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Why can nanoscale zero-valent iron particles reach pollutants in deep aquifers?
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nanoparticle
Image showing nanoparticles of an alloy of gold (yellow) and palladium (blue) on an acid-treated carbon support (gray). These particles were employed as catalysts for the formation of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen (white) and oxygen (red).
Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) particles are effective for environmental remediation because of their physical size and chemical properties. Unlike traditional materials, these particles are small enough to permeate into rock layers in the ground, which allows them to reach and neutralize organochlorine pollutants located in deep aquifers.1
Furthermore, because they exist at the nanoscale, a large proportion of the material is in a highly reactive state, making them an efficient, field-deployable solution for treating contaminants like polychlorinated biphenyls.1