Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2017ND334B

Removal of Trichloroethylene and Fluoride from Water by Nanoscale Zero-valent Iron Supported on Novel Activated Carbon

Institute: North Dakota
Year Established: 2017 Start Date: 2017-03-01 End Date: 2018-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $5,510 Total Non-Federal Funds: $11,020

Principal Investigators: Achintya Bezbaruah

Project Summary: Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) is an effective reducing agent for removing trichloroethylene (TCE) and an effective adsorption material for fluoride removal from groundwater. However, bare NZVI agglomerates, settles down very quickly and lose their reactivity in aqueous environment. A wood based activated carbon (AC) was prepared by chemical activation with metal salt to get higher surface area, pore volume and organized pore structure on the surface of AC. NZVI will be supported on the surface of AC by mixing prepared activating carbon with ferrous sulfate heptahydrate followed by chemical reduction with NaBH4. Different characterization techniques will be done to get surface properties of prepared NZVI supported on AC (NZVI-AC). Batch studies will be used to evaluate the TCE and fluoride removal efficiency of NZVI-AC. In addition, the effect of initial TCE and fluoride concentration and pH will be investigated by doing batch experiments. Adsorption isotherm study will be conducted to determine the equilibrium adsorption capacity and mechanism of adsorption of fluoride on NZVI-AC.