Insights into enhanced removal of 1,2-dichloroethane by amorphous boron-enhanced Fenton system: Performances and mechanisms

In this study, amorphous boron was employed as a reductant in traditional Fenton system for the first time to accelerate the regeneration of Fe(II). The degradation of 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA) was only 40.0% in Fenton system, while in the presence of amorphous boron, it could reach to 93.0% in 60 min. HO• was demonstrated to be the major reactive oxygen species (ROSs) and responsible for DCA degradation. Further, the mechanism of amorphous boron-enhanced Fenton system was described as follows. With the addition of amorphous boron, the reduction process occurred on its surface and Fe(III) was regenerated to Fe(II) to further utilize H2O2 and produce more HO• for DCA removal. Meanwhile, amorphous boron was oxidized to B2O3 and a portion of H3BO3 leaching into the solution occurred. Both B2O3 and H3BO3 had no reactivity for Fe(III) reduction. Moreover, DCA could be entirely dechlorinated and mineralized to CO2, Cl− and H2O. Vinyl chloride (VC) and dichloromethane (DCM) were the mainly intermediates in DCA degradation and two possible pathways were inferred. Eventually, the performance of DCA degradation in complex solution matrixes and for other contaminants removal were tested, demonstrating the broad-spectrum reactivity and superiority of amorphous boron-enhanced Fenton system in the remediation of contaminated groundwater. [Display omitted] •Amorphous boron was employed as a reductant in Fenton system for the first time.•The promotion mechanism of amorphous boron to DCA degradation was illustrated.•DCA degradation mechanism and intermediates were revealed.•The major reactive species for DCA removal was investigated.•The broad-spectrum reactivity of amorphous boron-enhanced system was demonstrated.