Preparation and sustainability evaluation of nano zero-valent iron

Abstract

Nanoscale zero-valent iron（nZVI） is a kind of widely-concerned environmental remediation material，which expands the application scope of iron-based materials in site remediation and pollutant removal because it has both the reactive activity of nanoscale materials and the reductive property of zero-valent iron. Although nZVI is more effective，the more complex preparation process leads to increased environmental footprint and production costs，the preparation method of nZVI is becoming a key constraint to its development. The paper introduced the development of nZVI and carded the various preparation methods and characteristics of nZVI from the perspective of sustainable development. Furthermore，this paper examined the potential environmental consequences resulting from the preparation process of nZVI. On this basis，the sustainability of typical nZVI preparation was assessed，and potential unsustainable factors were quantified，highlighting the dependence of the preparation process on electrical energy sources. Based on the existing researching，the large-scale and potential methods of preparation of nZVI were prospected，such as laser ablation. Moreover，it illustrated the importance of choosing reasonable preparation method，emphasizing the indispensable position of the sustainability assessment of nZVI in the future development. It is hoped to provide a reference for researchers and policy makers in the selection and improvement of nZVI preparation methods.

Keywords

• nano zero-valent iron
• sustainability
• nanomaterials
• environmental remediation