Nonmetallic modified zero-valent iron for remediating halogenated organic compounds and heavy metals: A comprehensive review

Zero-valent iron(ZVI),an ideal reductant treating persistent pollutants,is hampered by issues like corrosion,passivation,and suboptimal utilization.Recent advancements in nonmetallic modified ZVI(NM-ZVI)show promising potential in circumventing these challenges by modifying ZVI's surface and internal physicochemical properties.Despite its promise,a thorough synthesis of research advancements in this domain remains elusive.Here we review the innovative methodologies,regulatory principles,and reduction-centric mechanisms underpinning NM-ZVI's effectiveness against two prevalent persistent pollutants:halogenated organic compounds and heavy metals.We start by evaluating different nonmetallic modification techniques,such as liquid-phase reduction,mechanical ball milling,and pyrolysis,and their respective advantages.The discussion progresses towards a critical analysis of current strategies and mechanisms used for NM-ZVI to enhance its reactivity,electron selectivity,and electron utilization efficiency.This is achieved by optimizing the elemental compositions,content ratios,lattice constants,hydrophobicity,and conductivity.Furthermore,we propose novel approaches for augmenting NM-ZVI's capability to address complex pollution challenges.This review highlights NM-ZVI's potential as an alternative to remediate water environments contaminated with halogenated organic compounds or heavy metals,contributing to the broader discourse on green remediation technologies.

Light-driven activation of carbon-halogen bonds by readily available amines for photocatalytic hydrodehalogenation

A straightforward protocol using readily available aromatic amines,N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine or N,N,N',N'-tetramethylbenzidine,as photocatalysts was developed for theefficient hydrodehalogenation of organic halides,such as 4'-bromoacetophenone,polyfluoroarenes,cholorobenzene,and 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether(a resistant and persistent organic pollu-tant).The strongly reducing singlet excited states of the amines enabled diffusion-controlled disso-ciative electron transfer to effectively cleave carbon-halogen bonds,followed by radical hydrogena-tion.Diisopropylethylamine served as the terminal electron/proton donor and regenerated theamine sensitizers.

Treatment of Organic Compounds in Reclaimed Wastewater for Groundwater Recharge

To study water quality problems associated with groundwater recharge, a tertiary treatment process, consisting of coagulation, sand filtration, and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption, was used in combination with a simulated soil aquifer treatment. The process significantly improved secondary effluent quality. GAC adsorption reduced organic substances expressed by UV-254, dissolved organic car-bon as well as partially adsorbable organic halogens. The results of the Ames test show that the secondary effluent contains a high concentration of mutagens. GAC filtration removed adsorbable organic bromine slightly whereas GAC adsorption removed mutagens effectively. The simulated soil aquifer treatment was able to further reduce UV-254, dissolved organic carbon, and adsorbable organic halogens through biodeg-radation. Adsorbable organic bromine levels were also reduced by the soil aquifer treatment process. The given reclamation technology used for groundwater recharge is of benefit to the removal of dissolved or-ganic carbon, UV-254, adsorbable organic halogens, and mutagenicity.

Total organic halogen(TOX) in human urine: A halogen-specific method for human exposure studies

Disinfection by-products（DBPs） are a complex mixture of compounds unintentionally formed as a result of disinfection processes used to treat drinking water. Effects of long-term exposure to DBPs are mostly unknown and were the subject of recent epidemiological studies. However,most bioanalytical methods focus on a select few DBPs. In this study, a new comprehensive bioanalytical method has been developed that can quantify mixtures of organic halogenated compounds, including DBPs, in human urine as total organic chlorine（TOCl）, total organic bromine（TOBr）, and total organic iodine（TOI）. The optimized method consists of urine dilution, adsorption to activated carbon, pyrolysis of activated carbon, absorption of gases in an aqueous solution, and halide analysis with ion chromatography and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Spike recoveries for TOCl, TOBr, and TOI measurements ranged between 78% and 99%. Average TOCl, TOBr, and TOI concentrations in five urine samples from volunteers who consumed tap water were 1850, 82, and 21.0 μg/L as X^-, respectively.Volunteers who consumed spring water（control） had TOCl, TOBr, and TOI average concentrations in urine of 1090, 88, and 10.3 μg/L as X^-, respectively. TOCl and TOI in the urine samples from tap water consumers were higher than the control. However, TOBr was slightly lower in tap water urine samples compared to mineral water urine samples, indicating other sources of environmental exposure other than drinking water. A larger sample population that consumes tap water from different cities and mineral water is needed to determine TOCl, TOBr, and TOI exposure from drinking water.

