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oa The Dechlorination of Hydrocarbons
Palladised Iron Utdlised for Ground Water Purification
- Source: Platinum Metals Review, Volume 41, Issue 1, Jan 1997, p. 2 - 7
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- 01 Jan 1997
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Abstract
The pollution of groundwater and soils by industrial chemicals is a cause of significant environmental concern. Treatment with palladium is suggested as a means of decontaminating certain occurrences of polluted soil and groundwater. Palladium can be chemically deposited onto zero-valence iron (Fe0) and the resulting bimetal is very effective in dechlorinating many of the toxic chemicals, produced as industrial effluents, that are found in soils and groundwater. With a palladium content of 0.05 per cent (w/w), the rate at which trichloroethene is dechlorinated is one to two orders of magnitude faster than with iron alone. Similarly, a bimetal made of palladium/iron readily dechlorinates dichloromethane and polychlorinated biphenyls which are not easily reduced by Fe0.