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

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.