Reactivity of different cement minerals in presence of Fe(II) for reducing trichloroethylene

Ferrous iron Fe (II) in combination with Portland cement is effective in dechlorinating trichloroethylene (TCE). However, there is no clear evidence about the component in cement responsible for TCE dechlorination. In present study different cement hydration minerals, such as ettringite (AFt) and monosulfate (AFm) were synthesized separately in laboratory. The TCE dechlorination ability of these minerals in combination with Fe(II) was investigated. It was found that these minerals in pure form do not have TCE dechlorination capacity. Further -hematite (-Fe2O3) that is suspected reactive mineral in cement/Fe(II) was investigated. It was found that when extra pure -Fe2O3 along with CaO/Fe(II) was used for TCE did not show any reduction potential. This result was contradictory to earlier researchers, who used -Fe2O3/CaO/Fe(II) for dechlorination of TCE. Thus, the -Fe2O3 (Bayferrox-110M) used by earlier researchers was investigated and it was found that it had some other impurities present in it. These impurities were suspected to play significant role in dechlorination of TCE. Further detailed studies were carried out and -Fe2O3 was synthesized by following manufacturing procedure given for -Fe2O3 (Bayferrox-110M). When such -Fe2O3 was used for TCE reduction, it showed improved reactivity. Detailed investigations showed that the -Fe2O3 not in pure form but in combination with other impurities has reduction capacity for TCE.This study was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korean government (MEST) (No. 2009-0086484)