RESUMO
In this study, a hydrogel impregnated with powder activated carbon (PAC), MAA-PAC, was synthesized through the polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) and PB was immobilized using the carboxyl group of AA. In this process, an adsorbent with an enhancement of PB content and stability of immobilization was developed through the additional supply of Fe3+ ions by the layer by layer (LBL) assembly. XRD, FT-IR, SEM (EDS), TEM (EDS, mapping), and TG analyzes of the LBL and non-LBL groups were performed to confirm the change of PB content in the adsorbent as the LBL assembly was applied. The stability of PB immobilization was confirmed during the washing process after the synthesis of the adsorbent. When the LBL assembly process was applied as a PB immobilization strategy, the PB content in the adsorbent was improved and PB leakage was not observed during the washing process. The maximum adsorption (qm) for cesium in the MAA-PAC-PB LBL group that showed high PB content was 40.03 mg/g, and the adsorption isotherm was more suitable for the Langmuir model than the Freundlich model. The LBL group showed a high removal efficiency of 99.81% and a high DF value (525.88) for radioactive cesium (120 Bq/g). These results demonstrate the potential efficiency of the MAA-PAC-PB LBL group for the decontamination of radioactive cesium-contaminated water systems. Furthermore, it was verified that the LBL group of MAA-PAC-PB could be used as an adsorbent without an additional design of the existing water treatment facility. This can an economical decontamination method for removing radioactive cesium.
RESUMO
Magnetite nanoparticles were used as an additive material in a zero-valent iron (Fe0) reaction to reduce nitrate in groundwater and its effects on nitrate removal were investigated. The addition of nano-sized magnetite (NMT) to Fe0 reactor markedly increased nitrate reduction, with the rate proportionally increasing with NMT loading. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that NMT aggregates were evenly distributed and attached on the Fe0 surface due to their magnetic properties. The rate enhancement effect of NMT is presumed to arise from its role as a corrosion promoter for Fe0 corrosion as well as an electron mediator that facilitated electron transport from Fe0 to adsorbed nitrate. Nitrate reduction by Fe0 in the presence of NMT proceeded much faster in groundwater (GW) than in de-ionized water. The enhanced reduction of nitrate in GW was attributed to the adsorption or formation of surface complex by the cationic components in GW, i.e., Ca2+ and Mg2+, in the Fe0-H2O interface that promoted electrostatic attraction of nitrate to the reaction sites. Moreover, the addition of NMT imparted superior longevity to Fe0, enabling completion of four nitrate reduction cycles, which otherwise would have been inactivated during the first cycle without an addition of NMT. The results demonstrate the potential applicability of a Fe0/NMT system in the treatment of nitrate-contaminated GW.