Membrane-based bimetallic nanoparticles for environmental remediation: Synthesis and reactive properties

Nanoscale bimetallic particles have important applications in the environmentally important catalytic reactions at room temperature because of the novel physical and chemical properties. We report an innovative in situ synthesis method of functionalizing microfiltration membranes with highly reactive bimetallic core/shell Fe/Ni and Fe/Pd nanoparticles. The core/shell structure was confirmed by X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy mapping images. Using TCE and PCB as model compounds, the reactivity of membrane-immobilized bimetallic nanoparticles was quantified in terms of both reaction mechanism shift and product distribution. Complete dechlorination was achieved with both compounds.