Reductive dechlorination of PCE using zero valent iron (ZVI) with surfactants

Abstract

The release of chlorinated solvents, e.g., trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE), into subsurface environments has led to extensive contamination of groundwater resources. A study was carried out to see the effect of various surfactants on the dechlorination of PCE by ZVI. Experiments were conducted in 40-mL bottles capped with teflon septa. While the reduction of PCE was rarely observed in the control without ZVI, the PCE concentration decreased in the presence of ZVI with and without surfactant. Half of the initial PCE concentration remained after 24 hr. The combination of surfactant and ZVI strongly increased PCE degradation because surfactants enhanced the dissolution of PCE as an aqueous phase so that more PCE could be available in the aqueous phase. Though the removal rate of PCE with sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDDBS) was highest of all, PCE was just immobilized on the sorbed SDDBS phase.