Interaction between Cu2+ and different types of surface-modified nanoscale zero-valent iron during their transport in porous media.

This study investigated the interaction between Cu2+ and nano zero-valent iron (NZVI) coated with three types of stabilizers (i.e., polyacrylic acid [PAA], Tween-20 and starch) by examining the Cu2+ uptake, colloidal stability and mobility of surface-modified NZVI (SM-NZVI) in the presence of Cu2+. The uptake of Cu2+ by SM-NZVI and the colloidal stability of the Cu-bearing SM-NZVI were examined in batch tests. The results showed that NZVI coated with different modifiers exhibited different affinities for Cu2+, which resulted in varying colloidal stability of different SM-NZVI in the presence of Cu2+. The presence of Cu2+ exerted a slight influence on the aggregation and settling of NZVI modified with PAA or Tween-20. However, the presence of Cu2+ caused significant aggregation and sedimentation of starch-modified NZVI, which is due to Cu2+ complexation with the starch molecules coated on the surface of the particles. Column experiments were conducted to investigate the co-transport of Cu2+ in association with SM-NZVI in water-saturated quartz sand. It was presumed that a physical straining mechanism accounted for the retention of Cu-bearing SM-NZVI in the porous media. Moreover, the enhanced aggregation of SM-NZVI in the presence of Cu2+ may be contributing to this straining effect.