Premagnetization for Enhancing the Reactivity of Multiple Zerovalent Iron Samples toward Various Contaminants

Premagnetization was applied to enhance the removal of various oxidative contaminants (including amaranth (AR27), lead ion (Pb(2+)), cupric ion (Cu(2+)), selenite (Se(4+)), silver ion (Ag(+)), and chromate (Cr(6+))) by zerovalent iron (ZVI) from different origins under well-controlled experimental conditions. The rate constants of contaminants by premagnetized ZVI (Mag-ZVI) samples were 1.2-12.2-fold greater than those by pristine ZVI (Pri-ZVI) samples. Generally, there was a linear correlation between the specific reaction rate constants (kSA) of one particular contaminant removal by various Pri-ZVI or Mag-ZVI samples and those of the other contaminant, which could be successfully employed to predict the kSA of one contaminant by one ZVI sample if kSA of the other contaminant by this ZVI sample was available. The specific rate constant of Fe(II) release at pH 4.0 was proposed in this study to stand for the intrinsic reactivity of a ZVI sample. All Mag-ZVI samples had higher intrinsic reactivity than their counterparts without premagnetization. There were strong correlations between the intrinsic reactivity of various Pri-ZVI/Mag-ZVI samples and the removal rate constants of a specific contaminant by these ZVI samples not only at pH 4.0 when the intrinsic reactivity was determined but also at other pH levels. This correlation could be employed to predict the removal rate constant of this contaminant by a ZVI sample that was not included in the original data set once the intrinsic reactivity of the ZVI sample was known.