Complete Defluorination of Perfluorinated Compounds by Hydrated Electrons Generated from 3-Indole-acetic-acid in Organomodified Montmorillonite.
Here we describe a unique process that achieves complete defluorination and decomposition of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) which comprise one of the most recalcitrant and widely distributed classes of toxic pollutant chemicals found in natural environments. Photogenerated hydrated electrons derived from 3-indole-acetic-acid within an organomodified clay induce the reductive defluorination of co-sorbed PFCs. The process proceeds to completion within a few hours under mild reaction conditions. The organomontmorillonite clay promotes the formation of highly reactive hydrated electrons by stabilizing indole radical cations formed upon photolysis, and prevents their deactivation by reaction with protons or oxygen. In the constrained interlayer regions of the clay, hydrated electrons and co-sorbed PFCs are brought in close proximity thereby increasing the probability of reaction. This novel green chemistry provides the basis for in situ and ex situ technologies to treat one of the most troublesome, recalcitrant and ubiquitous classes of environmental contaminants, i.e., PFCs, utilizing innocuous reagents, naturally occurring materials and mild reaction conditions.
State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China.
Haoting
H
Tian
Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P. R. China.
Juan
J
Gao
Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States.
Hui
H
Li
Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States.
Stephen A
SA
Boyd
State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China.
Cheng
C
Gu
D001546:Bentonite / Q000378:metabolism*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D004583:Electrons; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D017611:Fluorine Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D054879:Halogenation; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010782:Photolysis; D011522:Protons
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D017611:Fluorine Compounds; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D011522:Protons; D001546:Bentonite; C030737:indoleacetic acid; D010100:Oxygen