Degradation of simazine from aqueous solutions by diatomite-supported nanosized zero-valent iron composite materials.
A novel composite material based on deposition of nanosized zero-valent iron (nZVI) particles on acid-leached diatomite was synthesised for the removal of a chlorinated contaminant in water. The nZVI/diatomite composites were characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Compared with the pure nZVI particles, better dispersion of nZVI particles on the surface or inside the pores of diatom shells was observed. The herbicide simazine was selected as the model chlorinated contaminant and the removal efficiency by nZVI/diatomite composite was compared with that of the pristine nZVI and commercial iron powder. It was found that the diatomite supported nZVI composite material prepared by centrifugation exhibits relatively better efficient activity in decomposition of simazine than commercial Fe, lab synthesised nZVI and composite material prepared via rotary evaporation, and the optimum experimental conditions were obtained based on a series of batch experiments. This study on immobilising nZVI particles onto diatomite opens a new avenue for the practical application of nZVI and the diatomite-supported nanosized zero-valent iron composite materials have potential applications in environmental remediation.
School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing 100083, PR China; Chemistry Discipline, Faculty of Science and Technology, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia.
Zhiming
Z
Sun
Shuilin
S
Zheng
Godwin A
GA
Ayoko
Ray L
RL
Frost
Yunfei
Y
Xi
D000327:Adsorption; D002384:Catalysis; D002713:Chlorine / Q000737:chemistry; D007692:Diatomaceous Earth / Q000737:chemistry; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods; D006540:Herbicides / Q000032:analysis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010316:Particle Size; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D012839:Simazine / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D006540:Herbicides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002713:Chlorine; D007692:Diatomaceous Earth; C033787:diatomite; D007501:Iron; D012839:Simazine
Composite material; Diatomite; Simazine; Zero-valent iron