Effects of Ag(I), Au(III), and Cu(II) on the reductive dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride by green rust.

Green rusts (GRs), mixed iron(II)/iron(III) hydroxide minerals found in many suboxic environments, have been shown to reduce a range of organic and inorganic contaminants, including several chlorinated hydrocarbons. Many studies have demonstrated the catalytic activity of transition metal species in the reduction of chlorinated hydrocarbons, suggesting the potential for enhanced reduction by GR in the presence of an appropriate transition metal catalyst. Reductive dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride (CT) was examined in aqueous suspensions of GR amended with Ag(I), Au(III), or Cu(II). The CT reduction rates were greatly increased for systems amended with Cu(II), Au(III), and Ag(I) (listed in order of increasing rates) relative to GR alone. Observed intermediates and products included chloroform, dichloromethane, chloromethane, methane, acetylene, ethene, ethane, carbon monoxide, tetrachloroethene, and various nonchlorinated C3 and C4 compounds. Product distributions for the reductive dechlorination of CT were highly dependent on the transition metal used. A reaction pathway scheme is proposed in which CT is reduced primarily to methane and other nonchlorinated end products, largely through a series of one-electron reductions forming radicals and carbenes/carbenoids. Recently, X-ray absorption fine structure analysis of aqueous GR suspensions amended with Ag(I), Au(III), or Cu(II) showed that the metals were reduced to their zerovalent forms. A possible mechanism for CT reduction is the formation of a galvanic couple involving the zerovalent metal and GR, with reduction of CT occurring on the surface of the metal and GR serving as the bulk electron source. The enhanced reduction of CT by GR suspensions amended with Ag(I), Au(III), or Cu(II) may prove useful in the development of improved materials for remediation of chlorinated organic contaminants.