Powerful reductant for decontamination of groundwater and surface streams

• US 20020006867A1
• Filed: 04/13/2001
• Published: 01/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation
• Original Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation
• Inventors: Ponder, Sherman M., Mallouk, Thomas F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,689,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 502/405
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/002 involving in-situ ground water treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/08 chemically
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/705 Reduction by metals
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/20 Heavy metals or heavy metal compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/22 Chromium or chromium compounds, e.g. chromates
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/322 Volatile compounds, e.g. benzene
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/36 containing halogen
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/06 Contaminated groundwater or leachate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12014 having metal particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12181 Composite powder [e.g., coated, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12951 Fe-base component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/265 1 mil or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/294 including metal or compound thereof [excluding glass, ceramic and asbestos]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2962 Silane, silicone or siloxane in coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2995 Silane, siloxane or silicone coating

Abstract

The disclosed invention relates to a composite material for use in recovery of radionuclides, metals, and halogenated hydrocarbons from aqueous media. The material has very high surface area, and includes nanometer sized, zero-valent iron on a support. The material can be used to remediate aqueous media which have contaminants such as radionuclides, metals and halogenated hydrocarbons from aqueous media.

Claims

13. A method for manufacture of a composite material for use in recovery of at least one of radionuclides, metals, and halogenated hydrocarbons from aqueous media comprising,

forming a solution of a water soluble salt of Fe in water in the presence of a support material, and

adding an alkali borohydride to the solution in a sufficient amount to form a composite material of zero valent Fe on the support material.

1. A composite material for use in recovery of at least one of radionuclides, metals, and halogenated hydrocarbons from aqueous media, said material comprising the reaction product of an aqueous solution of an Fe salt and an alkali borohydride in the presence of an optional support material.

2. The material of claim 1 wherein the alkali borohydride is selected from the group consisting of NaBH₄, NaBH₃CN, and B₂H.

3. The material of claim 1 wherein said alkali borohydride is NaBH₄ and said ferrous salt is FeSO₄-7H₂O.

4. The material of claim 3 wherein said support material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metals, silica beads, sand, gravel, styrofoam, and silica gel.

5. The material of claim 4 wherein said support material is silica gel.

6. The material of claim 4 wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of Pd, Pt, Zn, Ni, V, Mn, Cu, Pr, Cr, Co, Sn and Pb.

7. The material of claim 4 wherein said aqueous solution further comprises a soluble salt of a dopant metal.

8. The material of claim 3 wherein the silica gel is about 20%-85% by weight of the material, based on total weight of the material.

9. The material of claim 8 wherein the material has a weight ratio of silica to iron of from about 1:

10 to about 100;

1.

10. The material of claim 9 wherein the material has a weight ratio of silica to iron of about 2:

5.

11. The material of claim 10 wherein the material includes about 50% Fe by weight based on total weight of silica and iron in said material.

12. The material of claim 1 wherein said material has a particle size of about 5 nm-50 nm.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said alkali borohydride is selected from the group consisting of NaBH₄, NaBH₃CN, and B₂H₆.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said alkali borohydride is NaBH₄.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said solution has a pH of from about 4.5 to about 13.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said solution has a pH of about 6.5 to about 7.5.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said support material is silica gel.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said solution further comprises a soluble salt of a dopant metal.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said soluble salt of dopant metal is selected from the group consisting of Pd sulfates, Pd nitrates, Pd chlorides, Pd acetates, Pt sulfates, Pt nitrates, Pt chlorides, Pt acetates, Zn sulfates, Zn nitrates, Zn chlorides, Zn acetates, Mn sulfates, Mn nitrates, Mn chlorides, and Mn acetates, V sulfates, V nitrates, V chlorides, V acetates, Cr sulphates, Cr nitrates, Cr chlorides, Cr acetates, Cu sulphates, Cu nitrates, Cu chlorides, Cu acetates, Co sulphates, Co nitrates, Co chlorides, Co acetates, Pb sulphates, Pb nitrates, Pb chlorides, and Pb acetates.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said water soluble salt is FeSO₄-7H₂O.

