Effect of Structural Transformation of Nanoparticulate Zero-Valent Iron on Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species

While it has been recognized for some time that addition of nanoparticlate zerovalent iron (nZVI) to oxygen-containing water results in both corrosion of Fe⁰ and oxidation of contaminants, there is limited understanding of either the relationship between transformation of nZVI and oxidant formation or the factors controlling the lifetime and extent of oxidant production. Using Fe K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, we show that while nZVI particles are transformed to ferrihydrite then lepidocrocite in less than 2 h, oxidant generation continues for up to 10 h. The major products (Fe­(II) and H₂O₂) of the reaction of nZVI with oxygenated water are associated, for the most part, with the surface of particles present with these surface-associated Fenton reagents inducing oxidation of a target compound (in this study, ¹⁴C-labeled formate). Effective oxidation of formate only occurred after formation of iron oxides on the nZVI surface with the initial formation of high surface area ferrihydrite facilitating rapid and extensive adsorption of formate with colocation of this target compound and surface-associated Fe­(II) and H₂O₂ apparently critical to formate oxidation. Ongoing formate oxidation long after nZVI is consumed combined with the relatively slow consumption of Fe­(II) and H₂O₂ suggest that these reactants are regenerated during the nZVI-initiated heterogeneous Fenton process.