A recyclable polydopamine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide/Fe nanocomposite (PDA@Fe/rGO) for the enhanced degradation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane

Abstract The removal of chlorinated hydrocarbons through heterogeneous catalysts from groundwater has become a valuable approach. However, the synthesis of a highly efficient and persistent material especially for trichloroethane (TCA) removal is still immature. In this study, we prepared polydopamine (PDA) embedded Fe/rGO nanocomposite via pH-induced polymerization of dopamine for the degradation of TCA in sodium percarbonate (SPC) system. The experimental outcomes revealed that PDA decorated Fe/rGO not only enhanced the TCA degradation (98%) more economically but also strengthened the stability and recyclability of catalyst compared to bare Fe/rGO. The TEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS and VSM analyses revealed the successful preparation of magnetically separable PDA@Fe/rGO nanocomposite. Furthermore, a higher degradation rate of probe compounds in PDA@Fe/rGO/SPC system indicated that PDA decoration improved the formation of active species due to autoxidation of dopamine and reducing capability of PDA. The impact of solution matrix on PDA@Fe/rGO performance elucidated the effect of various species on degradation. The GCMS, TOC analysis and dechlorination experiments validated the formation of non-toxic products and reasonable TOC and chloride ions removal. The PDA@Fe/rGO catalyst can be recycled for six consecutive cycles retaining a 76% along with abundant availability of Fe2+ and Fe3+ species validated using XRD and XPS analysis. The enhanced remediation capacity and improved recyclability of PDA@Fe/rGO nanocomposite can serve as a shining star for the practical application of TCA removal in groundwater.