The decreasing aggregation of nanoscale zero-valent iron induced by trivalent chromium
Danlie Jiang A B , Xialin Hu A C , Rui Wang A , Yujing Wang B and Daqiang Yin A C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.
B School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Xi’an Technological University, 4 Jinhua Road, Xi’an 710032, China.
C State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.
D Corresponding author. Email: yindq@tongji.edu.cn
Environmental Chemistry 14(2) 99-105 https://doi.org/10.1071/EN16144
Submitted: 10 June 2016 Accepted: 2 November 2016 Published: 15 December 2016
Environmental context. Nanoscale zero-valent iron is a promising material for environmental engineering and groundwater remediation. However, the environmental behaviour and fate of nanoscale iron that is essential for applications and risk assessment is still uncertain. We report a study on the aggregation behaviour and mobility of nanoscale iron in the aquatic environment using colloidal chemical methods.
Abstract. Despite high magnetisation, nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) exhibits weak aggregation when treating hexavalent chromium (CrVI) (0.02 mmol L–1) under anaerobic circumstances, which leads to the enhancement of its mobility in the aquatic environment. To elucidate such an unexpected phenomenon, the influences of different valences of chromium on the aggregation behaviour of nZVI were examined. Results indicate that trivalent chromium (CrIII) greatly decreases the aggregation of nZVI in acidic conditions (pH 5), while little influence is observed at a higher pH (pH 7). We suggest that such influences are mainly a result of precipitation on the surface of nZVI particles, which prevents the formation of chain-like aggregates. Accordingly, although the particles are highly magnetic (magnetite content >70 %, saturation magnetisation = 363 kA m–1), the magnetic attraction between aggregates and particles is not strong enough to promote further aggregation. Furthermore, the Cr(OH)3 shell blocks collisions between particles and greatly enhances their zeta-potential, which also assists in preventing aggregation. Our results suggest that heavy metals can significantly affect the environmental behaviours of nanoparticles.
Additional keywords: colloidal stability, (E)DLVO theory, valence state.
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