Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Removal of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) by sepiolite-supported nanoscale zerovalent iron

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) synthesized using sepiolite as a supporter was used to investigate the removal kinetics and mechanisms of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209). BDE-209 was rapidly removed by the prepared sepiolite-supported nZVI with a reaction rate that was 5 times greater than that of the conventionally prepared nZVI because of its high surface area and reactivity. The degradation of BDE-209 occurred in a stepwise debromination manner, which followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The removal efficiency of BDE-209 increased with increasing dosage of sepiolite-supported nZVI particles and decreasing pH, and the efficiency decreased with increasing initial BDE-209 concentrations. The presence of tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a cosolvent at certain volume fractions in water influenced the degradation rate of sepiolite-supported nZVI. Debromination pathways of BDE-209 with sepiolite-supported nZVI were proposed based on the identified reaction intermediates, which ranged from nona- to mono-brominated diphenylethers (BDEs) under acidic conditions and nonato penta-BDEs under alkaline conditions. Adsorption on sepiolite-supported nZVI particles also played a role in the removal of BDE-209. Our findings indicate that the particles have potential applications in removing environmental pollutants, such as halogenated organic contaminants.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Peng X Z, Tang C M, Yu Y Y, Tan J H, Huang Q X, Wu J P, Chen S J, Mai B X. Concentrations, transport, fate, and releases of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in sewage treatment plants in the Pearl River Delta, South China. Environment International, 2009, 35(2): 303–309

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Shi T, Chen S J, Luo X J, Zhang X L, Tang C M, Luo Y, Ma Y J, Wu J P, Peng X Z, Mai B X. Occurrence of brominated flame retardants other than polybrominated diphenyl ethers in environmental and biota samples from southern China. Chemosphere, 2009, 74(7): 910–916

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Mariussen E, Fjeld E, Breivik K, Steinnes E, Borgen A, Kjellberg G, Schlabach M. Elevated levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in fish from Lake Mjøsa, Norway. Science of the Total Environment, 2008, 390(1): 132–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Johnson-Restrepo B, Kannan K, Rapaport D P, Rodan B D. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in human adipose tissue from New York. Environmental Science & Technology, 2005, 39(14): 5177–5182

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Sjödin A, Jones R S, Focant J F, Lapeza C, Wang R Y, McGahee E E 3rd, Zhang Y L, Turner WE, Slazyk B, Needham L L, Patterson D G. Retrospective time-trend study of polybrominated diphenyl ether and polybrominated and polychlorinated biphenyl levels in human serum from the United States. Environmental Health Perspectives, 2004, 112(6): 654–658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Luo X J, Liu J, Luo Y, Zhang X L, Wu J P, Lin Z, Chen S J, Mai B X, Yang Z Y. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in freerange domestic fowl from an e-waste recycling site in South China: levels, profile and human dietary exposure. Environment International, 2009, 35(2): 253–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Luo X J, Yu M, Mai B X, Chen S J. Distribution and partition of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in water of the Zhujiang River Estuary. Chinese Science Bulletin, 2008, 53(4): 493–500

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Luo Q, Wong M H, Cai Z W. Determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in freshwater fishes from a river polluted by ewastes. Talanta, 2007, 72(5): 1644–1649

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Darnerud P O, Eriksen G S, Jóhannesson T, Larsen P B, Viluksela M. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers: occurrence, dietary exposure, and toxicology. Environmental Health Perspectives, 2001, 109(Suppl 1): 49–68

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Behnisch P A, Hosoe K, Sakai S. Brominated dioxin-like compounds: in vitro assessment in comparison to classical dioxinlike compounds and other polyaromatic compounds. Environment International, 2003, 29(6): 861–877

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Keum Y S, Li Q X. Reductive debromination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by zerovalent iron. Environmental Science & Technology, 2005, 39(7): 2280–2286

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Vonderheide A P, Mueller K E, Meija J, Welsh G L. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers: causes for concern and knowledge gaps regarding environmental distribution, fate and toxicity. Science of the Total Environment, 2008, 400(1–3): 425–436

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Cai Y L, Liang B, Fang Z Q, Xie Y Y, Tsang E P. Effect of humic acid and metal ions on the debromination of BDE209 by nZVM prepared from steel pickling waste liquor. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, doi: 10.1007/s11783-014-0764-8

  14. Fang Z Q, Qiu X H, Chen J H, Qiu X Q. Debromination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by Ni/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles: influencing factors, kinetics, and mechanism. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2011, 185(2–3): 958–969

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Wei Y T, Wu S C, Chou C M, Che C H, Tsai S M, Lien H L. Influence of nanoscale zero-valent iron on geochemical properties of groundwater and vinyl chloride degradation: a field case study. Water Research, 2010, 44(1): 131–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Ghasemzadeh G, Momenpour M, Omidi F, Hosseini MR, Ahani M, Barzegari A. Applications of nanomaterials in water treatment and environmental remediation. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2014, 8(4): 471–482

