Pyrite-assisted degradation of trichloroethene (TCE)

Chemical kinetics of trichloroethene (TCE) degradation by pyrite was investigated at different experimental conditions. The TCE was transformed into C2H2, 1,1-dichloroethene (DCE) and C2H4 by a slow process (240 h required to convert TCE by 80%). Thereafter, the degradation rate showed a monotonous increase with the pH. A simple kinetic model was proposed to quantify the TCE degradation by pyrite.