Effects of alcohols, anionic and nonionic surfactants on the reduction of PCE and TCE by zero-valent iron

The effects of surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Triton X-a00 (TX), and alcohols (methanol, ethanol, and propanol) on the dehalogenation of TCE and PCE by zero-valent iron were examined. Surface concentrations of PCE and TCE on the iron were dependent on aqueous surfactant concentrations. At concentrations above the CMC, sorbed halocarbon concentrations declined and concentrations associated with solution phase micelles increased. The anionic surfactant SDS ([SDS] < CMC) did not affect reduction rates, until the CMC was exceeded after which reactivity decreased, possibly due to sequestering of the TCE and PCE in mobile micelles. The nonionic TX showed a mixed effect on reactivity, increasing the PCE reduction rate, but not affecting TCE removal. Production of TCE from PCE increased in the presence of TX. Similar experiments showed that methanol, ethanol, and propanol inhibited reduction of TCE and PCE by metallic iron. Zero-valent iron may be useful in recycling soil washing effluents contaminated with TCE and PCE.