Wu, Y., Y. Wang, X. Huang, S. Chen, X. Zhong, Z. Ni, X. Cai, X. Liu, M.O. Simonnot, and R. Qiu.
Chemosphere 189:479-488(2017)

Scientists investigated the feasibility of two approaches to using zero-valent iron (ZVI) in conjunction with surfactants to remediate sediments contaminated by PCBs and Ni. Approach A was surfactant desorption followed by ZVI treatment. Approach B was a simple mixture of ZVI and sediment in surfactant solution. Results of approach A showed that 65.24% of PCBs and 2.12% of Ni were desorbed by 1% Envirosurf; however, the sequential ZVI-mediated reductive dechlorination was ineffective due to micelle sequestration by high surfactant content, although Ni was almost completely removed. For approach B, <1% of coexisting Ni was released to aqueous solution, and 47.18-76.31% of PCBs could be dechlorinated by ZVI with the addition of 0.04% surfactants (Tween-80 and Envirosurf). Surfactant concentrations as low as 0.04% enhanced ZVI contact with sediment-bound PCBs and alleviated ZVI passivation. The PCB mixtures in sediment were desorbed and dechlorinated continuously, yielding lower substituted homologues that were less toxic and less hydrophobic. See additional information in Y. Wu's dissertation at http://docnum.univ-lorraine.fr/public/DDOC_T_2016_0066_WU.pdf.