Trichloroethene degradation by nanoscale CaO2 activated with Fe(II)/FeS: The role of FeS and the synergistic activation mechanism of Fe(II)/FeS

Abstract

The performance of trichloroethene (TCE) degradation was significantly improved with the addition of FeS in nanoscale calcium peroxide (nCP) environment and the enhancement of HO generation in nCP/Fe(II)/FeS system was confirmed by comparison with nCP/Fe(II) and nCP/FeS systems. The role of FeS in nCP/Fe(II)/FeS system demonstrated that the majority of reactive oxygen radicals (ROSs) was generated on the catalyst surface due to the heterogeneous reaction through FeS activated nCP in one hand, and the reductive FeS could promote TCE degradation by regenerating Fe(II) from Fe(III) in the other hand. The probe as well as scavenger test results suggested that the major ROSs was HO rather than O2−. Over 91.5% TCE could be degraded at the molar ratio of 2/2/4/1 of nCP/Fe(II)/FeS/TCE, in which more than 95.5% TCE was dechlorinated. The effect of surfactants on TCE degradation was evaluated. In contrast, further investigation found that BTEX removal was inhibited with the addition of FeS. In conclusion, this study revealed the well function and fundamental synergistic mechanism of FeS. Moreover, the degradation of TCE in actual groundwater confirmed that nCP/Fe(II)/FeS technique has a great advantage and potential in TCE contaminated groundwater remediation in ISCO practice.