Humic acid and metal ions accelerating the dechlorination of 4-chlorobiphenyl by nanoscale zero-valent iron

Transformation of polychlorinated biphenyls （PCBs） by zero-valent iron represents one of the latest innovative technologies for environmental remediation. The dechlorination of 4-chlorobiphenyl （4-C1BP） by nanoscale zero-valent iron （NZVI） in the presence of humic acid or metal ions was investigated. The results showed that the dechlorination of 4-C1BP by NZVI increased with decreased solution pH. When the initial pH value was 4.0, 5.5, 6.8, and 9.0, the de.chlorination efficiencies of 4-CIBP after 48 hr were 53.8%, 47.8%, 35.7%, and 35.6%, respectively. The presence of humic acid inhibited the reduction of 4-CIBP in the first 4 hi＇, and then significantly accelerated the dechlorination by reaching 86.3% in 48 hr. Divalent metal ions, Co2＋, Cu2＋, and Ni2＋, were reduced and formed bimetals with NZVI, thereby enhanced the dechlorination of 4-CIBP. The dechlorination percentages of 4-CIBP in the presence of 0.1 mmol/L Co2~, Cuz~ and Niz~ were 66.1%, 66.0% and 64.6% in 48 hr, and then increased to 67.9%, 71.3% and 73.5%, after 96 hr respectively. The dechlorination kinetics of 4-C1BP by the NZVI in all cases followed pseudo-first order model. The results provide a basis for better understanding of the dechlorination mechanisms of PCBs in real environment.