• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.87-90
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• 2003

This research examines the feasibility of using laboratory-synthesized nano scale zero-valent iron particles to remove arsenic from aqueous phase. Batch experiments were performed to determine arsenic sorption rates as a function of the nano scale zero-valent iron solution concentration. Rapid adsorption of arsenic was achieved with the nano scale zero-valent iron. Typically 1 mg $L^{-1}$ arsenic (III) was adsorbed by 5 g $L^{-1}$ nano scale zero-valent iron below the 0.01 g $L^{-1}$ concentration within 7min. The kinetics of the arsenic sorption followed pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics. Observed reaction rate constants ( $K_{obs}$) varied between 11.4 to 129.0 $h^{-1}$ with respect to different concentrations of nano scale zero-valent iron. A variety of analytical techniques were used to study the reaction products including HGAAS (hydride generator atomic adsorption spectrophotometer), SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and TEM (transmission electron microscopy). Our experimental results suggest novel method for efficient removal of arsenic Iron groundwater.r.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.135-137
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.123-126
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• 2006

Reduction kinetics and intermediates behaviour of three high explosives (HMX, RDX, and TNT) were studies in batch reactors using either nano or micro size zero valent iron(ZVI) as reducing agent. The kinetics constants normalize to the mass of iron($k_M$) or to the surface area ($k_{SA}$) were measured and compared along with the changes of intermediate concentrations of each explosive. Results showed that $k_M$ and $k_{SA}$ values neither correlated each other nor explained the behaviour of intermediates of each high explosive in the batch reactor, in which initial intermediates decreased rapidly with nano ZVI treatment whereas the intermediates accumulated and stayed longer in the micro ZVI treated reactor.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.139-147
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• 2007

For environmental remediation of a contaminated groundwater plume, the use of zero-valent metal represents one of the latest innovative technologies. In this study, the effects of denitrification by zero-valent iron adsorbed in mesoporous silicas have been studied for groundwater contaminant degradation. The mesoporous silica was functionalized with 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTS) ligands and the zero-valent iron precipitated in the mesopore of granular silica was made by $FeCl_2$ and $NaBH_4$. Hydrogen was exchanged with $Fe^{2+}$ ions in the granular silicas. And then the ions were reduced by sodium borohydride in the mesoporous silicas. The surface area of the silica determined via the BET method ranged from 858 to $1275m^2/g$. The reductive reaction of nitrate-nitrogen indicated that the degradation of nitrate-nitrogen appeared to be pseudo first-order with the observed reaction rate constant kobs ($0.1619h^{-1}$) and to be directly proportional to the specific surface area. Therefore, the mesoporous silica with nano zero-valent iron proposed as a novel treatment strategy for contaminated groundwater was successfully implemented herein for the removal of nitrate-nitrogen.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.517-524
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• 2016

In order to treat groundwater containing high levels of nitrate, nitrate reduction by nano sized zero-valent iron (nZVI) was studied using batch experiments. Compared to nitrate removal efficiencies at different mass ratios of $nitrate/Fe^0$, the removal efficiency at the mass ratio of 0.02% was the highest(54.59%). To enhance nitrate removal efficiency, surface modification of nZVI was performed using metallic catalysis such as Pd, Ni and Cu. Nitrate removal efficiency by Cu-nZVI (at $catalyst/Fe^0$ mass ratio of 0.1%) was 66.34%. It showed that the removal efficiency of Cu-nZVI was greater than that of the other catalysts. The observed rate constant ($k_{obs}$) of nitrate reduction by Cu-nZVI was estimated to $0.7501min^{-1}$ at the Cu/Fe mass ratio of 0.1%. On the other hand, TEM images showed that the average particle sizes of synthetic nZVI and Cu-nZVI were 40~60 and 80~100 nm, respectively. The results imply that catalyst effects may be more important than particle size effects in the enhancement of nitrate reduction by nZVI.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.165-173
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• 2005

Nano-sized iron particles were synthesized by reduction of $Fe^{3+}$ in aqueous solution under two reaction conditions, aerobic and anaerobic, and the reactivity of iron was tested by reaction with trichloroethene (TCE) using a batch system. Results showed that iron produced under anoxic condition for both synthesis and drying steps gave rise to iron with higher reduction reactivity, indicating the presence of oxygen is not favorable for production of nano-sized iron deemed to accomplish reactivity enhancement from particle sized reduction. Nano-sized iron sample obtained from the anoxic synthesis condition was further characterized using various instrumental measurements to identity particle morphology, composition, surface area, and particle size distribution. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image showed that synthesized particles were uniform, spherical particles (< 100 nm), and aggregated into various chain structures. The effects of other synthesis conditions such as solution pH, initial $Fe^{3+}$ concentration, and reductant injection rate on the reactivity of nano-sized iron, along with standardization of the synthesis protocol, are presented in the companion paper.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.174-180
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• 2005

