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Synthesis of nZVI@reduced graphene oxide: an efficient catalyst for degradation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) in percarbonate system

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Abstract

Graphene-oxide-supported nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) composite (nZVI–rGO) was synthesized and tested as an efficient percarbonate activator for degradation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA). Significant dispersion of nZVI on the surface of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was observed, with good limitation of nanoparticle agglomeration and aggregation. Good TCA degradation efficiency of 90% was achieved in 2.5 h in presence of 0.8 g/l nZVI–rGO catalyst and 30 mM sodium percarbonate (SPC) oxidant; however, excessive catalyst or oxidant concentration reduced the degradation efficiency. Investigation of reactive oxygen species using radical probe compounds as well as radical scavengers confirmed presence of hydroxyl (OH·) and superoxide (\({\text{O}}_{2}^{\cdot - }\)) radicals that are responsible for the TCA degradation. The morphology and surface characteristics of the heterogeneous catalyst were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis revealed that the synthesized catalyst had large surface area and small particle size of 299.12 m2/g and 20.10 nm, respectively, compared with 5.33 m2/g and 1.12 µm for bare graphene oxide. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed good dispersion of nZVI on the surface of rGO. Fourier-transform infrared characteristic peaks confirmed strong attachment of Fe onto the rGO surface. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy analysis validated the stoichiometric composition of the prepared Fe/rGO material. In conclusion, use of nZVI–rGO-activated SPC could represent an alternative technique for remediation of TCA-contaminated groundwater.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 41373094 and 51208199), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015M570341), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (22A201514057). One of the authors would like to thank KKS—the Knowledge Foundation of Sweden and industrial partners (Mälarenergi and Eskilstuna Energi och Miljö) for their funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China

    Usman Farooq, Muhammad Danish, Shuguang Lu, Xiaogang Gu, Xiaro Fu & Xiang Zhang

  2. Department of Energy, Building and Environment, Mälardalen University, 72123, Västerås, Sweden

    Muhammmad Naqvi

  3. IRCBM, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore, Pakistan

    Muhammad Nasir

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  1. Usman Farooq
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Correspondence to Shuguang Lu.

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Farooq, U., Danish, M., Lu, S. et al. Synthesis of nZVI@reduced graphene oxide: an efficient catalyst for degradation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) in percarbonate system. Res Chem Intermed 43, 3219–3236 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-016-2821-3

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