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The key role of biochar in the rapid removal of decabromodiphenyl ether from aqueous solution by biochar-supported Ni/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles

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Abstract

Some problems exist in the current remediation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from aqueous solution by using iron-based nanoparticles. Our efforts have contributed to the synthesis of biochar-supported Ni/Fe bimetallic nanoparticle composites (BC@Ni/Fe). Under the optimum operating parameters of BC@Ni/Fe, the morphologic analysis revealed that biochar effectively solved the agglomeration of Ni/Fe nanoparticles and the removal efficiency of BDE209 obtained by BC@Ni/Fe (91.29%) was seven times higher than the sum of biochar (2.55%) and Ni/Fe (11.22%) in 10 min. The degradation products of BDE209 in the solution and absorbed on the BC@Ni/Fe were analyzed with gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, which indicated that the degradation of BDE209 was mainly a process of stepwise debromination. Meanwhile, compared with Ni/Fe nanoparticles, the adsorption ability of the by-products of BDE209 by BC@Ni/Fe was greater, to a certain extent, which reduced the additional environmental burden. In addition, the concentration of nickle ion leaching from the Ni/Fe nanoparticles was 3.09 mg/L; conversely, the concentration of nickle leaching from BC@Ni/Fe was not detected. This excellent performance in our study indicates a possible means to enhance the reactivity and reduce the secondary risks of Ni/Fe nanoparticles.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge financial support from the Joint Foundation of NSFC-Guangdong Province (Grant No. U1401235).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 51006, China

    Yunqiang Yi, Juan Wu, Yufen Wei & Zhanqiang Fang

  2. Guangdong Technology Research Centre for Ecological Management and Remediation of Water System, Guangzhou, 51006, China

    Yunqiang Yi, Juan Wu, Yufen Wei & Zhanqiang Fang

  3. Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 00852, China

    Eric Pokeung Tsang

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  1. Yunqiang Yi
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  2. Juan Wu
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  3. Yufen Wei
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Correspondence to Zhanqiang Fang.

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Yi, Y., Wu, J., Wei, Y. et al. The key role of biochar in the rapid removal of decabromodiphenyl ether from aqueous solution by biochar-supported Ni/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles. J Nanopart Res 19, 245 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-017-3927-2

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