Functionalized polystyrene resin for enhanced oxidation of trichloroethylene in near-neutral pH systems

The use of polystyrene ion-exchange resin for iron immobilization offers distinct advantages in overcoming Iron(III) precipitation and low selectivity in Fenton's reaction trichloroethylene decontamination. This resin provides ion-exchange sites which can be loaded initially with Iron(II) and, upon reaction with hydrogen peroxide, Iron(III). By effectively chelating Iron(III), and preventing its precipitation, these ion-exchange sites act as an immobilized chelating agent. Additionally, due to the high porosity of this resin gained from its ∼80 nm pores, the bulk of iron is internally immobilized, reducing side reactions with external materials and increasing selectivity. The use of ion-exchange nanoparticles in the form of polystyrene resin to facilitate the Fenton's reaction in natural near-neutral pH systems has significant potential to increase the effectiveness of the Fenton's reaction for groundwater remediation. This study builds on preliminary efforts already published to begin to develop and quantify these advantages.