Developing the Ascorbic Acid Test: A Candidate Standard Tool for Characterizing the Intrinsic Reactivity of Metallic Iron for Water Remediation

Granular metallic iron (gFe0) materials have been widely used for eliminating a wide range of pollutants from aqueous solutions over the past three decades. However, intrinsic reactivity gFe0 is rarely evaluated and existing methods such evaluations not standardized. The aim present study was to develop simple spectrophotometric method characterize based on extent dissolution in an ascorbic acid (AA—0.002 M or 2 mM) solution. A modification ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA method) suggested this purpose. Being excellent chelating agent FeII reducing FeIII, AA sustains oxidative Fe0 reductive FeIII oxides specimens. In other words, ions promoted while further oxidation blocked. Thus, unlike EDTA that promotes ions, only formation species, despite presence dissolved O2. test more accurate than considerably less expensive. Eight selected specimens (ZVI1 through ZVI8) with established diversity were tested parallel batch experiments (for 6 days) these (ZVI1, ZVI3, ZVI5) leaching column 150 days). Results confirmed better suitability (e.g., accuracy assessing dissolution) relative as powerful screening tool select various field applications. should be routinely rationalize selection individual studies.