Preparation and characterization of zero valent iron powders via transfer type reductor using iron oxide from the acid regeneration process

•Zero valent iron (ZVI) powders were prepared by transfer type reductor.•ZVI was produced using the iron oxide generated from the pickling line.•Reaction activities of ZVI powders for decomposition of a methylene blue were evaluated.•The ZVI powders were showed sponge-like morphology.•Decomposition rate was influenced by specific surface of the ZVI powder.

In this study, zero valent iron (ZVI) powders were generated by reducing iron oxide powders obtained from a pickling line in a transfer type reductor. The physical and chemical characteristic of the produced ZVI powders were analyzed by using instruments. Reaction activities of ZVI powders for decomposition of a methylene blue were evaluated. The mean size of ZVI powders increased and the specific surface area decreased with increasing reduction temperature due to sintering. The methylene blue decomposition rate increased with dose of ZVI powders. The ZVI powders generated by reducing iron oxide showed higher decomposition efficiencies than the commercial ZVI powders at all pH values tested in this study. Both non-commercial ZVIs showed a higher decomposition rate at a lower pH.

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