recovery in liquid and gas phase was only 56-78% after reaction due to ammonium adsorption onto soil. The solution pH and electric conductivity (EC) varied depending on the specific ion added. The results implied that PRB based Fe(0) is a potential approach for in situ remediation of soil and groundwater nitrate contamination in the alkaline conditions.

Poly[beta-(1-->4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose] based zero valent nickel nanocomposite for efficient reduction of nitrate in water

Chemical reduction of nitrate using metal nanoparticles has received increasing interest due to over-dependence on groundwater and consequence health hazard of the nitrate ion. One major drawback of this technique is the agglomeration of nanoparticles leading to the formation of large flocs. A low cost biopolymeric material, poly [beta-(1-->4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose] (beta-PADG) obtained from deacetylated chitin was used as stabilizer to synthesize zero valent nickel (ZVNi) nanoparticles. The beta-PADG-ZVNi nanocomposite was characterized using infra red (IR), UV-Vis spectrophotometric techniques and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The morphology of the composite showed that beta-PADG stabilized-ZVNi nanoparticles were present as discrete particles. The mean particle size was estimated to be (7.76 +/- 2.98) nm and surface area of 87.10 m2/g. The stabilized-ZVNi nanoparticles exhibited markedly greater reactivity for reduction of nitrate in water with 100% conversion within-2 hr contact owing to less agglomeration. Varying the beta-PADG-to-ZVNi ratio and the ZVNi-to-nitrate molar ratio generally led to a faster nitrate reduction. About 3.4-fold difference in the specific reaction rate constant suggests that the application of the beta-PADG-stabilizer not only increased the specific surface area of the resultant nanoparticles, but also greatly enhanced the surface reactivity of the nanoparticles per unit area.

Removal of nitrate and ammonium ions from livestock wastewater by hybrid systems composed of zero-valent iron and adsorbents

The feasibility of hybrid systems for simultaneous removal of nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium ions (NH4+) from livestock wastewater was examined in batch experiments. As a part of efforts to remove nitrate and ammonium simultaneously, Fe0 and adsorbents including coconut-based granular activated carbon (GAC), sepiolite and filtralite were used. Various parameters such as adsorbent dosages and temperature were studied. Removal of NO3- increased with increase in temperature. Maximum NO3- removal (85.3%) was observed for the Fe0-filtralite hybrid system at 45 degrees C for a 24 h reaction time. Increase in GAC and sepiolite dosages had significant (P < 0.01) effect on the NH4+ removal efficiency, which was primarily due to the net negative surface charge of the adsorbents. The efficiency of hybrid systems for the removal of NO3- was in the order of filtralite > sepiolite > GAC, and the order of the removal of NH4+ was GAC > sepiolite > filtralite. The results of the present study suggest that the use of hybrid systems could be a promising innovative technology for achieving simultaneous removal of NO3- and NH4 from livestock wastewater.

Multifunctional colloidal particles for in situ remediation of chlorinated hydrocarbons

Effective in situ injection technology for the remediation of dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) such as trichloroethylene (TCE) requires the use of decontamination agents that effectively migrate through the soil media and react efficiently with dissolved TCE and bulk TCE. We describe the use of a novel decontamination system containing highly uniform carbon microspheres in the optimal size range for transport through the soil. The microspheres are enveloped in a polyelectrolyte (carboxymethyl cellulose, CMC) to which a bimetallic nanoparticle system of zero-valent iron and Pd is attached. The carbon serves as a strong adsorbent to TCE, while the bimetallic nanoparticle system provides the reactive component. The polyelectrolyte serves to stabilize the carbon microspheres in aqueous solution. The overall system resembles a colloidal micelle with a hydrophilic shell (polyelectrolyte coating) and hard hydrophobic core (carbon). In contact with bulk TCE, there is a sharp partitioning of the system to the TCE side of the interface due to the hydrophobicity of the core. These multifunctional systems appear to satisfy criteria related to remediation and are made with potentially environmentally benign materials.

Effects of waterborne nano-iron on medaka (Oryzias latipes): antioxidant enzymatic activity, lipid peroxidation and histopathology

Toxicity tests were performed to investigate possible harmful effects on medaka exposed to nano-iron. Dose-dependent decreases of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and increases of malondialdehyde (MDA) were induced in the medaka embryo, suggesting that oxidative damage was induced by nano-iron. For adult medaka, the disturbance of antioxidative balance was observed during the early exposure period based on the monitoring of the hepatic and cerebral SOD and reduced glutathione (GSH). No terminal oxidative damage occurred during the whole exposure period, probably due to the high self-recovering capability of the adult fish. Some histopathological and morphological alterations (cell swelling, hyperplasia, and granulomas, etc.) were observed in gill and intestine tissues, which confirmed that deleterious effects occurred as a result of direct contact with nano-iron. It is suggested that further evaluation should be made concerning the risk assessment of waterborne nano-iron on aquatic life.

