Application of Zero-valent Iron Nanoparticles for Environmental Clean Up - Advanced Materials for Agriculture, Food and Environmental Safety - page 383

14
Application of Zero-valent Iron
Nanoparticles for Environmental Clean Up
Ritu Singh *,1,2 and Virendra Misra 2
1 Department of Environmental Science, School of Earth Sciences, Central
University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
2 Environmental Toxicology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research
(IITR), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Abstract
h e contamination of soil and groundwater through a variety of toxic/hazardous
compounds has become a global environmental problem and is a great challenge
before the scientii c community of the world. In response to the continuously
increasing need to address the problems of environmental contamination, several
remediation technologies/methods have been investigated. In the advancement of
the search for potential remediation technologies, nanotechnology has introduced
a new dimension to the area of environmental clean up. Nanoparticles mediated
remediation could be considered as an ef ective alternative to the current practices
of site remediation. h eir extremely small size and high surface area to volume
ratio impart them properties which can be exploited for degradation/reduction of
hazardous/toxic wastes. Among several nanoparticles evaluated for the purpose
of contaminant degradation, zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nFe 0 ) have received
considerable attention over the last decade as an excellent electron donor with
the potential ability for in situ remediation of large contaminated sites. In recent
years, nFe 0 has been successfully applied for degradation of a wide array of con-
taminants including polyhalogenated compounds, chlorinated solvents, dyes,
inorganic anions, heavy metals, etc. Although nFe 0 is ef ective against a wide array
of pollutants, still there are specii c issues related to the reactivity and longevity
of nFe 0 , their transport and fate in the environment, etc., which are of concern.
h e aim of this chapter is to provide an overall perspective of the use of nFe 0 to