Insights on the nitrate reduction and norfloxacin oxidation over a novel nanoscale zero valent iron particle: Reactivity, products, and mechanism

Herein, the application of a novel acid mine drainage-based nanoscale zero valent iron (AMD-based nZVI) for the remediation of nitrate and norfloxacin (NOR) was studied. Experimental results indicated that the catalytic reactivity of AMD-based nZVI toward nitrate reduction was superior to that of iron salt-based nanoscale zero valent iron (Iron salt-based nZVI). The presence of ultrasound irradiation could significantly enhance the reactivity toward both the nitrate reduction and NOR oxidation processes. The optimal efficiencies of nitrate and NOR by AMD-based nZVI/US process could be kept 96 and 94% within 120 min, respectively. Ammonia was identified as a major product in nitrate reduction process, while three oxidation products were observed in NOR degradation process. Both reduction reaction of nitrate from AMD-based nZVI and oxidation reaction of NOR from US-assisted Fenton system might be involved in AMD-based nZVI/US process. The AMD-based nZVI/US process showed a better performance on the removal of NOR compared with that of nitrate. The findings of the present work could be as a guide and show that AMD-based nZVI/US process is feasible for the remediation of both nitrate and NOR in real wastewater.