Zero-Valent Iron Pretreatment for Enhancing the Biodegradability Of Azo Dyes

摘要

Azo dyes are a group of chemical that are largely resistant to aerobic biodegradation and persist in wastewater treatment processes. This study proposed that zero-valent iron can be used to reduce the azo bond, cleaving the dye molecule into products that are more amenable to mineralization by bacteria in biological treatment processes such as activated sludge. Batch anaerobic reduction experiments were performed using two azo dyes, orange G and orange II, to determine reaction kinetics and to identify reduction products.