Catalytic dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol by Ni/Fe nanoparticles in the presence of humic acid: intermediate products and some experimental parameters

Abstract

The catalytic dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) by Ni/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles in the presence of humic acid (HA) was investigated in order to understand their applicability for in situ remediation of groundwater. 2,4-DCP was catalytically dechlorinated to form the final products – phenol (P) via two intermediates, o-chlorophenol (o-CP) and p-chlorophenol (p-CP). It was demonstrated that the carbon mass balances during the dechlorination were between 84% and 92%, and other carbons were adsorbed on the surface of Ni/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles. The experimental results suggest that HA competed for reaction sites on the Ni/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles with 2,4-DCP, and thus reduced the efficiency and rate of the dechlorination of 2,4-DCP. The catalytic degradation slowed down as the increase of HA in solution, and when HA's concentrations were 0, 10, 20 and 30 mg L−1, the maximum concentrations of o-CP were 0.025, 0.041, 0.039 and 0.034 mM in 10, 30, 30 and 30 min, respectively. High Ni content, low initial pH value, high Ni/Fe nanoparticles’ dosage and high temperature favoured the catalytic dechlorination of 2,4-DCP. The experimental results show that no other intermediates were generated besides Cl−, o-CP, p-CP and P during the catalytic dechlorination of 2,4-DCP.