• 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 Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2012

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) has recently received much attention for remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE). But there have been many debates on the toxic or inhibitory effects of nZVI on the environment. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of nZVI on the activity of Geobacter lovleyi and to determine the potent effect of combination of abiotic and biotic treatment of TCE dechlorination. TCE degradation efficiencies of Geobacter lovleyi along with nZVI were more increased than those when nZVI was solely used. The amount of total microbial protein was increased in the presence of nZVI and hydrogen evolved from nZVI was consumed as electron donor by Geobacter lovleyi. In addition, dechlorination of TCE to cis-DCE by Geobacter lovleyi along with nZVI in respiking of exogenous of TCE shows that the reactivity of Geobacter lovleyi was also maintained. These results suggest that the application of Geobacter lovleyi along with nZVI for the dehalorination is beneficial for the enhancement of TCE degradation rate and reactivity of Geobacter lovleyi.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.229-239
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to design an optimal electro-remediation system for TCE contaminated water using zero talent iron (ZVI) and direct current (DC). A series of column experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of electrode arrangement and the location of permeable iron barrier in the column on the TCE removal efficiency and iron corrosion process. In twelve different combinations of ZVI and/or DC application in the test columns, the rate of reductive degradation of TCE was improved with simultaneous application of both ZVI and DC compared to that used ZVI only. The moot effective arrangement of electrode and ZVI for TCE removal from water was a column set with ZVI and cathode installed at the down gradient, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.81-85
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• 2015

A method for degradation of the perchlorate anion ($ClO{_4}^-$) has been studied using electrochemically generated zero-valent iron (ZVI) deposited on a porous carbon electrode. The first strategy of this study is to produce the ZVI via the electrochemical reduction of iron (II) on a porous carbon electrode coated with a conducting polymer, instead of employing expensive $NaBH_4$. The present method produced well distributed ZVI on conducting polymer (polypyrrole thin film) and increased surface area. ZVI surface can be regenerated easily for successive reduction. The second strategy is to apply a mild reducing condition (-0.3 V) to enhance the efficiency of the degradation of perchlorate with ZVI without the evolution of hydrogen. The electrochemically generated ZVI nanoparticles may offer an alternative means for the complete destruction perchlorate without evolution of hydrogen in water with high efficiency and at low cost.

• 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.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2023

A persulfate(PS)/sulfidated microscale zero-valent iron(S-mZVI) system was tested for treating a soil contaminated with phenol. Sulfidation of bare mZVI was conducted using a mechanochemical process utilizing a ball mill in order to improve persulfate activation capacity and stability of unmodified mZVI. The synthesized S-mZVI performed markedly better than the bare mZVI in activating PS. The optimum molar ratio of sulfur to mZVI was around 0.12. In the soil slurry experiments, a very rapid and complete removal of phenol was observed at the optimum molar ratios of PS to S-mZVI of 2:1 and PS to phenol of 16:1. The phenol removal efficiencies decreased as the water content of the slurries decreased. This was believed to be due to increased soil oxidant demand as the amount of soil was increased as relative to the water content. To evaluate the field applicability of the process, slurry experiments adopting high soil contents were carried out that simulated in-situ soil mixing conditions. These experiments resulted in substantially compromised degradation efficiencies of 54.3% and 43.8% within 4 hours. The current study generally shows that the PS/S-mZVI process has a potential to be developed into a remediation technology for soils contaminated with organics.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.463-473
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• 2019

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) has proved to be an effective tool in applied environmental nanotechnology, where the decreased particle diameter provides a drastic change in the properties and efficiency of nanomaterials used in water purification. However, the agglomeration and colloidal instability represent a problematic and a remarkable reduction in nZVI reactivity. In view of that, this study reports a simple and cost-effective new strategy for ultra-small (< 7.5%) distributed functionalized nZVI-EG (1-9 nm), with high colloidal stability and reduction capacity. These were obtained without inert conditions, using a simple, economical synthesis methodology employing two stabilization mechanisms based on the use of non-aqueous solvent (methanol) and ethylene glycol (EG) as a stabilizer. The information from UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggests iron ion coordination by interaction with methanol molecules. Subsequently, after nZVI formation, particle-surface modification occurs by the addition of the EG. Size distribution analysis shows an average diameter of 4.23 nm and the predominance (> 90%) of particles with sizes < 6.10 nm. Evaluation of the stability of functionalized nZVI by sedimentation test and a dynamic light-scattering technique, demonstrated very high colloidal stability. The ultra-small particles displayed a rapid and high nitrate removal capacity from water.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.197-204
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• 2020

A number of different nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) materials have been prepared and compared depending on the desired properties for the particular application, but different physicochemical properties of this prepared nZVI make it difficult to universally compare and standardize them to the same scale. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate a simple microplate-based colorimetric assay using 4-chlorophenol as an indicator with respect to the remediation of real treatment targets, such as trichloroethylene (TCE), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), and atrazine. Effect of nickel contents on 4-chlorophenol reduction was successfully investigated by the miniaturized colorimetric assay. In the same manner, the effect of nickel contents on dehalogenation of TCE, TCA, and atrazine was investigated and the pseudo-first-order kinetic constants were compared with the results for 4-chlorophenol. The similar pattern could be observed between 4-chlorophenol reduction obtained by colorimetric assay and TCE, TCA, atrazine reduction obtained by a traditional chromatographic method. The reaction kinetics does not match perfectly, but the degree of reaction can be estimated. Therefore, the colorimetric assay can be a useful and simple screening tool to determine nZVI reactivity toward halogenated organics before it is applied to a particular remediation site.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.205-211
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• 2015

Reduced forms of iron, such as zero-valent ion (ZVI) and ferrous ion (Fe[II]), can activate dissolved oxygen in water into reactive oxidants capable of oxidative water treatment. The corrosion of ZVI (or the oxidation of (Fe[II]) forms a hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) intermediate and the subsequent Fenton reaction generates reactive oxidants such as hydroxyl radical ($^{\bullet}OH$) and ferryl ion (Fe[IV]). However, the production of reactive oxidants is limited by multiple factors that restrict the electron transfer from iron to oxygen or that lead the reaction of $H_2O_2$ to undesired pathways. Several efforts have been made to enhance the production of reactive oxidants by iron-induced oxygen activation, such as the use of iron-chelating agents, electron-shuttles, and surface modification on ZVI. This article reviews the chemistry of oxygen activation by ZVI and Fe(II) and its application in oxidative degradation of organic contaminants. Also discussed are the issues which require further investigation to better understand the chemistry and develop practical environmental technologies.

• 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.