Insights into the role of nanoscale zero-valent iron in Fenton oxidation and its application in naphthalene degradation from water and slurry systems.

Few researches have focused on the role of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) in Fenton-like process for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) removal. In this study, the naphthalene (NAP) degradation tests in ultrapure water showed that nZVI addition could enhance NAP degradation from 79.7% to 99.0% in hydrogen peroxide (HO)/Fe (II)/nZVI/NAP system at the molar ratio of 10/5/3/1, showing the excellent role of nZVI in promoting NAP removal. Multiple linear regression analysis found that the correlation coefficient between HO consumption and NAP degradation was converted from -9.17 to 0.48 with nZVI and 1-mM HO, indicating that nZVI could decompose HO more beneficially for NAP degradation. Multiple Fe (II)-dosing and iron leaching tests revealed that nZVI could gently liberate Fe (II) and promote Fe (II)/Fe (III) redox cycle to enhance the NAP degradation. When the HO/Fe (II)/nZVI/NAP molar ratios of 10/5/3/1 and 50/25/15/1 were applied in the simulated NAP contaminated actual groundwater and soil slurry, respectively, 75.0% and 82.9% of NAP removals were achieved. Based on the major degradation intermediates detected by GC/MS, such as 1,4-naphthalenedione, cinnamaldehyde, and o-phthalaldehyde, three possible NAP degradation pathways were proposed. This study provided the applicable potential of nZVI in Fenton process for PAHs contaminated groundwater and soil remediation. PRACTITIONER POINTS: nZVI enhanced the NAP degradation in Fenton-like process. Three schemes of NAP degradation pathway were proposed. nZVI performed well in the remediation of the simulated NAP contamination.