Inactivation of Escherichia coli by dual-functional zerovalent Fe/Al composites in water.

A bimetallic Fe/Al disinfection system was developed to examine the feasibility of inactivation of water borne microorganisms. In this study, the effectiveness and mechanisms of the bimetallic Fe/Al system on the inactivation of model bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), were investigated.

Bimetallic Fe/Al system: An all-in-one solid-phase Fenton reagent for generation of hydroxyl radicals under oxic conditions.

In the classic Fenton reaction, both HO and ferrous ion (Fe(II)) are required under a narrow low pH range to produce hydroxyl radicals (OH). The modified Fenton processes including heterogeneous Fenton-like reaction, photo-Fenton reaction and electro-Fenton reaction developed to overcome the drawbacks of the homogeneous Fenton reaction have recently received increasing attention. However, all the modifications of the classic Fenton reaction cannot be assembled into one system and require external supply of reagents or energy.

Valorization of aluminum scrap via an acid-washing treatment for reductive removal of toxic bromate from water.

Aluminum scrap (AS) is adopted for the first time as a readily available aluminum source to prepare zero-valent aluminum (ZVAl) for removing bromate from water via a reductive reaction. Since aluminum is easily oxidized to aluminum oxide (AlO) on exposure to air, an acid-washing pretreatment on AS is developed to remove the layer of AlO. HCl is found as the most effective acid to pretreat AS and the HCl-pretreated or acid-washed AS (AWAS) is able to remove bromate from water and convert it to bromide.

Effects of water chemistry on the destabilization and sedimentation of commercial TiO2 nanoparticles: Role of double-layer compression and charge neutralization.

Nanomaterials are considered to be emerging contaminants because their release into the environment could cause a threat to our ecosystem and human health. This study aims to evaluate the effects of pH, ions, and humic acid on the destabilization and sedimentation of commercial stabilized TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) in aquatic environments. The average hydrodynamic size of TiO2 NPs was determined to be 52 ± 19 nm by dynamic light scattering.

Adsorption of precious metals in water by dendrimer modified magnetic nanoparticles.

Magnetic nanoparticles modified by third-generation dendrimers (MNP-G3) and MNP-G3 further modified by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (MNP-G3-EDTA) were conducted to investigate their ability for recovery of precious metals (Pd(IV), Au(III), Pd(II) and Ag(I)) in water. Experiments were carried out using batch reactors for the studies of adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherms, competitive adsorption and regeneration. The pseudo second-order model is the best-fit model among others suggesting that the adsorption of precious metals by MNP-G3 in water is a chemisorption process.

Effective and selective recovery of precious metals by thiourea modified magnetic nanoparticles.

Adsorption of precious metals in acidic aqueous solutions using thiourea modified magnetic magnetite nanoparticle (MNP-Tu) was examined. The MNP-Tu was synthesized, characterized and examined as a reusable adsorbent for the recovery of precious metals. The adsorption kinetics were well fitted with pseudo second-order equation while the adsorption isotherms were fitted with both Langmuir and Freundlich equations.

Iron nanoparticles for environmental clean-up: recent developments and future outlook.

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) is one of the most extensively applied nanomaterials for groundwater and hazardous waste treatment. In the past fifteen years, progress made in several key areas has deepened our understanding of the merits and uncertainties of nZVI-based remediation applications. These areas include the materials chemistry of nZVI in its simple and modified forms, the nZVI reactivity with a wide spectrum of contaminants in addition to the well-documented chlorinated solvents, methods to enhance the colloidal stability and transport properties of nZVI in porous media, and the effects of nZVI amendment on the biogeochemical environment.

Biodegradable surfactant stabilized nanoscale zero-valent iron for in situ treatment of vinyl chloride and 1,2-dichloroethane.

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) stabilized with dispersants is a promising technology for the remediation of contaminated groundwater. In this study, we demonstrated the use of biodegradable surfactant stabilized NZVI slurry for successful treatment of vinyl chloride (VC) and 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) in a contaminated site in Taiwan. The biodegradable surfactant stabilized NZVI was coated with palladium and synthesized on-site.

Catalytic hydrodechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane using copper nanoparticles under reduction conditions of sodium borohydride.

1,2-Dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) is a raw material used for the manufacture of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and therefore has very often been detected in the groundwater nearby the VCM manufacturing plant. Zero-valent iron (ZVI) is capable of degrading a wide array of highly chlorinated contaminants; however, the reactivity of ZVI towards 1,2-DCA is very low. In this study, zero-valent copper nanoparticles have been synthesized for effective dechlorination of 1,2-DCA under reduction conditions of sodium borohydride.