Nano-sized iron was synthesized using borohydride reduction of $Fe^{3+}$ in aqueous solution. A wide range of synthesis conditions including varying concentrations of reagents, reagent feeding rate, and solution pH was applied in an aqueous system under anaerobic condition. The reactivity of nano-sized iron from each synthesis was evaluated by reacting the iron with TCE in batch systems. Evidence obtained from this study suggest the reactivity of iron is strongly dependent on the synthesis solution pH. The iron reactivity increased as solution pH decreased. More rapid TCE reduction was observed for iron samples synthesized from higher initial $Fe^{3+}$ concentration, which resulted in lower solution pH during the synthesis reaction. Faster feeding of $BH_4^-$ solution to the $Fe^{3+}$ solution resulted in lower synthesis solution pH and the resultant iron samples gave higher TCE reduction rate. Lowering the pH of the solution after completion of the synthesis reaction significantly increased reactivity of iron. It is presumed that the increase in the reactivity of iron synthesized at lower pH is due to less precipitation of iron (hydr)oxides or less surface passivation of iron.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.83-91
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• 2006

Reduction kinetics and the behaviour of intermediate of three high explosives (HMX, RDX, and TNT) were studies in batch reactors using nano- or micro- size zero valent iron(nZVI or mZVI) as reducing agent. The kinetic constants normalized by the mass of iron ($k_M$) or by the surface area ($k_{SA}$) were measured and compared along with the changes in the concentrations of intermediates. Results showed that $k_M$ and $k_{SA}$ values were not suitable to fully explain the behaviour of mother compounds and reduced intermediates in the batch reactor. The concentrations of initial explosives degradation products, such as nitroso-RDXs, nitroso-HMXs, and hydroxylamino-TNTs, were higher in mZVI treated reactor than in nZVI treated reactor, whereas more reduced polar intermediates such as TAT were accumulated in the nZVI reactor. Therefore, a new parameter, which accounted for the intermediates reduction, needs to be developed.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2012

This study investigates the complete removal of nitrate and the recovery of valuable ammonium salt by the combination of nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) and a membrane contactor system. The NZVI used for the experiments was prepared by chemical reduction without a stabilizing agent. The main end-product of nitrate reduction by NZVI was ammonia, and the solution pH was stably maintained around 10.5. Effective removal of ammonia was possible with the polytetrafluoroethylene membrane contactor system in all tested conditions. Among the various operation parameters including influent pH, concentration, temperature, and contact time, contact time and solution pH showed significant effects on the ammonia removal mechanism. Also, the osmotic distillation phenomena that deteriorate the mass transfer efficiency could be minimized by pre-heating the influent wastewater. The ammonia removal rate could be maximized by optimizing operation conditions and changing the membrane configuration. The combination of NZVI and the membrane contactor system could be a solution for nitrate removal and the recovery of valuable products.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.95-108
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• 2015

Nano-sized iron colloids are formed as acid mine drainage is exposed to surface environments and is introduced into surrounding water bodies. These iron nanomaterials invoke aesthetic contamination as well as adverse effects on aqueous ecosystems. In order to control them, the characteristics of their behaviour should be understood first, but the cumulative research outputs up to now are much less than the expected. Using zero-valent iron (ZVI) and magnetite, this study aims to investigate the behaviour of iron nanomaterials according to the change in the composition and pH of background electrolyte and the concentration of natural organic matter (NOM). The size and surface zeta potential of iron nanomaterials were measured using dynamic light scattering. Characteristic behaviour, such as aggregation and dispersion was compared each other based on the DLVO (Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek) theory. Whereas iron nanomaterials showed a strong tendency of aggregation at the pH near point of zero charge (PZC) due to electrostatic attraction between particles, their dispersions became dominant at the pH which was higher or lower than PZC. In addition, the behaviour of iron nanomaterials was likely to be more significantly influenced by cations than anions in the electrolyte solutions. Particularly, it was observed that divalent cation influenced more effectively than monovalent cation in electrostatic attraction and repulsion between particles. It was also confirmed that the NOM enhanced the dispersion nanomaterials with increasing the negative charge of nanomaterials by coating on their surface. Under identical conditions, ZVI aggregated more easily than magnetite, and which would be attributed to the lower stability and larger reactivity of ZVI.