Realizing the potential of metallic iron for the mitigation of toxics: flee or adapt?

Abstract Metallic iron (Fe0) has been increasingly used to remove toxics from water over the past three decades. However, the idea that metallic iron (Fe0) is not an environmental reducing agent has been vigorously refuted. Researchers presenting their findings in a scientific journal have to accept...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bernard Konadu-Amoah, Rui Hu, Viet Cao, Ran Tao, Huichen Yang, Arnaud Igor Ndé-Tchoupé, Willis Gwenzi, Hans Ruppert, Chicgoua Noubactep
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2022-08-01
Series:Applied Water Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-022-01738-9
Description
Summary:Abstract Metallic iron (Fe0) has been increasingly used to remove toxics from water over the past three decades. However, the idea that metallic iron (Fe0) is not an environmental reducing agent has been vigorously refuted. Researchers presenting their findings in a scientific journal have to accept the burden of proving that their argument has any validity. This 30-year-lasting discussion within the Fe0 remediation community is alien to electro-chemists, as it is a century-old knowledge. Nevertheless, the peer-reviewed literature on “remediation using Fe0” seems to be dominated by evaluators thinking that Fe0 is a reducing agent. This communication challenges the view that Fe0 donates any electron to any dissolved species. The sole goal is to reconcile a proven efficient technology with its scientific roots and enable the design of better Fe0 remediation systems.
ISSN:2190-5487
2190-5495