Aliphatic chlorinated compounds, majority of which are chlorinated methanes, ethanes, and ethenes, are mainly used as solvents and degreasing agents in industries. Due to long-term usage of these compounds and their concomitant environmental contamina...
Aliphatic chlorinated compounds, majority of which are chlorinated methanes, ethanes, and ethenes, are mainly used as solvents and degreasing agents in industries. Due to long-term usage of these compounds and their concomitant environmental contaminations, many of them are frequently detected pollutants in groundwater and soil. Reduction of chlorinated methanes and ethenes in aqueous solution by iron metal was studied in batch and column systems under anaerobic and middle aerobic conditions. The goal of this work to was gain a fundamental mechanistic understanding of the reaction chemistry and to determine the factors that affect dechlorination rates and long-term performance in groundwater treatment. All experimental evidences were found to support a direct reduction mechanism in which electron transfer from fe^o to the adsorbed chloromethane and chloromethane occurs at the metal/water interface. Other factors that influence dechlorination rates was discussed, including proton-and-anion-promoted dissolution process that remove surface iron oxides yielding new Fe^0 surfaces.