Treatment of industrial wastewater effluents using hydrodynamic cavitation and the advanced Fenton process

For the first time, hydrodynamic cavitation induced by a liquid whistle reactor (LWR) has been used in conjunction with the advanced Fenton process (AFP) for the treatment of real industrial wastewater. Semi-batch experiments in the LWR were designed to investigate the performance of the process for two different industrial wastewater samples. The effect of various operating parameters such as pressure, H2O2 concentration and the initial concentration of industrial wastewater samples on the extent of mineralization as measured by total organic carbon (TOC) content have been studied with the aim of maximizing the extent of degradation. It has been observed that higher pressures, sequential addition of hydrogen peroxide at higher loadings and lower concentration of the effluent are more favourable for a rapid TOC mineralization. In general, the novel combination of hydrodynamic cavitation with AFP results in about 60-80% removal of TOC under optimized conditions depending on the type of industrial effluent samples. The combination described herein is most useful for treatment of bio-refractory materials where the diminution in toxicity can be achieved up to a certain level and then conventional biological oxidation can be employed for final treatment. The present work is the first to report the use of a hydrodynamic cavitation technique for real industrial wastewater treatment.

Field investigation of advanced oxidation of secondary effluent from municipal wastewater treatment plant

Successful treatment of the secondary effluent ensures its safe disposal and water reclamation for water reuse. To understand the effect of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in combination with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) on secondary effluent under field conditions, an advanced oxidation system, UV+H(2)O(2), was installed and fed with the effluent at 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 m(3) h(- 1) over a period of 6 months. The electrical energy density for the UV reactor was varied between 0.5 and 5.2 kWh m(-3) and H(2)O(2) added at concentrations of 0, 13 or 26 mg L(-1). The feed and product water samples were taken periodically and analyzed for biological (heterotrophic plate count-HPC, total and fecal coliform-TC and FC) and chemical (NH(4)(+)-N, NO(3)(-)-N, NO(2)(-)-N and total organic carbon-TOC) parameters. For the treatment of UV+26 mg L(- 1) H(2)O(2), flow rates of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 m(3) h(- 1) resulted in > 4-log removal of HPC with a maximum survivor of 20 CFU mL(-1) and > 4 log reduction of FC with a survivor of 8 CFU (100 mL)(- 1). The electrical energy density of 1.5 kWh m(-3) was optimum for the inactivation. The NO(2)(-)-N concentrations of the product water were 0.09-0.42 mg L(- 1) compared with 0.04-0.09 mg L(- 1)in the feed. With or without H(2)O(2) addition, NO(2)(-)-N concentration increased with increases in UV electrical energy density. The highest increase in NO(2)(-)-N was associated with the maximum energy density of 5.2 kWh m(-3). Increase in H(2)O(2) dose reduced NO(3)(-)-N concentration by 2.0 to 5.7%. The overall results showed that the advanced oxidation technology prepared the effluent for safe disposal and/or for water reclamation for reuse.

Effects of water characteristics on nitrate reduction by the Fe0/CO2 process

In this study, CO2 was bubbled into Fe0-contained solution to create an acidic environment favorable to reduction of aqueous nitrate under various water qualities. Results showed that nitrate of 30 mg l(-1) could be removed from solutions almost completely within 30 min under the conditions of 2 g Fe0 l(-1) and CO2 bubbling flow rate of 200 ml min(-1). It was observed from the Fe0/CO2 system that one mole of nitrate reduced by Fe0 led to the formation of 6.6 mol of ferrous ions. The removal of nitrate increases with increasing Fe0 dosage, however, the removal makes no difference as the Fe0 is applied at a relatively higher dosage. In the system with various water qualities, nitrate removal was inhibited significantly in the presence of humic acid. Calcium ions strongly retard nitrate removal, whereas chloride ions promote the reduction of nitrate in a significant way. Sodium ions impose only slight inhibitive effect on nitrate removal. Water molecule in the studied system can be of significance due to its competitive capability of electrons released from Fe0.

Characteristics of nitrate reduction by zero-valent iron powder in the recirculated and CO(2)-bubbled system

In this study, the Fe(0)/CO(2) process was investigated for removing nitrate from aqueous solution under different operating conditions such as CO(2) bubbling rate (0-400 mL/min), Fe(0) dosage (1-6g/L), initial nitrate concentration (6-23 mgN/L), batch mode, and fresh Fe(0) supplementing (0-1g/L). Results show that the bubbling of CO(2) flow rate at 200 mL/min was sufficient for supplying H(+) into solution to create an acidic environment favorable to nitrate reduction reaction. It was found that sigmoidal model equation describes the S-curve behaviors of nitrate reduction, ferrous accumulation and ammonium formation satisfactorily, and the parameter t(1/2) of the proposed model equation serves as a powerful tool for the comparison of nitrate reduction rate. Sustainability test demonstrates that Fe(0) powder began to deteriorate after three batches operation. Concerning the operating modes, the batch mode with the treated solution emptied and freshly refilled outperforms the one, which was operated by retaining the treated solution and spiking concentrated nitrate into it for the next batch treatment. To guarantee satisfactory nitrate removal using the former mode, supplement of appropriate amount of Fe(0) needs to be optimized.