Degradation of Para-nitrochlorobenzene by the Combination of Zero-valent Iron Reduction and Persulfate Oxidation in Soil

The oxidation of para-nitrochlorobenzene (pNCB) by persulfate (PS) activated with zero-valent iron (Fe⁰) was investigated through a series of batch experiments. The pNCB reduction ratio increased with the decrease of the initial solution pH. It is found that temperature and Fe⁰ dosage could also influence the pNCB removal. Under the conditions of initial Fe⁰ dosage 0.8 mmol/g, initial pH of 6.6, and 25 °C, 66.3% of pNCB was reduced in 6 h. The pNCB was slightly degraded in the presence of PS alone. When PS was dosed after 2 h of Fe⁰ reduction, significantly higher pNCB removal (94.1%) and mineralization (36.4%) were obtained relative to the case of simultaneous dosing of Fe⁰ and PS (85.3% removal, 22.6% mineralization). This indicates that the reduction product of pNCB was more easily oxidized by PS than pNCB, suggesting that converting the nitro groups of pNCB to amino groups prior to oxidation can enhance their oxidation. These results suggest that a sequential Fe⁰ reduction–PS oxidation process may be an effective strategy to promote pNCB decomposition in contaminated soil.