• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.53-61
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• 2016

The reaction of zero-valent iron (ZVI) with oxygen can produce reactive oxidants capable of oxidizing organic compounds. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pre-treatment on sludge solubilization by ZVI and aeration. The results demonstrated that the aeration pre-treatment with ZVI method was more effective than the only aeration for improving sludge solubilization, indicating that ZVI increased the extent of sludge solubilization. In addition, removal rate of $NH_3-N$ by ZVI and aeration was found to be 34%, while only aeration was 24%. Thus, ZVI and aeration can be employed as an efficient pre-treatment option to achieve higher sludge solubilization and decrease the toxic effect of $NH_3-N$ for sludge digestion.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1074-1081
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• 2006

As common pollutants in surface and groundwater, nitrate nitrogen($NO_3-N$) and trichloroethylene(TCE) can be chemically and biologically reduced by zero valent iron(ZVI) and peat soil. In batch microcosm experiments, chemical reduction of TCE and nitrate was supported by hydrogen from ZVI. For biological degradation of TCE and denitrification peat soil was introduced. ZVI reduced TCE, while peat provided TCE sorption site and microbes performing biological degradation. Nitrate reduction was also achieved by hydrogen from ZVI. In addition, indirect evidence of denitrification was observed. More reduction of TCE and nitrate was achieved by ZVI+peat treatment however nitrated reduction was hindered in the presence of TCE in the system due to the competition for hydrogen. TCE reduction mechanism was more dependent on ZVI, while nitrate was peat-dependent. Hydrogen and methane concentration showed that peat had various anaerobic denitryfing and halorespiring bacteria.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.679-687
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• 2007

Nanoscale zero valent ion (nZVI) technology is emerging as an innovative method to treat contaminated groundwater. The activity of nZVI is very high due to their high specific surface area, and supporting this material can help to preserve its chemical nature by inhibiting oxidation. In this study, nZVI particles were attached to granular ion-exchange resin through borohydride reduction of ferrous ions, and chemical reduction of nitrate by this material was investigated as a potential technology to remove nitrate from groundwater. The pore structure and physical characteristics were measured and the change by the adsorption of nZVI was discussed. Batch tests were conducted to characterize the activity of the supported nZVI and the results indicated that the degradation of nitrate appeared to be a pseudo first-order reaction with the observed reaction rate constant of $0.425h^{-1}$ without pH control. The reduction process continued but at a much lower rate with a rate constant of $0.044h^{-1}$, which is likely limited by mass transfer. To assess the effects of other ions commonly found in groundwater, the same experiments were conducted in simulated groundwater with the same level of nitrate. In simulated groundwater, the rate constant was $0.078h^{-1}$ and it also reduced to $0.0021h^{-1}$ in later phase. The major limitation in application of ZVI for nitrate reduction is ammonium production. By using a support material with ion exchange capacity, the problem of ammonium release can be solved. The ammonium was not detected in the batch test, even when other competitive ions such as calcium and potassium existed.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.109-118
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• 2013

Characteristics of the transport of zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) in an aquifer were investigated to evaluate an application of nZVI-based reactive zone technology. Main flow direction of groundwater was north. Preferential flow paths of the groundwater identified by natural gradient tracer test were shown northeast and northwest. The highest groundwater velocity was $4.86{\times}10^{-5}$ m/s toward northwest. When the breakthrough curves obtained from the gravity injection of nZVI were compared with the tracer curves, the transport of nZVI was retarded and retardation factors were 1.17 and 1.34 at monitoring wells located on the northeast and northwest, respectively. The ratios of the amount of nZVI delivered to the amount of tracer delivered at the two wells mentioned above were 24 and 28 times greater than that of the well on the main flow direction, respectively. Attachment efficiency based on a filtration theory was $4.08{\times}10^{-2}$ along the northwest direction that was the main migration route of nZVI. Our results, compared to attachment efficiencies obtained in other studies, demonstrate that the mobility of nZVI was higher than that of results reported in previous studies, regardless of large iron particle sizes of the current study. Based on distribution of nZVI estimated by the attachment efficiency, it was found that nZVI present within 1.05 m from injection well could remove 99% of TCE within 6 months.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.167-177
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• 2013

We investigated that removal of aqueous U(VI) by nano-sized Zero Valent Iron (nZVI) and Fe(II) bearing minerals (controls) in this study. Iron particles showed different U(VI) removal efficiencies (Mackinawite: 99%, green rust: 95%, nZVI: 91%, magnetite: 87%, pyrite: 59%) due to their different PZC (Point of Zero Charge) values and surface areas. In addition, noticeable amount of surface Fe(II) (181 ${\mu}M$) was released from nZVI suspension in 6 h and it increased to 384 ${\mu}M$ in the presence of U(VI) due to ion-exchange of U(VI) with Fe(II) on nZVI surface. Analysis of Laser-Induced Breakdown Detection (LIBD) showed that breakdown probabilities in both filtrates by 20 and 200 nm sizes was almost 24% in nZVI suspension with U(VI), while 1% of the probabilities were observed in nZVI suspension without U(VI). It indicated that Fe(II) colloids in the range under 20 nm were generated during the interaction of U(VI) and nZVI. Our results suggest that Fe(II) colloids generated via ion-exchange process should be carefully concerned during long-term remediation site contaminated by U(VI) because U could be transported to remote area through the adsorption on Fe(II) colloids.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.444-450
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• 2011

