Enhanced Reduction of Chromate and PCE by Pelletized Surfactant-Modified Zeolite/Zerovalent Iron

The current research focuses on enhanced removal of chromate and perchloroethylene from contaminated water by a combination of a reduction material (represented by zerovalent iron, ZVI) and a sorption material (represented by surfactant-modified zeolite, SMZ). Natural zeolite and ZVI were homogenized and pelletized to maintain favorable hydraulic properties while minimizing material segregation due to bulk density differences. The zeolite/ZVI pellets were modified with the cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide to increase contaminant sorption and, thus, the contaminant concentration on the solid surface. Results of chromate sorption/reduction indicate that the chromate sorption capacity of pelletized SMZ/ZVI is at least 1 order of magnitude higher than that of zeolite/ZVI pellets. Compared to SMZ pellets, the chromate removal capacity of SMZ/ZVI pellets in a 24-h period is about 80% higher, due to the combined effects of sorption by SMZ and reduction by ZVI. The chromate and PCE degradation rates with and without surfactant modification were determined separately. The pseudo-first-order reduction constant increased by a factor of 3 for PCE and by a factor of 9 for chromate following surfactant modification. The enhanced contaminant reduction capacity of SMZ/ZVI pellets may lead to a decrease in the amount of material required to achieve a given level of contaminant removal.