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Enhanced transformation and dechlorination of p-chloronitrobenzene in the combined ZVI–anaerobic sludge system

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Abstract

The combination of zero-valent iron (ZVI) with anaerobic sludge for enhancing reductive transformation and dechlorination of p-chloronitrobenzene (p-ClNB) was investigated in this study. p-ClNB was quickly reduced into p-chloroaniline (p-ClAn) and subsequently dechlorinated into aniline in the complex system, and the strengthening factor for pseudo-first-order transformation rate constant of p-ClNB (Q, k ZVI + sludge/(k sludge + k ZVI)) was above 3. The Q values for the different ZVI types with anaerobic sludge were as following: Reduced ZVI (RZVI) > Industrial ZVI > Nanoscale ZVI (NZVI). Thereinto, the aggregation of NZVI occurred, and its reaction activity declined. Furthermore, the increase of ZVI dosage promoted the p-ClNB transformation, but the p-ClAn dechlorination rate and Q value were not improved. With the anaerobic biomass increasing, the dechlorination rate of p-ClAn was significantly enhanced, and the Q value had positive relation with the mass ratio of anaerobic sludge to RZVI.

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Acknowledgments

The works were funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 50378082, and 50778158).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Liang Zhu, Haizhuan Lin, Jiaoqin Qi & Xiangyang Xu

  2. Wenzhou Environmental Protection Design Scientific Institute, Wenzhou, 325000, China

    Haizhuan Lin

  3. ZJU-UWA Joint Centre in Integrated Water Management and Protection, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Xiangyang Xu

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  1. Liang Zhu
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  2. Haizhuan Lin
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  3. Jiaoqin Qi
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  4. Xiangyang Xu
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Correspondence to Xiangyang Xu.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Zhu, L., Lin, H., Qi, J. et al. Enhanced transformation and dechlorination of p-chloronitrobenzene in the combined ZVI–anaerobic sludge system. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 6119–6127 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1631-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1631-z

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