Synergistic roles of Fe(II) on simultaneous removal of hexavalent chromium and trichloroethylene by attapulgite-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron/persulfate system

Synthesized attapulgite-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (AT-nZVI) composite/persulfate (PS) systems were utilized to simultaneously remove hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and trichloroethylene (TCE) from aqueous solutions. The structures of AT-nZVI before and after the reaction with Cr(VI)-TCE were characterized by TEM-EDS-Mapping, HR-TEM and HR-XPS with ion sputtering. The effects of initial Cr(VI), TCE and PS concentrations, and PS addition time intervals on Cr(VI)-TCE removal efficiencies were evaluated. Experimental results revealed that the AT-nZVI composites with 1 mM PS can effectively and simultaneously remove Cr(VI) and TCE with the removal efficiencies of Cr(VI) and TCE reaching 90.02% and 90.40% respectively. It is thought that PS promoted TCE oxidation and the reduction of Cr(VI), which was predominately controlled by Fe(II). TCE was mainly degraded by free radical oxidation resulting from the PS activation of AT-nZVI. The enhanced Cr(VI) removal was attributed to the exposed areas and available active sites of nZVI, and Fe(II) in the solution increased by PS-mediated processes of rapid corrosion and dissolution of nZVI. The dual roles of AT-nZVI as a activator for PS activation and reductant for Cr(VI) reduction in Cr(VI)-TCE removal were identified. This implies that AT-nZVI/PS can be utilized as potential remediation reagents for simultaneous removal of heavy metal and chlorinated solvents in groundwater frequently encountered in contaminated sites.