Exploration of Zero-Valent Iron Stabilized Calcium–Silicate–Alginate Beads’ Catalytic Activity and Stability for Perchlorate Degradation

Perchlorate contamination in groundwater poses a serious threat to human health, owing to its interference with thyroid function. The high solubility and poor adsorption of perchlorate ions make perchlorate degradation a necessary technology in groundwater contaminant removal. Here, we demonstrate the perchlorate degradation by employing nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) embedded in biocompatible silica alginate hybrid beads fabricated using calcium chloride (1 wt%) as a crosslinker. The concentration of precursors (sodium alginate, sodium silicate) for bead formation was standardized by evaluating the thermal stability of beads prepared at different sodium silicate and alginate concentrations. Thermal degradation of silica alginate hybrid samples showed a stepwise weight loss during the thermal sweep, indicating different types of reactions that occur during the degradation process. The formation of the silica alginate hybrid structure was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) data revealed the surface morphology of silica alginate hybrid changes by varying sodium silicate and alginate concentrations. nZVI-loaded alginate–silicate polymer bead (nZVI-ASB) exhibited excellent perchlorate degradation efficiency by degrading 20 ppm of perchlorate within 4 h. Our study also showed the perchlorate degradation efficiency of nZVI-ASB is maximum at neutral pH conditions.