Nitrate is the leading cause of eutrophication worldwide and is one of the most challenging pollutants for restoration of polluted surface waters such as lakes, rivers and reservoirs. We report herein a new architectu...Nitrate is the leading cause of eutrophication worldwide and is one of the most challenging pollutants for restoration of polluted surface waters such as lakes, rivers and reservoirs. We report herein a new architecture of iron nanoparticles for high-efficiency denitrification by selective reduction of nitrate (NO3-) to dinitrogen (N2). The iron nanoparticles are doped with nitrogen (FeN) and encapsulated within a thin layer of nitride-carbon (NC). The nanoparticles have high pyrrolic N content (17.4 at.%) and large specific surface area (2040 m2/g). Laboratory experiments demonstrated high N2selectivity (91%) and nitrate removal capacity (6004 mg N/g Fe) for treatment of nitrate-containing water. This iron-based nanomaterial overcomes shortcomings of conventional catalysts by eliminating the use of precious and toxic heavy metals (e.g., Pd, Pt, Cu, Ni) and minimizing the generation of undesirable byproducts (e.g., ammonia) from the reactions with nanoscale zero-valent iron (n ZVI). The multiple electron transfers process from NO3- to N2can be fine-tuned by adjusting the NC shell thickness. Superior electrocatalytic perfor- mance, low cost and minimal environmental impact of the iron-derived nanocatalyst offer promising prospects for water purification, waste treatment and environmental remediation.展开更多
基金This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51978488,41772243 and 41673096).
文摘Nitrate is the leading cause of eutrophication worldwide and is one of the most challenging pollutants for restoration of polluted surface waters such as lakes, rivers and reservoirs. We report herein a new architecture of iron nanoparticles for high-efficiency denitrification by selective reduction of nitrate (NO3-) to dinitrogen (N2). The iron nanoparticles are doped with nitrogen (FeN) and encapsulated within a thin layer of nitride-carbon (NC). The nanoparticles have high pyrrolic N content (17.4 at.%) and large specific surface area (2040 m2/g). Laboratory experiments demonstrated high N2selectivity (91%) and nitrate removal capacity (6004 mg N/g Fe) for treatment of nitrate-containing water. This iron-based nanomaterial overcomes shortcomings of conventional catalysts by eliminating the use of precious and toxic heavy metals (e.g., Pd, Pt, Cu, Ni) and minimizing the generation of undesirable byproducts (e.g., ammonia) from the reactions with nanoscale zero-valent iron (n ZVI). The multiple electron transfers process from NO3- to N2can be fine-tuned by adjusting the NC shell thickness. Superior electrocatalytic perfor- mance, low cost and minimal environmental impact of the iron-derived nanocatalyst offer promising prospects for water purification, waste treatment and environmental remediation.