Perchlorate ($ClO_4^-$) is a contaminant found in surface water and soil/ground water. Autotrophic perchlorate-reducing bacteria (PRB) use hydrogen gas ($H_2$) as an electron donor to remove perchlorate. Since iron corrosion can produce $H_2$, feasibility of autotrophic perchlorate-removal using zero-valent iron (ZVI) was examined in this study using activated sludge that is easily available from a wastewater treatment plant. Batch test showed that activated sludge microorganisms could successfully degrade perchlorate in the presence of ZVI. The perchlorate biodegradation was confirmed by molar yield of $Cl^-$ as perchlorate was degraded. Scanning electron microscope revealed that rod-shaped microorganisms on the surface of iron particles used for the autotrophic perchlorate-removal, suggesting that iron particles could serve as supporting media for the formation of biofilm as well. DGGE analyses revealed that microbial profile of the inoculum (activated sludge) was different from that of biofilm sample obtained from the ZVI-added enrichment culture used for $ClO_4^-$-degradation. A major band of the biofilm sample was most closely related to the class Clostridia.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.15-21
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• 2012

MTBE (Methyl tertiary-butyl ether) has been commonly used as an octane enhancer to replace tetraethyl lead in gasoline, because MTBE increases the efficiency of combustion and decreases the emission of carbon monoxide. However, MTBE has been found in groundwater from the fuel spills and leaks in the UST (Underground Storage Tank). Fenton's oxidation, an advanced oxidation catalyzed with ferrous iron, is successful in removing MTBE in groundwater. However, Fenton's oxidation requires the continuous addition of dissolved $Fe^{2+}$. Zero-valent iron is available as a source of catalytic ferrous iron of MFO (Modified Fenton's Oxidation) and has been studied for use in PRBs (Permeable Reactive Barriers) as a reactive material. Therefore, this study investigated the condition of optimization in MFO-PRBs using waste zero-valent iron (ZVI) with the waste steel scrap to treat MTBE contaminated groundwater. Batch tests were examined to find optimal molar ratio of MTBE : $H_2O_2$ on extent to degradation of MTBE in groundwater at pH 7 with 10% waste ZVI. As the results, the ratio of optimization of MTBE to hydrogen peroxide for MFO was determined to be 1:300[mM]. The column experiment was conducted to know applicability of MFO-PRBs for MTBE remediation in groundwater. As the results of column test, MTBE was removed 87% of the initial concentration during 120days of operational period. Interestingly, MTBE was degraded not only within waste ZVI column but also within sand column. It means the aquifer may affect continuously the MTBE contaminated groundwater after throughout the waste ZVI barrier. The residual products showed acetone, TBF (Tert-butyl formate) and TBA (Tert-butyl acetate) during this test. The results of the present study showed that the recycled materials can be effectively used for not only a source of catalytic ferrous iron but also a reactive material of the MFO-PRBs to remove MTBE in groundwater.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2014

This study aimed to synthesize dispersed and reactive nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) with poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) (PVP/VA), nontoxic and biodegradable stabilizer. The nZVI used for the experiments was prepared by reduction of ferric solution in the presence of PVP/VA with specific weight ratios to iron contents. Colloidal stability was investigated based on the rate of sedimentation, hydrodynamic radius and zeta potential measurement. The characteristic time, which demonstrated dispersivity of particles resisting aggregation, increased from 21.2 min (bare nZVI) to 97.8 min with increasing amount of PVP/VA (the ratios of 2). For the most stable nZVI coated by PVP/VA, its reactivity was examined by nitrate reduction in a closed batch system. The pseudo-first-order kinetic rate constants for the nitrate reduction by the nanoparticles with PVP/VA ratios of 0 and 2 were 0.1633 and $0.1395min^{-1}$ respectively. A nitrogen mass balance, established by quantitative analysis of aqueous nitrogen species, showed that the addition of PVP/VA to nZVI can change the reduction capacity of the nanoparticles.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2023

The advanced oxidation treatment using persulfate and zero-valent iron (ZVI) has been evaluated as a very effective technology for remediation of soil and groundwater contamination. However, the high rate of the initial reaction of persulfate with ZVI causes over-consumption of an injected persulfate, and the excessively generated active species show a low transfer rate to the target pollutant. In this study, ZVI was modified using selenium with very low reactivity in the water environment with the aim of controlling the persulfate activation rate by controlling the reactivity of ZVI. Selenium-modified ZVI (Se/ZVI) was confirmed to have a selenium coating on the surface through SEM/EDS analysis, and low reductive reactivity to trichlroethylene (TCE) was observed. As a result of inducing the persulfate activation using the synthesized Se/ZVI, the persulfated consumption rate was greatly reduced, and the decomposition rate of the model contaminant, anisole, was also reduced in proportion. However, the final decomposition efficiency was rather increased, which seems to be the result of preventing persulfate over-consumption. This is because the transfer efficiency of the active species (SO4-∙) of persulfate to the target contaminant has been improved. Selenium on the surface of Se/ZVI was not significantly dissolved even under oxidation conditions by persulfate, and most of it was present in the form of Se/ZVI. It was confirmed that the persulfate activation rate could be controlled by controlling the reactivity of ZVI, which could greatly contribute to the improvement of the persulfate oxidation efficiency.

• 한국방재학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.02b
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• pp.155.2-155.2
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• 2009