Amphiphilic compounds enhance the dechlorination of pentachlorophenol with Ni/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles

Pentachlorophenol (PCP), a general ionized chlorinated aromatic contaminant, was treated with Ni/Fe nanoparticles (NPs). An increase in the Ni/Fe dosage enhanced the removal of PCP. The most effective nickel percentage was 0.5%. Among the selected surfactants including carboxymethyl cellulose, Triton X-100, and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), CTAB markedly enhanced the removal of PCP by Ni/Fe. From removal kinetics, increased sorption of PCP onto Ni/Fe surfaces with CTAB was observed when compared to that without CTAB. This is the result of the small particle size of Ni/Fe-CTAB and the electrostatic interaction between an electronegative phenolate group of PCP and the electropositive Ni/Fe-CTAB. The increased sorption of PCP onto Ni/Fe surfaces by CTAB accelerated the reduction of PCP. In addition, with CTAB, the observed bulky and soft surface of Ni/Fe NPs allows enhanced electron transfer from the zerovalent iron core. The removal mechanism of PCP is dechlorination for Ni/Fe-CTAB but, for bare Ni/Fe, adsorption is mainly responsible for the removal. The dechlorination pathways of PCP with Ni/Fe-CTAB were investigated. The ortho position of chloride can be more easily reduced than other positions. Ni/Fe-CTAB NPs have a high potential to treat polychlorinated aromatics.