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Rapid and long-effective removal of broad-spectrum pollutants from aqueous system by ZVI/oxidants

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Abstract

Zero-valent iron (ZVI) technology has recently gained significant interest in the efficient sequestration of a wide variety of contaminants. However, surface passivation of ZVI because of its intrinsic passive layer would lead to the inferior reactivity of ZVI and its lower efficacy in contaminant removal. Therefore, to activate the ZVI surface cheaply, continuously, and efficiently is an important challenge that ZVI technology must overcome before its wide-scale application. To date, several physical and chemical approaches have been extensively applied to increase the reactivity of the ZVI surface toward the elimination of broad-spectrum pollutants. Nevertheless, these techniques have several limitations such as low efficacy, narrow working pH, eco-toxicity, and high installation cost. The objective of this mini-review paper is to identify the critical role of oxygen in determining the reactivity of ZVI toward contaminant removal. Subsequently, the effect of three typical oxidants (H2O2, KMnO4, and NaClO) on broad-spectrum contaminants removal by ZVI has been documented and discussed. The reaction mechanism and sequestration efficacies of the ZVI/oxidant system were evaluated and reviewed. The technical basis of the ZVI/oxidant approach is based on the half-reaction of the cathodic reduction of the oxidants. The oxidants commonly used in the water treatment industry, i.e., NaClO, O3, and H2O2, can be served as an ideal coupling electron receptor. With the combination of these oxidants, the surface corrosion of ZVI can be continuously driven. The ZVI/oxidants technology has been compared with other conventional technologies and conclusions have been drawn.

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Acknowledgements

Authors greatly acknowledge the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21876011), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2017YFA0605001), and the Fund for Innovative Research Group of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51721093).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    Sana Ullah, Xuejun Guo, Xiaoyan Luo, Xiangyuan Zhang, Siwen Leng, Na Ma & Palwasha Faiz

  2. Department of Environmental and Conservation Sciences, University of Swat, Mingora, 19200, Pakistan

    Sana Ullah

Authors
  1. Sana Ullah
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  2. Xuejun Guo
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  3. Xiaoyan Luo
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  4. Xiangyuan Zhang
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  5. Siwen Leng
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  6. Na Ma
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  7. Palwasha Faiz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xuejun Guo.

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Highlights

• The coupling of oxidants with ZVI overcome the impedance of ZVI passive layer.

• ZVI/oxidants system achieved fast and long-effective removal of contaminants.

• Multiple mechanisms are involved in contaminants removal by ZVI/oxidant system.

• ZVI/Oxidants did not change the reducing property of ORP in the fixed-bed system.

Special Issue—Accounts of Aquatic Chemistry and Technology Research

Sana Ullah received his M.S. degree in environmental science from Comsats Institute of Information Technology, Abbotta-bad, Pakistan. He is currently a Ph.D. student at School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, China, under the direct supervision of Dr. Xuejun Guo. His scientific activity is focused on the remediation of metals contaminated water by iron-based material.

Xuejun Guo is a professor and engineering researcher at the State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, Beijing Normal University, China. His scientific activity is focused on the development of cheap and efficient iron-based materials and activation techniques to remove heavy metals in water. Also, to explore the microinterface process and molecular mechanism of heavy metals (such as arsenic) on the surface of iron-based materials at the nanoscale and molecular level. In recent years, he has contributed in the field of environmental biochemistry, using the most advanced single-molecule fluorescence imaging methods in the world. He studied the particle size distribution and quasi-distribution of molecular clusters of hydrophobic organic pollutants (HOCs) in the aqueous phase at high spatial and temporal resolution.

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Ullah, S., Guo, X., Luo, X. et al. Rapid and long-effective removal of broad-spectrum pollutants from aqueous system by ZVI/oxidants. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 14, 89 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-020-1268-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-020-1268-3

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