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Preparation and characterization of ZSM5-supported nano-zero-valent iron and its potential application in nitrate remediation from aqueous solution

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Abstract

Zeolite Socony Mobil-5 (ZSM5)-supported nano-zero-valent iron (NZVI@ZSM5) was synthesized using homogenous precipitation method. The prepared particles were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), atomic force microscope, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller as well as Fourier transform spectroscopy. The TEM image confirms the formation of NZVI particles with average size of 15 nm within ZSM5 pores. Moreover, the ability of the NZVI@ZSM5 in nitrate removal from industrial wastewaters was tested. The effects of different parameters such as solution pH, NZVI@ZSM5-nitrate solution contact time, amounts of NZVI@ZSM5, initial nitrate concentration and nitrate solution volume on removal efficiency were investigated. More than 97% nitrate ion was removed at pH = 2.5, 30 min contact time, and 0.55 g NZVI@ZSM5 for 100 mL of 50 µg mL−1 nitrate. It was also shown that among the four fitted adsorption isotherms, Langmuir isotherm gives the best description of the adsorption process. Kinetic studies showed that nitrate removal using NZVI@ZSM5 obeys pseudo-second-order kinetics (R 2 = 0.9998). The present method was successfully applied to the removal of nitrate contents of different wastewater gathered from the different industries located in the Khuzestan province, Iran. The reduction in their nitrate contents was in the range of 94–99%.

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Acknowledgements

The financial support of Payame Noor University, Nanotechnology Research Center of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, and Research Institute of Petroleum Industry is acknowledged. We gratefully thank the warm collaboration of the Ahvaz water and wastewater agency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI), West Blvd., Near Azadi Sports Complex, Tehran, Iran

    M. Shekarriz

  2. Nano-Technology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

    Z. Ramezani

  3. Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Shiraz Payame-Noor University, Shiraz, Iran

    F. Elhami

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  1. M. Shekarriz
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  2. Z. Ramezani
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Correspondence to Z. Ramezani.

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Editorial responsibility: Binbin Huang.

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Shekarriz, M., Ramezani, Z. & Elhami, F. Preparation and characterization of ZSM5-supported nano-zero-valent iron and its potential application in nitrate remediation from aqueous solution. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 14, 1081–1090 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-016-1213-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-016-1213-y

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