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Remediation of 1,2-dichlorobenzene contaminated soil by activated persulfate using green synthesized nanoscale zero valent iron: activation mechanism and degradation pathways

  • Soils, Sec 2 • Global Change, Environ Risk Assess, Sustainable Land Use • Research Article
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Abstract

Purpose

The method using persulfate (PS) activation is effective for the remediation of organic pollutants contaminated soil. This study aims to evaluate the possibility of the application of green synthesized nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI) activating PS for 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB) degradation in soil, investigate the effect of environmental factors such as nZVI dosage, PS concentration, and initial pH on 1,2-DCB removal efficiency and interpret the activation mechanism of nZVI for PS and degradation pathways of 1,2-DCB in soil.

Materials and methods

The contaminated soil was added to a brown bottle of 250 mL and dispersed in deionized water with a volume ratio of 1:5. Specified concentration of PS and nZVI were added to the bottle to initiate the degradation reaction. The bottle was placed on a reciprocating shaker at room temperature of 25 ºC. Control experiments containing PS or nZVI were also performed under the same reaction conditions. At desired time intervals, the well-mixed suspension of 10 mL slurry was transferred into 50 mL glass vials and centrifuged. 20 mL organic solvent with a volumetric ratio of hexane to acetone of 1:1 was added to 50 mL glass vials after the supernatant was discarded. 1,2-DCB and its degradation intermediates were analyzed by Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) through extract.

Results and discussion

The maximum degradation efficiency of 97.3% with total organic carbon (TOC) removal of 61.3% for 1,2-DCB was achieved under the reaction conditions of initial 1,2-DCB concentration of 28.6 mg kg−1 in soil, 67.2 mg L−1 nZVI, 1.2 mmol L−1 PS and pH 7.5. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) test indicated that SO4•− and •OH radicals were the dominant species being responsible for the degradation of 1,2-DCB. In addition, the GC-MS analysis showed that 3,4-dichlorophenol and o-chlorophenol were the primary intermediates, and the degradation pathways of 1,2-DCB were proposed subsequently.

Conclusions

nZVI was successfully synthesized through green processes based on extracted tea polyphenol, and utilized for the remediation of 1,2-DCB contaminated soil by activated PS. The generated free radicals were responsible for the efficient degradation of 1,2-DCB with high TOC removal. The findings might have significant implications for the remediation of 1,2-DCB contaminated soil utilizing the nZVI/PS system.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by National Key Research and Development Programme (Grant Nos. 2019YFC1804002 and 2018YFC1803000) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42077181).

Funding

National Key Research and Development Programme, 2019YFC1804002, Jinchun Yan, 2018YFC1803000, Mengfang Chen, National Natural Science Foundation of China, 42077181, Jinchun Yan

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China

    Jingchun Yan, Lei Yang, Linbo Qian, Lu Han & Mengfang Chen

  2. School of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou, 213164, China

    Linchao Hu

  3. Baowu Group Environmental Resources Technology Co, Ltd, Shanghai, 201900, China

    Weiguo Gao

  4. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Jingchun Yan, Lei Yang, Linbo Qian, Lu Han & Mengfang Chen

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  1. Jingchun Yan
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  2. Linchao Hu
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  4. Lei Yang
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  6. Lu Han
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Correspondence to Mengfang Chen.

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Highlights

• nZVI was synthesized through green processes using extracted tea polyphenol

• Efficient degradation of 1,2-DCB in soil was observed in the nZVI/PS system

• SO4• − and •OH radicals were accounted for 1,2-DCB degradation

• The intermediates and degradation pathways of 1,2-DCB were interpreted

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Yan, J., Hu, L., Gao, W. et al. Remediation of 1,2-dichlorobenzene contaminated soil by activated persulfate using green synthesized nanoscale zero valent iron: activation mechanism and degradation pathways. J Soils Sediments 22, 1135–1144 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-021-03116-5

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