title: Study of the presence of PCDDs/PCDFs on zero-valent iron nanoparticles.
abstract: Studies show that nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) particles enhance the formation of chlorinated compounds such as polychlorinated dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) during thermal processes. However, it is unclear whether nZVI acts as a catalyst for the formation of these compounds or contains impurities, such as PCDD/Fs, within its structure. We analyzed the presence of PCDD/Fs in nZVI particles synthesized through various production methods to elucidate this uncertainty. None of the 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners were found in the commercially-produced nZVI, but they were present in the laboratory-synthesized nZVI produced through the borohydride method, particularly in particles synthesized from iron (III) chloride rather than from iron sulfate. Total PCDD/F WHO-TEQ concentrations of up to 35 pg/g were observed in nZVI particles, with hepta- and octa-chlorinated congeners being the most abundant. The reagents used in the borohydride method were also analyzed, and our findings suggest that FeCl3effectively contains PCDD/Fs at concentrations that could explain the concentrations observed in the nZVI product. Both FeCl3and nZVI showed a similar PCDD/F patterns with slight differences. These results suggest that PCDD/Fs might transfer from FeCl3to nZVI during the production method, and thus, care should be taken when employing certain nZVI for environmental remediation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87, Umeå, Sweden; Chemical Engineering Department, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig Road, s/n, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain. Electronic address: blanca.calderon@ua.es.
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Calderon
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lundin
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig Road, s/n, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aracil
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig Road, s/n, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fullana
mesh_terms: D001572:Benzofurans / Q000737:chemistry*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D005663:Furans / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D058085:Iron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000737:chemistry*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D005663:Furans; D058085:Iron Compounds; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012722:Sewage; D007501:Iron
keywords: Iron chloride; Nanoparticles; PCDD/F; Toxicity; nZVI