Insight into Core–Shell Dependent Anoxic Cr(VI) Removal with Fe@Fe2O3 Nanowires: Indispensable Role of Surface Bound Fe(II)

In this study, we investigated the anoxic Cr(VI) removal with core-shell Fe@Fe2O3 nanowires. It was found the surface area normalized Cr(VI) removal rate constants of Fe@Fe2O3 nanowires first increased with increasing the iron oxide shell thickness and then decreased, suggesting that Fe@Fe2O3 nanowires possessed an interesting core-shell structure dependent Cr(VI) removal property. Meanwhile, the Cr(VI) removal efficiency was positively correlated to the amount of surface bound Fe(II). This result revealed that the core-shell structure dependent Cr(VI) removal property of Fe@Fe2O3 nanowires was mainly attributed to the reduction of Cr(VI) by the surface bound Fe(II) besides the reduction of Cr(VI) adsorbed on the iron oxide shell via the electrons transferred from the iron core. The indispensable role of surface bound Fe(II) was confirmed by Tafel polarization and high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic depth profiles analyses. X-ray diffraction patterns and scanning electron microscope images of the fresh and used Fe@Fe2O3 nanowires revealed the formation of Fe(III)/Cr(III)/Cr(VI) composite oxides during the anoxic Cr(VI) removal process. This study sheds a deep insight into the anoxic Cr(VI) removal mechanism of core-shell Fe@Fe2O3 nanowires and also provides an efficient Cr(VI) removal method.