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Granular activated carbon/pyrite composites for environmental application: synthesis and characterization
1Department of Environmental Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo-Kuang Rd., Taichung City 402, Taiwan. cliang@dragon.nchu.edu.tw
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|July 17, 2012
Summary
A new granular activated carbon (GAC) coated with pyrite (FeS(2)) was developed for environmental remediation. This composite material effectively adsorbs and dechlorinates trichloroethylene (TCE), compensating for reduced adsorption capacity.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Chemistry
Background:
- Granular activated carbon (GAC) is widely used for adsorption.
- Pyrite (FeS(2)) exhibits reductive properties beneficial for contaminant degradation.
- Combining GAC and pyrite offers synergistic environmental remediation potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize a composite material of GAC coated with pyrite (GAC-FeS(2)).
- To evaluate the combined adsorption and reductive dechlorination capabilities of the GAC-FeS(2) composite for trichloroethylene (TCE) remediation.
Main Methods:
- Sequential synthesis involving incipient wetness iron impregnation, calcination to hematite (Fe(2)O(3)), and sulfurization to pyrite (FeS(2)).
- Surface characterization using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).
- Morphological analysis using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/SEI).
- Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis.
- TCE adsorption and dechlorination experiments.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized GAC-FeS(2) composite materials with characterized pyrite crystallites (31-34 nm) and angular morphology.
- Surface modification (HNO(3) washing) enhanced iron impregnation, resulting in a negatively charged GAC surface.
- Pyrite coating significantly reduced BET surface area and pore volume.
- The GAC-FeS(2) composite demonstrated effective adsorption and gradual reductive dechlorination of TCE, compensating for reduced adsorption capacity.
Conclusions:
- The developed GAC-FeS(2) composite material integrates adsorption and reductive functions for enhanced environmental remediation.
- The composite shows promise for the degradation of chlorinated organic compounds like TCE.
- Further research can explore optimizing the composite for specific pollutant removal.
