Nanoscale iron particles for perchlorate reduction

IEC 133

Jiasheng Cao, Daniel Elliott, and Weixian Zhang. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University, Fritz Lab, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Perchlorate is generally a very stable anion in natural waters and presents a vexing problem for the groundwater remediation. We report here reduction of perchlorate to chloride using nanoscale iron particles. A near complete mass balance of chlorine was obtained for the complete reduction of perchlorate to chloride. The perchlorate reduction by nanoparticles is temperature sensitivity, with steadily increasing rate constant values of 0.013, 0.10, 0.64 and 1.52 mg perchlorate per g nanoparticles per hour (mg-g-1-hr-1), respectively, at temperatures of 25, 40, 60 and 75 °C. The apparent activation energy of perchlorate-iron reaction was calculated to be 79.02 ± 7.75 kJ/mole. The relatively large activation energy for this reaction indicates that perchlorate reduction is limited by slow kinetics. Data from this work suggest that iron nanoparticles may represent a treatment alternative for perchlorate-contaminated water.
 

Nanotechnology and the Environment
5:00 PM-7:00 PM, Tuesday, March 25, 2003 Convention Center -- Hall G, Poster

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, March 24, 2003 Convention Center -- Hall G, Sci-Mix

Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
The 225th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, March 23-27, 2003