Dechlorination of persistent organic pollutants in petrochemical wastewater sludge through a planetary ball mill using synthesized nanocomposite

Numerous tons of hazardous wastes containing persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are stored in an unsafe manner in the petrochemical industries. The planetary ball mill causes the formation of mineral Cl compounds during the degradation of polychlorinated compounds in the presence of various reagents. In addition, the planetary ball mill has been applied for the synthesis of diverse organic-inorganic hybrid nanomaterials. In the present study, Fe-metal organic framework was prepared using a planetary ball mill, and then Fe@C nanocomposite with core/shell structure was synthesised by carbonisation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were utilised to study the synthesised materials. The nanocomposite was used as a reagent to degrade persistent organic pollutants in the sludge of a petrochemical wastewater treatment plant by a planetary ball mill. CaO was also used to compare the effect of nanocomposites on system performance. Ion chromatography (IC) analysis was carried out to determine chlorine mineralisation. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy were applied to determine chemical bonds. The results illustrated a zero-valent iron nanoparticle in the core protected by carbon shell in a synthesised nanocomposite with a core/shell structure. Hence, nanocomposite was the most efficient additive, with 97% dechlorination efficiency in the first hour while the efficiency of the planetary ball mill in the presence of CaO was only 76% after 12 hours of milling. Furthermore, major changes occurred in the organic phases, carbon and chlorine bonds. Simultaneously, graphite and amorphous carbon were produced in the final products after milling. This indicates that aromatic structures and C-Cl bonds were broken down into inorganic compounds. Thus, this study presented a practical method of producing materials while degrading hazardous pollutants in petrochemical wastewater sludge through a planetary ball mill.