Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Using Low-Cost Iron Byproducts from Automotive Manufacturing to Remediate DDT

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Water, soil and sediment contaminated with DDT poses a threat to the environment and human health. Previous studies have shown that zerovalent iron (ZVI) can effectively remediate water contaminated with pesticides like DDT, metolachlor, alachlor. Because the type of iron can significantly influence the efficiency and expense of ZVI technology, finding a cheaper and easily available iron source is one way of making this technology more affordable for field application. This study determined the effects of iron source, solution pH, and presence of Fe or Al salts on the destruction of DDT. Batch experiments demonstrated successful removal of DDT (>95% in 30 d) in aqueous solutions by three different iron sources with the following order of removal rates: untreated iron byproduct (1.524 d−1) > commercial ZVI (0.277 d−1) > surface-cleaned iron byproduct (0.157 d−1). DDT removal rate was greatest with the untreated iron byproduct because of its high carbon content resulted in high DDT adsorption. DDT destruction rate by surface-cleaned iron byproduct increased as the pH decreased from 9 to 3. Lowering solution pH removes Fe (III) passivating layers from the ZVI and makes it free for reductive transformations. By treating DDT aqueous solutions with surface-cleaned iron byproduct, the destruction kinetics of DDT were enhanced when Fe(II), Fe(III) or Al(III) salts were added, with the following order of destruction kinetics: Al(III) sulfate > Fe(III) sulfate > Fe(II) sulfate. Cost analysis showed that the cost for one kg of surface-cleaned iron byproduct was $12.33, which is less expensive than the commercial ZVI. Therefore, using surface-cleaned iron byproduct may be a viable alternative for remediating DDT-contaminated environments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agrawal, A., & Tratnyek, P.G. (1996). Reduction of nitro aromatic compounds by zerovalent iron metal. Environmental Science and Technology, 30, 153–160.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alowitz, M.J., & Scherer, M.M. (2002). Kinetics of nitrate, nitrite and Cr(VI) reduction by iron metal. Environmental Science and Technology, 36, 299–306.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amonette, J.E., Workman, D.J., & Kennedy, D.W. (2000). Dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride by Fe(II) associated with goethite. Environmental Science and Technology, 34, 4606–4613.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blowes, D.W., Ptacek, C.J., & Jabor, J.L. (1997). In situ remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated groundwater using permeale reactive walls: Laboratory studies. Environmental Science and Technology, 31, 3348–3357.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolt, H.M., & Degen, G.H. (2002). Comparative assessment of endocrine modulators with oestrogenic activity. II Persistent organochlorine pollutants. Archives of Toxicology, 76, 187–193.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Comfort, S.D., Shea, P.J., Machacek, T.A., Gaber, H., & Oh B.-T. (2001). Field scale remediation of a metolachlor-contaminated spill site using zerovalent iron. Journal of Environmental Quality, 30, 1636–1643.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dombek, T., Dolan, F., Schultz, J., & Klarup, D. (2001). Rapid reductive dechlorination of atrazine by zero-valent iron under acidic conditions. Environmental Pollution, 111, 21–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eggen, T., & Majcherczyk, A. (2006). Effects of zero-valent iron (Fe0) and temperature on the transformation of DDT and its metabolites in lake sediment. Chemosphere, 62, 1116–1125.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eykholt, G.R., & Davenport, D.T. (1998). Dechlorination of the chloroacetanilide herbicide alachlor and metolachlor by iron metal. Environmental Science and Technology, 32, 1481–1487.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, J., Kason, M., Melitas, N., & Li, T. (2002). Investigation of the long-term performance of zero-valent iron for reductive dechlorination of trichloroethylene. Environmental Science and Technology, 34, 514–521.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fiedor, J.N., Bostick, W.D., Jarabek, R.J., & Farrel, J. (1998). Understanding the mechanism of uranium removal from groundwater by zero-valent iron using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Environmental Science and Technology, 32, 1466–1473.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gaber, H.M., Comfort, S.D., Shea, P.J., & Machacek, T.A. (2002). Metolachlor dechlorination by zerovalent iron during unsaturated transport. Journal of Environmental Quality, 31, 62–969.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillham, R.W., & O'Hannesin, S.F. (1994). Enhanced degradation of halogenated aliphatics by zero-valent iron. Groundwater, 32, 958–967.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gregory, K.B., Larese-Casanova, P., Parkin, G.F., & Scherer, M.M. (2004). Abiotic transformation of hexahydro-1,3, 5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine by FeII bound to magnetite. Environmental Science and Technology, 38, 1408–1414.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hongtrakul, T., Chulintorn, P., Thangnipon W., & Sakulthiengtrong, S. (2005). POPs pesticides in Thailand' abstract, UNU International Symposium on Ecosystem Impacts of POPs, Bangkok, Thailand April 26–27, 2005.

