Enhanced tetrabromobisphenol A debromination by nanoscale zero valent iron particles sulfidated with S0 dissolved in ethanol. Issue 1 (4th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Heli; Zhong, Yin; Zhu, Xifen; Li, Dan; Deng, Yirong; Huang, Weilin; Peng, Ping'an
• Is Part Of: Environmental science. Volume 23:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 86
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2020-11-04
• Subjects: Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Biological monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental chemistry -- Periodicals; 363.7363
• DOI: 10.1039/d0em00375a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7887

Abstract

Abstract : Modification of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) with reducing sulfur compounds has proven to improve the reactivity of nZVI towards recalcitrant halogenated organic contaminants. Abstract : Modification of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) with reducing sulfur compounds has proven to improve the reactivity of nZVI towards recalcitrant halogenated organic contaminants. In this study, we develop a novel method for the preparation of sulfidated nZVI (S-nZVI) with S 0 (a low cost and available reducing sulfur agent) dissolved in ethanol under mild conditions and apply it for the transformation of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a potential persistent organic pollutant. Surface analysis shows that S 0 dissolved in ethanol has been successfully doped into nZVI via a reaction with Fe 0 to form a relatively homogeneous layer of FeS/FeS2 on the nZVI surface. The H2 production test and the electrochemical analysis show that the FeS/FeS2 layer not only slows the H2 evolution reaction but also enhances the electron transfer. Debromination kinetics indicate that the resulting S-nZVI with a S/Fe ratio of 0.015–0.05 possesses higher debromination activity for TBBPA and its debromination products ( i.e., tri-BBPA, di-BBPA, mono-BBPA and BPA) in comparison with nZVI. Among them, S-nZVI at a S/Fe of 0.025 (S-nZVI S-0.025 ) has the greatest debromination rate constant ( k obs ) of 1.19 ± 0.071 h −1 for TBBPA. It debrominates TBBPA at a faster rate than other conventional S-nZVI made from Na2 S and Na2 S2 O4 and has been successfully applied in the treatment of TBBPA-spiked environmental water samples (including river water, groundwater, and tap water). The results suggest that the modification of nZVI with S 0 dissolved in ethanol is a simple, safe, inexpensive, and effective sulfidation technique, which can be applied for the large-scale production of S-nZVI for treating contaminated water.