Determination of gaseous semi- and low-volatile organic halogen compounds by barrier-discharge atomic emission spectrometry

A group parameter approach using ＂total organic halogen＂ is effective for monitoring gaseous organic halogen compounds, including fluorine, chlorine, and bromine compounds, generated from combustion. We described the use of barrier-discharge radiofrequency- helium-plasma/atomic emission spectrometry, for the detection of semi- and low-volatile organic halogen compounds （SLVOXs）, which can be collected by CarbotrapTM adsorbents and analyzed using thermal desorpfion. The optimal carder gas flow rates at the injection and desorption lines were established to be 100 mL/min. The detection range for SLVOXs in the gaseous samples was from 10 ng to tens of micrograms. Measuring F was more difficult than measuring C1 or Br, because the wavelength of F is close to that of air. The barrier- discharge radiofrequency-helium-plasma/atomic emission spectrometry measured from 85% to 103% of the SLVOXs in the gas sample. It has been found that Carbotrap B is appropriate for high-boiling-point compounds, and Carbotrap C is suitable for the determination of organic halogen compounds with lower boiling points, in the range 200-230℃. Under optimal analysis conditions, a chlorine- containing plastic was destroyed using different oxygen concentrations. Lower oxygen concentrations resulted in the production of lower amounts of organic halogen compounds.

Comparison of UV-based advanced oxidation processes for the removal of different fractions of NOM from drinking water

This study examined the effectiveness for degradation of hydrophobic (HPO),transphilic(TPI) and hydrophilic (HPI) fractions of natural organic matter (NOM) during UV/H_(2)O_(2),UV/TiO_(2)and UV/K2S2O8(UV/PS) advanced oxidation processes (AOPs).The changing characteristics of NOM were evaluated by dissolved organic carbon (DOC),the specific UV absorbance (SUVA),trihalomethanes formation potential (THMFP),organic halogen adsorbable on activated carbon formation potential (AOXFP) and parallel factor analysis of excitation–emission matrices (PARAFAC-EEMs).In the three UV-based AOPs,HPI fraction with low molecular weight and aromaticity was more likely to degradate than HPO and TPI,and the removal efficiency of SUVA for HPO was much higher than TPI and HPI fraction.In terms of the specific THMFP of HPO,TPI and HPI,a reduction was achieved in the UV/H_(2)O_(2)process,and the higest removal rate even reached to 83%.UV/TiO_(2)and UV/PS processes can only decrease the specific THMFP of HPI.The specific AOXFP of HPO,TPI and HPI fractions were all able to be degraded by the three UV-based AOPs,and HPO content is more susceptible to decompose than TPI and HPI content.UV/H_(2)O_(2)was found to be the most effective treatment for the removal of THMFP and AOXFP under given conditions.C1 (microbial or marine derived humic-like substances),C_(2) (terrestrially derived humic-like substances)and C_(3) (tryptophan-like proteins) fluorescent components of HPO fraction were fairly labile across the UV-based AOPs treatment.C_(3) of each fraction of NOM was the most resistant to degrade upon the UV-based AOPs.Results from this study may provide the prediction about the consequence of UV-based AOPs for the degradation of different fractions of NOM with varied characteristics.

Differences in Toxicokinetics and Maternal Transfer between Lipophilic and Proteinophilic Halogenated Organic Pollutants in Laying Hens

In this study,we conducted exposure experiments on egg-laying hens to explore the toxicokinetics and maternal transfer characteristics of lipophilic and proteinophilic halogenated organic pollutants(HOPs).The lipophilic HOPs included polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs),polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs),and dechlorane plus(DPs),while the proteinophilic HOPs included perfluorocarboxylic acids(PFCAs).The results revealed that most of lipophilic HOPs exhibit lower depuration rate(kd)than PFCAs.The kd of lipophilic HOPs correlated with the octanol−water partition coefficient(log KOW)values in a V-shaped curve,whereas that of PFCAs correlated with the protein−water partition coefficient(log KPW)values in an inverted V-shaped curve.The depuration rate,rather than the uptake rate,was a leading factor in determining the bioaccumulation potential of HOPs in hens.Although the dominant factors determining the tissue distribution of the two types of compounds were explicit(fats vs phospholipids),chemical-specific tissue distribution was still observed.The egg-maternal concentration ratio was dependent on the exposure status,concentration,and maternal tissue choice.Using a single maternal tissue may not be an appropriate method for assessing chemical maternal transfer potential.PFCAs have a greater maternal transfer potential(>80%of the total body burden)than lipophilic HOPs(approximately 30%for BDE209 and DPs,and less than 10%for the others).Their lipophilic and partly proteinophilic nature makes the toxicokinetics and maternal transfer characteristics of BDE209 and DPs different from those of other lipophilic HOPs.These findings are crucial for enhancing our understanding of the behavior and fate of HOPs in egg-laying hens.

