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Degradation of Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) by Stable Zero Valent Iron (ZVI) Microparticles

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Abstract

During the production of lindane (γ-HCH) large volumes of wastes containing α-, β-, and δ-HCH isomers were generated. Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) are carcinogens and teratogen compounds. Although their production and use are currently banned in most countries, many landfills and sites remain polluted by these compounds. This paper studies a promising and novel alternative for the HCH abatement: dechlorination by zero valent iron microparticles. Synthetic wastewater (0.5 mg/L of α-, β-, γ-, and δ-HCH or 6 mg/L of γ-HCH) and five types of commercial iron microparticles (here named mFe-1, mFe-2, mFe-3, mFe-4, and mFe-5) were used in batch (5 g/L) and continuous (W mFe/Q L  = 167 g · h/L) operation mode at room temperature. Iron microparticles were characterized (before and after reaction) by N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms and X-ray diffraction. HCH isomers showed different behavior vs. dechlorination (γ > α > δ > β) according to the axial/equatorial position of the chlorines. The most active iron source among those tested was mFe-1, presenting small particle diameter (70 μm), moderate BET area (35 m2/kg), low oxygen content, and traces of manganese. mFe-1 exhibited high activity and stability both in continuous (X γ-HCH = 70%, W mFe/Q L  = 167 g · h/L) and discontinuous (X γ-HCH = 100%, 48 h) operation. Contribution of HCH adsorption over iron microparticles was found negligible being benzene and Cl− the final dechlorination products.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Comunidad Autonoma of Madrid (Project S2013-MAE-2739 CARESOIL-CM) and from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Project CTM2013-43794-R). CMD acknowledges the Spanish MICINN for “Juan de la Cierva” post doctoral grant (FJCI-2014-20732).

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  1. Dpto. Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria S/N, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Carmen M. Dominguez, Sergio Rodriguez, David Lorenzo, Arturo Romero & Aurora Santos

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  1. Carmen M. Dominguez
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  2. Sergio Rodriguez
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  3. David Lorenzo
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Correspondence to Aurora Santos.

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Dominguez, C.M., Rodriguez, S., Lorenzo, D. et al. Degradation of Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) by Stable Zero Valent Iron (ZVI) Microparticles. Water Air Soil Pollut 227, 446 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-016-3149-8

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