Dechlorination of disinfection by-product monochloroacetic acid in drinking water by nanoscale palladized iron bimetallic particle

Nanoscale palladized iron (Pd/Fe) bimetallic particles were prepared by reductive deposition method. The particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller-nitrogen (BET-N₂) method. Data obtained from those methods indicated that nanoscale Pd/Fe bimetallic particles contained α-Fe°. Detected Pd to Fe ratio by weight (Pd/Fe ratio) was close to theoretical value. Spherical granules with diameter of 47±11.5 nm connected with one another to form chains and the chains composed nanoscale Pd/Fe bimetallic particles. Specific surface area of particles was 51 m²/g. The factors, such as species of reductants, Pd/Fe ratio, dose of nanoscale Pd/Fe bimetallic particles added into solutions, solution initial pH, and a variety of solvents were studied. Dechlorination effect of monochloroacetic acid by different reductants followed the trend: nanoscale Pd/Fe bimetallic particles of 0.182% Pd/Fe > nanoscale Fe > reductive Fe. When the Pd/Fe ratio was lower than 0.083%, increasing Pd/Fe ratio would increase dechlorination efficiency (DE) of MCAA. When the Pd/Fe ratio was higher than 0.083%, increasing Pd/Fe ratio caused a decrease in DE. Adding more nanoscale Pd/Fe bimetallic particles to solution would enhance DE. The DE of MCAA decreased as initial pH of solution increased.