Synthesis of nanoscale zero-valent iron by one-pot route and study of its potential in passivating coexistent heavy metal anions and cations in soil.

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) was synthesized by a one-pot liquid-phase chemical method in the presence of FeSO as the iron source and NaBH as the reducing agent. The synthesized nZVI was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Its ability to passivate Pb, Cd, and AsO in soils was evaluated by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, and the passivation mechanism was explored based on adsorption thermodynamics and kinetics simulations.