Removal of Cadmium from Soil Resources Using Stabilized Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles

Studying the removal of environmental pollutants such as heavy metals is important from various aspects, particularly human health-related issues. The present study evaluated the effect of zero- valent iron nanoparticles on the removal of cadmium from soil resources. To this aim, zero-valent iron nanoparticles were made with carboxymethyl cellulose stabilizer. Based on the results of cadmium removal from contaminated soil by application of nanoparticles, the distribution of cadmium in different parts of the soil was as follows: carbonate > exchangeable > oxide > residual > dissolved. Generally, the results of this study suggest that zero-valent iron nanoparticles are suitable adsorbents for removal of cadmium. Moreover, using polymer coatings such as carboxymethyl cellulose leads to increment of sustainability and diffusion of nanoparticle suspensions which in turn increases the removal efficiency of bioenvironmental pollutants.