Dechlorination of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) by Fe/Pd bimetallic nanoparticles: Comparison with nZVI, degradation mechanism, and pathways

Highlights

• DDT undergoes dechlorination via Fe/Pd bimetallic nanoparticle.

• The oxidation effect of nZVI on DDT is greatly improved when Pd is dopped.

• The highest concentration to be treated under cancerogenesis limit was 110 mg/L.

• The dechlorination of DDT is more like to DDE via Fe/Pd but to DDD via nZVI.

• Degradation products concentrations are lowered via Fe/Pd when compared with nZVI.

Abstract

In this study, the bimetallic Fe/Pd nanoparticle was synthesized using the catalytic element palladium to increase the effect of nano zero valent iron (nZVI), in the light of the information obtained from our previous study, in which the nZVI synthesis method was modified. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), one of the most widely used persistent organic pollutant pesticides in the world, was investigated in terms of its degradation by Fe/Pd nanoparticles and the difference with nZVI was determined. During the study, the Fe/Pd concentration, initial DDT concentration, and contact time were selected as variables affecting the treatment. The highest possible initial DDT concentration for the treatment with Fe/Pd bimetallic nanoparticle was investigated to obtain the DDT effluent concentration below the carcinogenesis limit, 0.23 µg/L. The highest concentration that could be treated was found to be 109.95 mg/L with Fe/Pd. It was found that 44.3 min of contact time and 550 mg/L Fe/Pd concentration were needed to achieve this treatment.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Persistent organic pollutants / nZVI / Bimetallic nanoparticle / Organochlorine pesticides / DDT

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Acknowledgements

The authors received research grants from the Research Fund of the Yildiz Technical University (No. 2015-05-02-DOP02). Also, Kubra Ulucan-Altuntas was supported by the Scientist Supporting Board of TUBITAK during the study. We would also like to thank Dr. Iberia Aydin and Zumre Busra Arslan for their help.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-019-1196-2 and is accessible for authorized users.

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