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Nanoscale zero-valent iron flakes for groundwater treatment

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An Erratum to this article was published on 21 March 2016

Abstract

Even today the remediation of organic contaminant source zones poses significant technical and economic challenges. Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) injections have proved to be a promising approach especially for source zone treatment. We present the development and the characterization of a new kind of NZVI with several advantages on the basis of laboratory experiments, model simulations and a field test. The developed NZVI particles are manufactured by milling, consist of 85 % Fe(0) and exhibit a flake-like shape with a thickness of <100 nm. The mass normalized perchloroethylene (PCE) dechlorination rate constant was 4.1 × 10−3 L/g h compared to 4.0 × 10−4 L/g h for a commercially available reference product. A transport distance of at least 190 cm in quartz sand with a grain size of 0.2–0.8 mm and Fe(0) concentrations between 6 and 160 g/kg (sand) were achieved without significant indications of clogging. The particles showed only a low acute toxicity and had no longterm inhibitory effects on dechlorinating microorganisms. During a field test 280 kg of the iron flakes was injected to a depth of 10–12 m into quaternary sand layers with hydraulic conductivities ranging between 10−4 and 10−5 m/s. Fe(0) concentrations of 1 g/kg (sand) or more [up to 100 g/kg (sand)] were achieved in 80 % of the targeted area. The iron flakes have so far remained reactive for more than 1 year and caused a PCE concentration decrease from 20.000–30.000 to 100–200 µg/L. Integration of particle transport processes into the OpenGeoSys model code proved suitable for site-specific 3D prediction and optimization of iron flake injections.

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Acknowledgments

This work is part of the joint project NAPASAN (Nanoparticles for ground water remediation) which was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) under the Grant Number 03X0097 within the research program NanoNature (Nanotechnologies for Environmental Protection—Value and Impact) which is part of the framework program WING (Material Innovations for Industry and Society).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Geosciences, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel (CAU), Olshausenstr. 40, 24098, Kiel, Germany

    R. Köber, G. Hornbruch & T. J. Strutz

  2. Institute for Environmental Research (Biology 5), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany

    H. Hollert, H. Maes, A. Schäffer & A. Schiwy

  3. Technical University of Berlin, Str. des 17. Juni, 10623, Berlin, Germany

    M. Jekel & H. Paar

  4. UVR-FIA GmbH, Chemnitzer Straße 40, 09599, Freiberg, Germany

    A. Kamptner & S. Thümmler

  5. VEGAS-Research Facility for Subsurface Remediation, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    N. Klaas, A. Matheis & J. Braun

  6. DECHEMA-Forschungsinstitut, Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25, 60486, Frankfurt, Germany

    K.-M. Mangold

  7. Fugro Consult GmbH, Volkmaroder Straße 8c, 38104, Braunschweig, Germany

    E. Martac

  8. Department of Environmental Biotechnology, TZW-Water Technology Center, Karlsruher Straße 84, 76139, Karlsruhe, Germany

    H. Schell, K. R. Schmidt & A. Tiehm

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  1. R. Köber
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  2. H. Hollert
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  3. G. Hornbruch
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  10. A. Matheis
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Correspondence to R. Köber.

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Köber, R., Hollert, H., Hornbruch, G. et al. Nanoscale zero-valent iron flakes for groundwater treatment. Environ Earth Sci 72, 3339–3352 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3239-0

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