Enhanced degradation of trichloroethene by calcium peroxide activated with Fe(III) in the presence of citric acid

Trichloroethene (TCE) degradation by Fe(III)-activated calcium peroxide (CP) in the presence of citric acid (CA) in aqueous solution was investigated. The results demonstrated that the presence of CA enhanced TCE degradation significantly by increasing the concentration of soluble Fe(III) and promoting H₂O₂ generation. The generation of HO? and O₂^-? in both the CP/Fe(III) and CP/Fe(III)/CA systems was confirmed with chemical probes. The results of radical scavenging tests showed that TCE degradation was due predominantly to direct oxidation by HO?, while O₂^-? strengthened the generation of HO? by promoting Fe(III) transformation in the CP/Fe(III)/CA system. Acidic pH conditions were favorable for TCE degradation, and the TCE degradation rate decreased with increasing pH. The presence of Cl^-, HCO₃^-, and humic acid (HA) inhibited TCE degradation to different extents for the CP/Fe(III)/CA system. Analysis of Cl^- production suggested that TCE degradation in the CP/Fe(III)/CA system occurred through a dechlorination process. In summary, this study provided detailed information for the application of CA-enhanced Fe(III)-activated calcium peroxide for treating TCE contaminated groundwater.     

Degradation of carbon tetrachloride in thermally activated persulfate system in the presence of formic acid

The thermally activated persulfate (PS) degradation of carbon tetrachloride (CT) in the presence of formic acid (FA) was investigated. The results indicated that CT degradation followed a zero order kinetic model, and CO ₂ ^– · was responsible for the degradation of CT confirmed by radical scavenger tests. CT degradation rate increased with increasing PS or FA dosage, and the initial CT had no effect on CT degradation rate. However, the initial solution pH had effect on the degradation of CT, and the best CT degradation occurred at initial pH 6. Cl^– had a negative effect on CT degradation, and high concentration of Cl^– displayed much strong inhibition. Ten mmol·L^–1HCO ₃ ^– promoted CT degradation, while 100 mmol·L^–1NO ₃ ^– inhibited the degradation of CT, but SO ₄ ^2– promoted CT degradation in the presence of FA. The measured Cl–concentration released into solution along with CT degradation was 75.8% of the total theoretical dechlorination yield, but no chlorinated intermediates were detected. The split of C-Cl was proposed as the possible reaction pathways in CT degradation. In conclusion, this study strongly demonstrated that the thermally activated PS system in the presence of FA is a promising technique in in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) remediation for CT contaminated site.     

Enhanced reductive degradation of carbon tetrachloride by carbon dioxide radical anion-based sodium percarbonate/Fe(II)/formic acid system in aqueous solution

Complete CT degradation was achieved by SPC/Fe(II)/FA system.Formic acid established the reductive circumstance by producing CO₂·^–.CO₂·^– was the dominant active species responsible for CT degradation.CT degradation was favorable in the pH range from 3.0 to 9.0.SPC/Fe(II)/FA system may be suitable for CT remediation in contaminated groundwater.The performance of sodium percarbonate (SPC) activated with ferrous ion (Fe(II)) with the addition of formic acid (FA) to stimulate the degradation of carbon tetrachloride (CT) was investigated. Results showed that CT could be entirely reduced within 15 min in the system at a variety of SPC/Fe(II)/FA/CT molar ratios in experimental level. Scavenging tests indicated that carbon dioxide radical anion (CO2·^–) was the dominant reactive oxygen species responsible for CT degradation. CT degradation rate, to a large extent, increased with increasing dosages of chemical agents and the optimal molar ratio of SPC/Fe(II)/FA/CT was set as 60/60/60/1. The initial concentration of CT can hardly affect the CT removal, while CT degradation was favorable in the pH range of 3.0–9.0, but apparently inhibited at pH 12. Cl^– and HCO₃^– of high concentration showed negative impact on CT removal. Cl^– released from CT was detected and the results confirmed nearly complete mineralization of CT. CT degradation was proposed by reductive C-Cl bond splitting. This study demonstrated that SPC activated with Fe(II) with the addition of FA may be promising technique for CT remediation in contaminated groundwater.     

Removal of cyanide in aqueous solution by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide in presence of activated alumina

This work is dedicated to the removal of free cyanide from aqueous solution by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide H₂O₂ catalyzed by neutral activated alumina. Effects of initial molar ratio [H₂O₂]₀/[CN^?]₀, catalyst amount, pH, and temperature on cyanide removal have been examined. The presence of activated alumina has increased the reaction rate showing thus, a catalytic activity. The rate of removal of cyanides increases with rising initial molar ratio [H₂O₂]₀/[CN^?]₀ but decreases at pH 10 to 12. Increasing the alumina amount from 1.0 to 30 g/L has a beneficial effect, and increasing the temperature from 20 °C to 35 °C improves cyanide removal. The kinetics of cyanide removal has been found to be of pseudo-first-order with respect to cyanide and the rate constants have been determined.