Debromination of decabromodiphenyl ether by organo-montmorillonite-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron: Preparation, characterization and influence factors

An organo-montmorillonite-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron material (M-NZVI) was synthesized to degrade decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209). The results showed that nanoscale zero-valent iron had good dispersion on organo-montmorillonite and was present as a core-shell structure with a particle size range of nanoscale iron between 30–90 nm, characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XRF, ICP-AES, and XPS. The results of the degradation of BDE-209 by M-NZVI showed that the efficiency of M-NZVI in removing BDE-209 was much higher than that of NZVI. The efficiency of M-NZVI in removing BDE-209 decreased as the pH and the initial dissolved oxygen content of the reaction solution increased, but increased as the proportion of water in the reaction solution increased.