Microwaves were applied to reduce the activation energy of chlorobenzene in aqueous solution and enhance its removal using nanoscale zero-valent iron (Fe 0 ) or zero-valent copper (Cu 0 ) particles as dielectric media. When Fe 0 and Cu 0 particles absorb microwave energy, the electrical potential difference causes the metal electrons to rotate faster, thus producing more heat. The microwave-irradiated metal particles reduced the chlorobenzene activation energy by 6.1 kJ/mol (13.3 kJ/mol versus 19.4 kJ/mol) for Fe 0 and 5.4 kJ/mol (15.8 kJ/mol versus 21.4 kJ/ mol) for Cu 0 and enhanced the chlorobenzene removal 4.1 times (82.8% versus 20.4%) for Fe 0 and 3.7 times (72.1% versus 19.5%) for Cu 0 . The Fe 0 has a higher standard reduction potential than Cu 0 ; it is capable of removing more chlorobenzene than Cu 0 (82.8% versus 72.1%). Using the microwave-induced nano-scale iron or copper particle is effective in treating toxic organic substances, as demonstrated in this study. Water Environ. Res., 82, 642 (2010).
Microwave (MW) energy was used to enhance the photocatalytic degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) using titanium dioxide (TiO 2) as the catalyst. The reaction rate constant was determined using the Langmuir-Hinshelwood equation kinetic model. Additionally, the influence of the microwave energy level and application method, and TiO 2 dosage on TCE removal were studied. Higher microwave energy level and higher photocatalyst concentration lead to better TCE removal. However, when the TiO 2 dosage exceeds 4 mg/mL, the TCE removal efficiency is not obviously enhanced, demonstrating that the TCE removal is caused more by photocatalyses than microwave heat. Hence, major photo-oxidative reactions induced by microwave radiation to reduce TCE at the TiO 2 particle surface are mostly nonthermal.
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