Enhanced reactivity and electron efficiency of nanoscale zero-valent iron for nitroaromatic compounds reduction through modification with anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid
Humic substances (HS) modification favors the reactivity of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) for water decontamination from nitro-compounds like nitrobenzene (NB), whereas the structural complexity of HS hinders the elucidation of its mechanism. Herein, anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (AQC) was emp...
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Chemical Engineering Journal Advances |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666821125001322 |
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| author | Yuxin Li Shiqi Yang Zihan Liu Yiyang Pan Pengfei Zhang Zhiqiu Qu Chao Shan |
| author_facet | Yuxin Li Shiqi Yang Zihan Liu Yiyang Pan Pengfei Zhang Zhiqiu Qu Chao Shan |
| author_sort | Yuxin Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Humic substances (HS) modification favors the reactivity of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) for water decontamination from nitro-compounds like nitrobenzene (NB), whereas the structural complexity of HS hinders the elucidation of its mechanism. Herein, anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (AQC) was employed as a typical model molecule for HS. Through AQC modification, the water contact angle of nZVI evidently increased from 6° to 19°-46°, and the rate constant and electron efficiency for NB reduction under aerobic condition was substantially elevated by 6–10.3 times and 2.5–2.8 times, respectively. Among the AQC-modified nZVI materials with varied molar ratios of AQC/Fe (0.1–3 %), 1 % AQC-nZVI not only exhibited the optimal reactivity and electron efficiency, but also demonstrated enhanced reactivity for various nitroaromatic compounds. Moreover, AQC modification could advance the complete reduction of NB by nZVI to aniline and minimize the accumulation of intermediates. In addition, AQC-nZVI materials could maintain an excellent reduction efficiency over a wide pH range (4–9). Mechanistically, the increase of surface hydrophobicity of nZVI owing to AQC modification promoted the adsorption affinity for NB and redirected more electron transfer to NB. Leveraging both anthraquinone and carboxylic groups, AQC served as electron shuttle to mediate the electron transfer from nZVI to NB whilst accelerating the Fe(II)/Fe(III) circulation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed a pronounced decrease in the charge transfer resistance of nZVI from 381.4 Ω to 252.8–337.4 Ω due to AQC modification, thereby facilitating the interfacial electron transfer. This study offers insights into the HS-enhanced reactivity and selectivity of nZVI for water decontamination from nitroaromatic compounds. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b7f71a3fec2449f7acac6cd296cb1270 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-8211 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Chemical Engineering Journal Advances |
| spelling | doaj-art-b7f71a3fec2449f7acac6cd296cb12702025-08-26T04:14:35ZengElsevierChemical Engineering Journal Advances2666-82112025-08-012310083510.1016/j.ceja.2025.100835Enhanced reactivity and electron efficiency of nanoscale zero-valent iron for nitroaromatic compounds reduction through modification with anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acidYuxin Li0Shiqi Yang1Zihan Liu2Yiyang Pan3Pengfei Zhang4Zhiqiu Qu5Chao Shan6State Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Research Center for Environmental Nanotechnology (ReCENT), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Corresponding author.Humic substances (HS) modification favors the reactivity of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) for water decontamination from nitro-compounds like nitrobenzene (NB), whereas the structural complexity of HS hinders the elucidation of its mechanism. Herein, anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (AQC) was employed as a typical model molecule for HS. Through AQC modification, the water contact angle of nZVI evidently increased from 6° to 19°-46°, and the rate constant and electron efficiency for NB reduction under aerobic condition was substantially elevated by 6–10.3 times and 2.5–2.8 times, respectively. Among the AQC-modified nZVI materials with varied molar ratios of AQC/Fe (0.1–3 %), 1 % AQC-nZVI not only exhibited the optimal reactivity and electron efficiency, but also demonstrated enhanced reactivity for various nitroaromatic compounds. Moreover, AQC modification could advance the complete reduction of NB by nZVI to aniline and minimize the accumulation of intermediates. In addition, AQC-nZVI materials could maintain an excellent reduction efficiency over a wide pH range (4–9). Mechanistically, the increase of surface hydrophobicity of nZVI owing to AQC modification promoted the adsorption affinity for NB and redirected more electron transfer to NB. Leveraging both anthraquinone and carboxylic groups, AQC served as electron shuttle to mediate the electron transfer from nZVI to NB whilst accelerating the Fe(II)/Fe(III) circulation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed a pronounced decrease in the charge transfer resistance of nZVI from 381.4 Ω to 252.8–337.4 Ω due to AQC modification, thereby facilitating the interfacial electron transfer. This study offers insights into the HS-enhanced reactivity and selectivity of nZVI for water decontamination from nitroaromatic compounds.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666821125001322Water treatmentNanoscale zero-valent ironHumic substance analogQuinoneConcerted proton electron transfer |
| spellingShingle | Yuxin Li Shiqi Yang Zihan Liu Yiyang Pan Pengfei Zhang Zhiqiu Qu Chao Shan Enhanced reactivity and electron efficiency of nanoscale zero-valent iron for nitroaromatic compounds reduction through modification with anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid Chemical Engineering Journal Advances Water treatment Nanoscale zero-valent iron Humic substance analog Quinone Concerted proton electron transfer |
| title | Enhanced reactivity and electron efficiency of nanoscale zero-valent iron for nitroaromatic compounds reduction through modification with anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid |
| title_full | Enhanced reactivity and electron efficiency of nanoscale zero-valent iron for nitroaromatic compounds reduction through modification with anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid |
| title_fullStr | Enhanced reactivity and electron efficiency of nanoscale zero-valent iron for nitroaromatic compounds reduction through modification with anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhanced reactivity and electron efficiency of nanoscale zero-valent iron for nitroaromatic compounds reduction through modification with anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid |
| title_short | Enhanced reactivity and electron efficiency of nanoscale zero-valent iron for nitroaromatic compounds reduction through modification with anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid |
| title_sort | enhanced reactivity and electron efficiency of nanoscale zero valent iron for nitroaromatic compounds reduction through modification with anthraquinone 2 carboxylic acid |
| topic | Water treatment Nanoscale zero-valent iron Humic substance analog Quinone Concerted proton electron transfer |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666821125001322 |
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