Perchlorate removal by acidified zero-valent aluminum and aluminum hydroxide.

Removal of perchlorate using either acid-washed zero-valent aluminum or aluminum hydroxide was studied in batch reactors under ambient temperature and pressure. Approximately 90-95% of perchlorate was removed within 24h in the presence of 35 g L(-1) aluminum at acidic pH (4.5+/-0.

Trimetallic Pd/Fe/Al particles for catalytic dechlorination of chlorinated organic contaminants.

Zero-valent aluminum based trimetallic particles comprising a combination of catalytically effective amounts (1 wt%) of palladium and zero-valent iron on the aluminum surface were synthesized and tested for the dechlorination of chlorinated methanes in batch reactors. XRD analysis indicated the trimetallic particles present in zero-valent form of all three components. Trimetallic Pd/Fe/Al particles showed a very rapid degradation of carbon tetrachloride leading to a surface normalized rate constant (k(SA)) of approximately 0.

Influence of nanoscale zero-valent iron on geochemical properties of groundwater and vinyl chloride degradation: A field case study.

A 200m(2) pilot-scale field test successfully demonstrated the use of nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) for effective remediation of groundwater contaminated with chlorinated organic compounds in Taiwan within six months. Both commercially available and on-site synthesized NZVI were used. A well-defined monitoring program allowing to collect three-dimensional spatial data from 13 nested multi-level monitoring wells was conducted to monitor geochemical parameters in groundwater.

Zerovalent iron nanoparticles for treatment of ground water contaminated by hexachlorocyclohexanes.

Ground water and aquifer samples from a site contaminated by hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs; C(6)H(6)Cl(6)) were exposed to nanoscale iron particles to evaluate the technology as a potential remediation method. The summed concentration of the HCH isomers in ground water was approximately 5.16 micromol L(-1) (1500 microg L(-1)).

Bimetallic iron-aluminum particles for dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride.

Bimetallic iron-aluminum (Fe/Al) particles were synthesized and tested for their reactivity toward carbon tetrachloride using batch reactors and a flow-through column at near neutral pH. Preparation of bimetallic Fe/Al particles was conducted under acidic conditions under which iron was readily deposited onto the aluminum surface. The SEM image showed clusters of iron on the aluminum surface at the measured Fe:Al molar ratio of about 2:3.

Removal of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) with Nafion.

A solid organic polymer, Nafion, is tested for the removal of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in water. Nafion with perfluorosulfonic acid backbone and terminal sulfonic acid groups has a surface acidity similar to 100% sulfuric acid, and has been commonly used as a strong-acid catalyst in many organic reactions. Sorption and subsequent transformation of MTBE were observed in batch experiments.

High-level arsenite removal from groundwater by zero-valent iron.

The objectives of this study were to conduct batch and column studies to (i) assess the effectiveness of zero-valent iron for arsenic remediation in groundwater, (ii) determine removal mechanisms of arsenic, and (iii) evaluate implications of these processes with regard to the stability of arsenic and long-term remedial performance of the permeable reactive barrier (PRB) technology. A high concentration arsenic solution (50 mg l(-1)) was prepared by using sodium arsenite (arsenic (III)) to simulate groundwater at a heavily contaminated Superfund site in the USA. Batch studies indicate that the removal of arsenic is a two-step reaction with fast initial disappearance of arsenite followed by a slow subsequent removal process.

Reductive activation of dioxygen for degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether by bifunctional aluminum.

Bifunctional aluminum is prepared by sulfating aluminum metal with sulfuric acid. The use of bifunctional aluminum to degrade methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in the presence of dioxygen has been examined using batch systems. Primary degradation products were tert-butyl alcohol, tert-butyl formate, acetone, and methyl acetate.

Enhanced dehalogenation of halogenated methanes by bimetallic Cu/Al.

A low-cost and high effective copper/aluminum (Cu/Al) bimetal has been developed for treatments of halogenated methanes, including dichloromethane, in near neutral and high pH aqueous systems. Bimetallic Cu/Al was prepared by a simple two-step synthetic method where Cu was deposited onto the Al surface. The presence of Cu on Al significantly enhanced rates of degradation of halogenated methanes and reduced toxic halogenated intermediates.