The specific reactive surface area of granular zero-valent iron in metal contaminant removal: Column experiments and modelling

Abstract

A series of dynamic-flow kinetic experiments were conducted to assess the removal rates of aqueous Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions by zero-valent iron (ZVI), a promising material for inclusion in cold-climate remediation applications. The influence of experimental parameters on contaminant removal rates, including aqueous flow rate, operating temperature, and the concentrations of ZVI, salt and dissolved oxygen, was investigated.A mass transport model has been developed that accounts (i) aqueous-phase dispersion processes, (ii) film diffusion of contaminant ions to the reactive ZVI surface and (iii) the reactive removal mechanism itself. Regression to the experimental data indicated that when oxygen is p..