Interaction between Cu2 + and different types of surface-modified nanoscale zero-valent iron during their transport in porous media

This study investigated the interaction between Cu2 + and nano zero-valent iron (NZVI) coated with three types of stabilizers (i.e., polyacrylic acid [PAA], Tween-20 and starch) by examining the Cu2 + uptake, colloidal stability and mobility of surface-modified NZVI (SM-NZVI) in the presence of Cu2 +. The uptake of Cu2 + by SM-NZVI and the colloidal stability of the Cu-bearing SM-NZVI were examined in batch tests. The results showed that NZVI coated with different modifiers exhibited different affinities for Cu2 +, which resulted in varying colloidal stability of different SM-NZVI in the presence of Cu2 +. The presence of Cu2 + exerted a slight influence on the aggregation and settling of NZVI modified with PAA or Tween-20. However, the presence of Cu2 + caused significant aggregation and sedimentation of starch-modified NZVI, which is due to Cu2 + complexation with the starch molecules coated on the surface of the particles. Column experiments were conducted to investigate the co-transport of Cu2 + in association with SM-NZVI in water-saturated quartz sand. It was presumed that a physical straining mechanism accounted for the retention of Cu-bearing SM-NZVI in the porous media. Moreover, the enhanced aggregation of SM-NZVI in the presence of Cu2 + may be contributing to this straining effect.

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