Effect of ferric and bromide ions on the formation and speciation of disinfection byproducts during chlorination

The effects of ferric ion, pH, and bromide on the formation and distribution of disinfection byproducts （DBPs） during chlorination were studied. Two raw water samples from Huangpu River and Yangtze River, two typical drinking water sources of Shanghai, were used for the investigation. Compared with the samples from Huangpu River, the raw water samples from Yangtze River had lower content of total organic carbon （TOC） and ferric ions, but higher bromide concentrations. Under controlled chlorination conditions, four trihalomethanes （THMs）, nine haloacetic acids （HAAs）, total organic halogen （TOX） and its halogen species fractions, including total organic chlorine （TOC1） and total organic bromide （TOBr）, were determined. The results showed that co-existent ferric and bromide ions significantly promoted the formation of total THMs and HAAs for both raw water samples. Higher concentration of bromide ions significantly changed the speciation of the formed THMs and HAAs. There was an obvious shift to brominated species, which might result in a more adverse influence on the safety of drinking water. The results also indicated that high levels of bromide ions in raw water samples produced higher percentages of unknown TOBr.

Evaluation of N-acetylcysteine and glutathione as quenching agents for the analysis of halogenated disinfection by-products

Disinfection by-products(DBPs), formed from the reactions of disinfectants with natural organic matter and halides in drinking water, were considered to be cytotoxic and genotoxic, and might trigger various cancers. The relatively low concentration of DBPs in finished water(low μg/L or even ng/L levels) and the interference from water matrix inhibited in situ determination of DBPs. Moreover, the further formation and degradation of DBPs by disinfectants during the holding time(several hours to several days) from sample collection to analysis could adversely affect the determination of DBPs. To obtain accurate, precise and reliable data of DBP occurrence and formation, robust and reliable sample preservation is indispensable. However, the commonly used quenching agents(e.g., sodium sulfite, sodium thiosulfate, and ascorbic acid) for sample preservation can decompose reactive DBPs by reductive dehalogenation. This study evaluated the performance of N-acetylcysteine(NAC) and glutathione(GSH) as quenching agents for the analysis of halogenated DBPs by investigating the stoichiometry of the disinfectant-quenching agent reaction, the formation of DBPs during chlor(am)ination of NAC or GSH, and the effects of NAC or GSH on the stability of 18 individual DBPs and total organic halogen(TOX). Based on the results of this study, NAC and GSH were considered to be ideal quenching agents for the analysis of most DBPs and TOX, except halonitromethanes.

A new technique helps to uncover unknown peptides and disinfection by-products in water

Environmental water samples can be extremely complex,with potentially thousands of molecules that can derive from natural organic matter（NOM）and thousands that derive from anthropogenic contaminants.As complex as these samples are,drinking water can be even more complex.Due to disinfectants that are used to treat drinking water（e.g.,chlorine,chloramines,

The role of halogen bonding in improving OFET performance of a naphthalenediimide derivative

Controlling microstructure and thin film morphology of organic semiconductors by supramolecular arrangement is critical to improving their device performance. To realize well-controlling supramolecular assembly, a core-expanded naphthalene diimides derivative （1） was designed and synthesized as an n-type organic semiconductor and also as a halogen bonding （XB） donor that could form complementary XBs with 2,2-dipyridine or 2,2-bipyrimidine acceptor. The XB interactions in the solid state of 1/2,2- dipyridine and 1/2,2-bipyrimidine were confirmed by a series of characterization methods, such as thermal gravimetric analysis （TGA）, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）, nuclear magnetic resonance （NMR） involving 13F NMR and solid-state 13C NMR. Organic field-effect transistors （OFETs） based on XB complexes 1/2,2-dipyridine or 1/2,2-bipyrimidine showed better device performance than that of devices based on pure 1, with the average electron mobility increased more than doubled （from 0.027cm2V-1 s-1 to 0.070cm2V-1 s-1）.