Degradation of 3,3 '-iminobis-propanenitrile in aqueous solution by Fe-0/GAC micro-electrolysis system

The degradation of 3,3'-iminobis-propanenitrile was investigated using the Fe-0/GAC micro-electrolysis system. Effects of influent pH value, Fe-0/GAC ratio and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption on the removal efficiency of the pollutant were studied in the Fe-0/GAC micro-electrolysis system. The degradation of 3,3'-iminobis-propanenitrile was affected by influent pH, and a decrease of the influent pH values from 8.0 to 4.0 led to the increase of degradation efficiency. Granular activated carbon was added as cathode to form macroscopic galvanic cells between Fe-0 and GAC and enhance the current efficiency of the Fe-0/GAC micro-electrolysis system. The GAC could only adsorb the pollutant and provide buffer capacity for the Fe-0/GAC micro-electrolysis system, and the macroscopic galvanic cells of the Fe-0/GAC micro-electrolysis system played a leading role in degradation of 3,3'-iminobis-propanenitrile. With the analysis of the degradation products with GC-MS, possible reaction pathway for the degradation of 3,3'-iminobis-propanenitrile by the Fe-0/GAC micro-electrolysis system was suggested. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.