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Chen X, Yao X Y, Yu C N, Su X M, Shen C F, Chen C, Huang R L, Xu X H. Hydrodechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls in contaminated soil from an e-waste recycling area, using nanoscale zerovalent iron and Pd/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 2014, 21(7): 5201–5210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Wang C B, Zhang W X. Synthesizing nanoscale iron particles for rapid and complete dechlorination of TCE and PCBs. Environmental Science & Technology, 1997, 31(7): 2154–2156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Fang Z Q, Qiu X H, Chen J H, Qiu X Q. Degradation of the polybrominated diphenyl ethers by nanoscale zero-valent metallic particles prepared from steel pickling waste liquor. Desalination, 2011, 267(1): 34–41

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Shih Y, Tai Y. Reaction of decabrominated diphenyl ether by zerovalent iron nanoparticles. Chemosphere, 2010, 78(10): 1200–1206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Zhuang Y, Ahn S, Luthy R G. Debromination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by nanoscale zerovalent iron: pathways, kinetics, and reactivity. Environmental Science & Technology, 2010, 44(21): 8236–8242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Xiao J N, Gao B Y, Yue Q Y, Gao Y, Li Q. Removal of trihalomethanes from reclaimed-water by original and modified nanoscale zero-valent iron: Characterization, kinetics and mechanism. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2015, 262: 1226–1236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Yu K, Gu C, Boyd S A, Liu C, Sun C, Teppen B J, Li H. Rapid and extensive debromination of decabromodiphenyl ether by smectite clay-templated subnanoscale zero-valent iron. Environmental Science & Technology, 2012, 46(16): 8969–8975

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Fei X N, Cao L Y, Zhou L F, Gu Y C, Wang X Y. Degradation of bromamine acid by nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) supported on sepiolite. Water Science and Technology, 2012, 66(12): 2539–2545

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Xiao J N, Yue Q Y, Gao B Y, Sun Y Y, Kong J J, Gao Y, Li Q, Wang Y. Performance of activated carbon/nanoscale zero-valent iron for removal of trihalomethanes (THMs) at infinitesimal concentration in drinking water. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2014, 253: 63–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Li A, Tai C, Zhao Z S, Wang Y W, Zhang Q H, Jiang G B, Hu J T. Debromination of decabrominated diphenyl ether by resin-bound iron nanoparticles. Environmental Science & Technology, 2007, 41(19): 6841–6846

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Qiu X H, Fang Z Q, Liang B, Gu F L, Xu Z C. Degradation of decabromodiphenyl ether by nano zero-valent iron immobilized in mesoporous silica microspheres. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2011, 193: 70–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Luo S, Qin P F, Shao J H, Peng L, Zeng Q R, Gu J D. Synthesis of reactive nanoscale zero valent iron using rectorite supports and its application for Orange II removal. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2013, 223: 1–7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Wang W, Zhou M H, Mao Q, Yue J J, Wang X. Novel NaY zeolitesupported nanoscale zero-valent iron as an efficient heterogeneous Fenton catalyst. Catalysis Communications, 2010, 11(11): 937–941

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Bokare A D, Chikate R C, Rode C V, Paknikar K M. Iron-nickel bimetallic nanoparticles for reductive degradation of azo dye Orange G in aqueous solution. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2008, 79(3): 270–278

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Lin K D, Ding J F, Huang X W. Debromination of tetrabromobisphenol A by nanoscale zerovalent iron: kinetics, influencing factors, and pathways. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2012, 51(25): 8378–8385

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Choe S, Lee S H, Chang Y Y, Hwang K Y, Khim J. Rapid reductive destruction of hazardous organic compounds by nanoscale Fe0. Chemosphere, 2001, 42(4): 367–372

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Yang G C C, Lee H L. Chemical reduction of nitrate by nanosized iron: kinetics and pathways. Water Research, 2005, 39(5): 884–894

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Gerecke A C, Hartmann P C, Heeb N V, Kohler H P E, Giger W, Schmid P, Zennegg M, Kohler M. Anaerobic degradation of decabromodiphenyl ether. Environmental Science & Technology, 2005, 39(4): 1078–1083

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai, 201418, China

    Rongbing Fu, Na Mu & Dongsu Bi

  2. Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200233, China

    Rongbing Fu, Xiaopin Guo & Zhen Xu

Authors
  1. Rongbing Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Na Mu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiaopin Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhen Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Dongsu Bi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rongbing Fu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fu, R., Mu, N., Guo, X. et al. Removal of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) by sepiolite-supported nanoscale zerovalent iron. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 9, 867–878 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-015-0800-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-015-0800-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation