Reduced graphene oxide-nano zero value iron (rGO-nZVI) micro-electrolysis accelerating Cr(VI) removal in aquifer

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) assembled on graphene oxide (GO) (rGO-nZVI) composites were synthesized by reduction of GO and ferrous ions with potassium borohydride, for use in Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solution. The results showed that the two-dimensional structure of GO could provide a skeleton support for Fe⁰, thus overcoming the bottleneck of aggregation for nZVI. Also, rGO-nZVI would form a ferric-carbon micro-electrolysis system in Cr(VI)-contaminated aquifers, enhancing and accelerating electron transfer, exhibiting high rate and capacity for Cr(VI) removal. The optimum dosage of the applied rGO-nZVI was linearly correlated with the initial Cr(VI) concentration. Characterization of rGO-nZVI before and after reaction with Cr(VI) revealed the process of Cr(VI) removal: rGO-nZVI firstly transferred electrons from Fe⁰ cores via their Fe(II)/Fe(III) shells to the GO sheet; there, negatively charged Cr(VI) received electrons and changed into positively charged Cr(III), which was adsorbed by the negatively charged GO sheet, avoiding the capping and passivating of nZVI. rGO-nZVI formed a good electrically conductive network, and thus had long-term electron releasing properties, which was important for groundwater remediation.