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Enhanced solubilization and reductive degradation of 2,2′,4,4′- tretrabromodiphenyl ether by PAC-Pd/Fe nanoparticles in the presence of surfactant

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Abstract

2,2′,4,4′-Tretrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE47) is known as a typical polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) due to its high environmental abundance, ecological toxicity, and bioaccumulation. In this study, the influences of three typical surfactants (CTAB, SDS, and TX-100) on BDE47 solubilization and degradation by the polyanionic cellulose–stabilized Pd/Fe (PAC-Pd/Fe) nanoparticles were investigated. The results showed that BDE47 solubilities increased linearly when surfactant concentrations were above their critical micelle concentrations (CMCs), and the solubilization capacities of surfactants for BDE47 followed the order of TX-100 > CTAB > SDS. The appropriate dosages of surfactants were favorable for BDE47 degradation due to enhancing solubilization and accelerating mass transfer, while excessive surfactants inhibited BDE47 degradation due to excessive and thicker micelles formed, but still higher than no surfactant. The influences of various factors (PAC-Pd/Fe nanoparticle dosage, solution pH, and temperature) on BDE47 degradation in TX-100 solution were also tested. The results showed that BDE47 degradation followed the pseudo first-order kinetics model. The degradation rates of BDE47 increased as PAC-Pd/Fe nanoparticle dosage and temperature increased. Weak acidic condition (pH 5.5) was favorable for BDE47 degradation with 96.8% BDE47 was removed within 7.5 min, while alkaline condition (9.0) was not conducive to the degradation of BDE47. The degradation of BDE47 by PAC-Pd/Fe nanoparticles was a catalytic reductive debromination process via active H-species attack, wherein the sequential debromination was the dominant reaction. This study suggests that in the presence of moderate surfactant, PAC-Pd/Fe nanoparticles may be potentially employed to eliminate BDE47 in contaminated water.

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Funding

This study was financially supported by the Weifang University of Science and Technology Fund (nos. 2018KJBS001, 2018RC003, 2018KJYB10), the Dongguan Social Science and Technology Development General Project (no. 20185071401502), the Shandong Natural Science Fund (no. ZR2019MEM046), and Weifang Science and Technology Development Plan Project (no. 2019GX072).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment Science, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nangjing, 211171, People’s Republic of China

    Haijie Li

  2. Shandong Peninsula Engineering Research Center of Comprehensive Brine Utilization, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Shouguang, 262700, Weifang, People’s Republic of China

    Guofu Huang & Mianmian Wang

  3. School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, 523808, People’s Republic of China

    Mianmian Wang

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  1. Haijie Li
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Correspondence to Guofu Huang.

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Responsible editor: Bingcai Pan

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Li, H., Huang, G. & Wang, M. Enhanced solubilization and reductive degradation of 2,2′,4,4′- tretrabromodiphenyl ether by PAC-Pd/Fe nanoparticles in the presence of surfactant. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 5085–5096 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06627-4

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