Chemical reduction of nitrate by nanosized iron: kinetics and pathways

This study was conducted to investigate chemical reduction of nitrate by nanoscale zero-valent iron (ZVI) in aqueous solution and related kinetics and pathways. In the last decade, employment of micro-scale ZVI has gained its popularity in nitrate reduction. To further study chemical reduction of nitrate, nanosized iron was synthesized and tested in this work. It has a size in the range of 50–80 nm and a BET surface area of 37.83 m 2 g −1. Chemical reduction of nitrate by nanosized iron under various pHs was carried out in batch experiments. Experimental results suggest that nitrate reduction by nanosized ZVI primarily is an acid-driven surface-mediated process. A stronger acidic condition is more favorable for nitrate reduction. Results of the kinetics study have indicated that a higher initial concentration of nitrate would yield a greater reaction rate constant. Additional test results also showed that the reduction rate of nitrate increased as the dose of nanosized ZVI increased. In all tests, reaction rate equations developed do not obey the first- or pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics with respect to the nitrate concentration. Based on the research findings obtained, two possible reaction pathways for nitrate reduction by nanoscale iron particles have been proposed in this work.