  • Huang, Y.H., Zhang, T.C., Shea, P.J., & Comfort, S.D. (2003). Effects of oxide coating and selected cations on nitrate reduction by iron metal. Journal of Environmental Quality, 32, 1306–1315.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, T.L., Scherer, M.M., & Trantnyek P.G. (1996). Kinetics of halogenated organic compound degradation by iron metal. Environmental Science and Technology, 30, 2634–2640.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kile, D. E., & Chiou, C. T. (1989). Water solubility enhancements of DDT and TCB by some surfactants below and above the critical micelle concentration. Environmental Science and Technology, 23, 832–838.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klausen, J., Trober, S.P., Haderlein, S.B., & Schwarzenbach, R.P. (1995). Reduction of substituted nitrobenzenes by Fe(II) in aqueous mineral suspensions. Environmental Science and Technology, 29, 2396–2404.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Light, T.S. (1972). Standard solution for redox potential measurement. Analytical Chemistry, 44, 1038–1039.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park, J., Comfort, S.D., Shea, P.J., & Machacek, T.A. (2004). Remediaitng munitions-contaminated soil with zerovalent iron and cationic surfactants. Journal of Environmental Quality, 33, 1305–1313.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park, J., Comfort, S.D., Shea, P.J., & Kim, J.S. (2005). Increasing Fe0-mediated HMX destruction in highly contaminated soil with didecyldimethylammoniumbromide surfactant. Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 9683–9688.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quensen III, J.F., Tiedje, J.M., Jain, M.K., & Mueller, S.A. (2001). Factors controlling the rate of DDE to DDMU in Palos Verdes Margin under anaerobic condition. Environmental Science and Technology, 35, 286–291.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sakulthiengtrong, S., Wesyanon, M., Baiadul, P., & Hruth- aithanasun, P. (2002). Contamination of hazardous mater- ials in groundwater. Proceedings of 4th department of hazardous material conferences, Karbi, Thailand pp. 64–73.

  • Satapanajaru, T., Comfort, S.D., & Shea, P.S. (2003a). Enhancing metolachlor destruction rates with aluminum and iron salts during zerovalent iron treatment. Journal of Environmental Quality, 32, 1726–1734.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Satapanajaru, T., Shea, P.J., Comfort, S.D., & Roh, Y. (2003b). Green rust and iron oxide formation influences metolachlor dechlorination during zerovalent iron treatment. Environmental Science and Technology, 37, 5219–5227.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sayles, D.G., You, G., Wang, M., & Kupferle, M.J. (1997). DDT, DDD, and DDE dechlorination by zerovalent iron. Environmental Science and Technology, 31, 3448–3454.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwertmann, U., & Cornell, R.M. (1991). Iron oxides in the laboratory. New York: VCH Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, J., Shea, P.J., Hundal, L.S., Comfort, S.D., Zhang, T.C., & Hage, D.S. (1998). Iron-enhanced remediation of water and soil containing atrazine. Weed Science, 46, 381–388.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stookey, L.L. (1970). Ferrozine- a new spectrophotometric reagent for iron. Analytical Chemistry, 42, 779–781.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Till, B.A., Weathers, L.J., & Alvarez, P.J.J. (1998). Fe(0)-supported autotrophic denitrification. Environmental Science and Technology, 32, 634–639.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (United State Environmental Protection Agency). (1994). Method 8080A: organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls by gas chromatography. Washington, DC. USA: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (United State Environmental Protection Agency) (1980). Ambient water quality criteria for DDT' EPA 440/5-80-038. Washington, DC. USA: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (World Health Organisation) (1989). DDT and its derivatives: Environmental aspects. Geneva, Switzerland: Environmental Health Criteria 83. WHO, pp. 6–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • You, G.R., Sayles, G.D., Kupferle, M.J., Kim, I.S., & Bisphop, P.L. (1996). Anaerobic DDT biotransformation:enhancement by application of surfactants and low oxidation reduction potential. Chemosphere, 32, 226–2284.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    T. Satapanajaru & P. Anurakpongsatorn

  2. Department of Chemistry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    A. Songsasen

  3. School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA

    H. Boparai

  4. H&H Eco System, INC., North Bonneville, WA, 98639, USA

    J. Park

Authors
  1. T. Satapanajaru
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Anurakpongsatorn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Songsasen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H. Boparai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Satapanajaru.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Satapanajaru, T., Anurakpongsatorn, P., Songsasen, A. et al. Using Low-Cost Iron Byproducts from Automotive Manufacturing to Remediate DDT. Water Air Soil Pollut 175, 361–374 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-006-9143-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-006-9143-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation