Reductive Dechlorination of TCE by Zero Valent Bimetals

Six zero valent bimetal combinations were tested for trichloroethene (TCE) dechlorination. Palladium, nickel, and copper were coated at 500 mg kg(-1) or less onto zero valent iron, producing Pd/Fe, Ni/Fe, and Cu/Fe bimetals, and zinc, producing Pd/Zn, Ni/Zn, and Cu/Zn bimetals. The order of reactivity of the six bimetals and two metals based on surface area normalized pseudo first order rate constants was observed to be: Pd/Fe > Pd/Zn > Ni/Fe > Cu/Fe > Ni/Zn > Cu/Zn > Fe > Zn. Thus, in general, 1) iron metal and bimetals exhibit faster reaction rates than the corresponding zinc reductants, 2) bimetals exhibit faster reaction rates than pure metals, and 3) metal coating enhance reactivity in the order of Pd > Ni > Cu. Chlorinated intermediate products were observed in small amounts for Fe only. In all cases, the chloride balance, calculated from TCE and chloride concentrations, ranged from 90 to 111%. The results are discussed in terms of the effects of bimetal combinations on catalytic dechlorination, prevention of nonreactive film and metal corrosion.