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Sequestration of Ag(I) from aqueous solution as Ag(0) nanostructures by nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI)

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Abstract

This study investigates the application of nanoparticle zero valent iron (nZVI) to sequester Ag(I) as Ag(0) nanostructures from aqueous solution. Batch experiments were performed with nZVI exposed to aqueous Ag(I) to investigate the effects of environmental parameters, including nZVI dose, temperature and pH. High temperature facilitates Ag(I) sequestration, and the rate constants are determined to be 0.02, 0.12, and 0.31 mg L/m2 at 30, 50, and 60 °C, respectively. Ag(I) sequestration was adversely affected by adding nitric acid to the solution due to significant acid washing, decreasing the available nZVI active sites. Characterization techniques including TEM, XRD, and HR-XPS revealed that nZVI is oxidized to lepidocrocite and magnetite/maghemite and confirmed the formation of nanocrystalline silver. HR-XPS analysis indicated that Ag2O forms rapidly as an intermediate due to Ag(I) adsorption onto the FeOOH layer. The Ag(0) nanostructures that are formed are fractal, spherical, and dendritic or rod-like, respectively, in morphology by FE-TEM images at different Ag/Fe mass ratios. A general reaction model for the interaction Ag(I) with nZVI is proposed. Our results suggest that nZVI is effective for Ag(I) removal.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partially supported by the fundamental research program of the National Key Technology R&D Program of China (2012BAJ25B02).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Yalei Zhang & Xuefei Zhou

  2. Modern Agricultural Science and Engineering Institute, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Jing Yan, Yuting Li & Yan Zhu

  3. College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Chaomeng Dai

Authors
  1. Yalei Zhang
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  2. Jing Yan
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  3. Chaomeng Dai
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  4. Yuting Li
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  5. Yan Zhu
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  6. Xuefei Zhou
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Correspondence to Yalei Zhang or Chaomeng Dai.

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Zhang, Y., Yan, J., Dai, C. et al. Sequestration of Ag(I) from aqueous solution as Ag(0) nanostructures by nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI). J Nanopart Res 17, 455 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-015-3256-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-015-3256-2

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