22. The method of claim 14 further comprising evaporatively depositing a film of a modifying layer onto the precipitate.

20-1. The method of claim 19 wherein the ratio of soluble salts of metal dopants to iron salts is about 1:

1 to about 1;

100 by weight.

23. A method for remediation of at least one of radionuclides, metals and halogenated hydrocarbons from aqueous media comprising,

forming a solution of a water soluble salt of Fe in water in the presence of a support material,

adding an alkali borohydride to the solution in a sufficient amount to form a precipitate of zero valent Fe on the support material, and

exposing the support material having the zero valent Fe thereon to the aqueous media having at least one of radionuclides, metals and halogenated hydrocarbons therein to cause at least one of the radionuclides, metals and halogenated hydrocarbons to deposit onto the precipitate.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said water soluble salt of Fe is FeSO₄-7H₂O, said support material is silica gel and said alkali borohydride is NaBH₄,

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said radionuclides are selected from the group consisting of Tc, Pu, U, Np, Re.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said metals are heavy metals selected from the group consisting of Cr, Th, Hg, Pb, Cd, As, Bi, Sb.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein said halogenated hydrocarbons are selected from the group consisting of carbon tetrachloride, trichlorethylene (TCE), and tetrachlorethylene (PCE) chloroform, vinyl chloride, dichloroethylene, and perchloroethylene.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein said aqueous media is an organic liquid having up to about 50% by weight water.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein said aqueous media is an organic liquid having up to about 90% by weight water.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein said organic liquid is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, ethers, and alkanes.

31. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm the Fe particle having a hydroxamate coupling film thereon, the hydroxamate coupling film having the formula R-hydroxamate,

where R is selected from the group consisting of organic polymers,

alkyl having a charged group selected from the group consisting of sulfonate, ammonium and quaternary ammonium,

aryl having a charged group selected from the group consisting of sulfonate, ammonium, quaternary ammonium, and

substituted alkyl having a charged group selected from group consisting of sulfonate, ammonium, quaternary ammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

32. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm,

the Fe particle having a hydroxamate coupling film thereon, the hydroxamate coupling film having the formula R-hydroxamate, where

R is an alkyl having a sulfonate group selected from the group consisting of methylsulfonate, ethylsulfonate, vinylsulfonate, propylsulfonate, isopropylsulfonate, butylsulfonate, hexylsulfonate, octylsulfonate, decylsulfonate, dodecylsulfonate, and octadecylsulfonate, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

33. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm,

the Fe particle having a hydroxamate coupling film thereon, the hydroxamate coupling film having the formula R-hydroxamate, where

R is an alkyl having an ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methylammonium, ethylammonium, vinylammonium, propylammonium, butylammonium, hexylammonium, octylammonium, decylammonium, dodecylammonium, and octadecylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

34. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm,

the Fe particle having a hydroxamate coupling film thereon, the hydroxamate coupling film having the formula R-hydroxamate, where

R is an alkyl having a quaternary ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methyltrimethylammonium, ethyltrimethylammonium, vinyltrimethylammonium, propyltrimethylammonium, butyltrimethylammonium, hexyltrimethylammonium, octyltrimethylammonium, decyltrimethylammonium, dodecyltrimethylammonium, and octadecyltrimethylammonium, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

35. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm,

the Fe particle having a hydroxamate coupling film thereon, the hydroxamate coupling film having the formula R-hydroxamate, where

R is a substituted alkyl having a sulfonate group selected from the group isopropylsulfonate and isobutylsulfonate, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

36. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm,

the Fe particle having a hydroxamate coupling film thereon, the hydroxamate coupling film having the formula R-hydroxamate, where

R is a substituted alkyl having an ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methylammonium, ethylammonium, vinylammonium, propylammonium, butylammonium, hexylammonium, octylammonium, decylammonium, dodecylammonium, and octadecylammonium.

37. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm,

the Fe particle having a hydroxamate coupling film thereon, the hydroxamate coupling film having the formula R-hydroxamate, where

R is a substituted alkyl having a quaternary ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methyltrimethylammonium, ethyltrimethylammonium, vinyltrimethylammonium, propyltrimethylammonium, butyltrimethylammonium, hexyltrimethylammonium, octyltrimethylammonium, decyltrimethylammonium, dodecyltrimethylammonium, and octadecyltrimethylammonium

38. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm,

the Fe particle having a hydroxamate coupling film thereon, the hydroxamate coupling film having the formula R-hydroxamate, where

R is an aryl having a sulfonate group selected from the group consisting of phenylsulfonate, benzylsulfonate, xylylsulfonate, biphenylsulfonate, and naphthylsulfonate, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

39. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm,

the Fe particle having a hydroxamate coupling film thereon, the hydroxamate coupling film having the formula R-hydroxamate, where

R is an aryl having an ammonium group selected from the group consisting of phenylammonium, benzylammonium, xylylammonium, biphenylammonium, and naphthylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

40. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm,

the Fe particle having a hydroxamate coupling film thereon, the hydroxamate coupling film having the formula R-hydroxamate, where

R is an aryl having a charged ammonium group selected from the group consisting of phenyltrimethylammonium, benzyltrimethylammonium, xylyltrimethylammonium, biphenyltrimethylammonium, and naphthyltrimethylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

41. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm,

the Fe particle having a hydroxamate coupling film thereon, the hydroxamate coupling film having the formula R-hydroxamate, where

R is a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of poly(ethyleneoxide), polyamide, polyester and polysaccharide, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

42. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm,

the Fe particle having a hydroxamate coupling film thereon, the hydroxamate coupling film having the formula R-hydroxamate, where

R is selected from the group consisting of decyl, dodecyl, octadecyl, dodecylsulfonate, octadecylsulfonate, phenylsulfonate, ethylammonium, hexylammonium, butyltrimethylammonium, and hexyltrimethylammonium, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

43. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm,

the Fe particle having a phosphonate coupling film thereon, the phosphonate coupling film having the formula R-phosphonate, where R is selected from

the group consisting of organic polymers, alkyl having a charged group selected from the group consisting of sulfonate, ammonium and quaternary ammonium, aryl having a charged group selected from the group consisting of sulfonate, ammonium, quaternary ammonium, and substituted alkyl having a charged group selected from the group consisting of sulfonate, ammonium, quaternary ammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

44. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a phosphonate coupling film thereon, the phosphonate coupling film having the formula R-phosphonate, where R is

an alkyl having a sulfonate group selected from the group consisting of methylsulfonate, ethylsulfonate, vinylsulfonate, propylsulfonate, isopropylsulfonate, butylsulfonate, hexylsulfonate, octylsulfonate, decylsulfonate, dodecylsulfonate, and octadecylsulfonate, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

45. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a phosphonate coupling film thereon, the phosphonate coupling film having the formula R-phosphonate, where

R is an alkyl having an ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methylammonium, ethylammonium, vinylammonium, propylammonium, butylammonium, hexylammonium, octylammonium, decylammonium, dodecylammonium, and octadecylammonium, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

46. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a phosphonate coupling film thereon, the phosphonate coupling film having the formula R-phosphonate, where

R is an alkyl having a quaternary ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methyltrimethylammonium, ethyltrimethylammonium, vinyltrimethylammonium, propyltrimethylammonium, butyltrimethylammonium, hexyltrimethylammonium, octyltrimethylammonium, decyltrimethylammonium, dodecyltrimethylammonium, and octadecyltrimethylammonium, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

47. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a phosphonate coupling film thereon, the phosphonate coupling film having the formula R-phosphonate, where

R is a substituted alkyl having a sulfonate group selected from the group consisting of isopropylsulfonate and isobutylsulfonate,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

48. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a phosphonate coupling film thereon, the phosphonate coupling film having the formula R-phosphonate, where

R is a substituted alkyl having an ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methylammonium, ethylammonium, vinylammonium, propylammonium, butylammonium, hexylammonium, octylammonium, decylammonium, dodecylammonium, and octadecylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

49. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a phosphonate coupling film thereon, the phosphonate coupling film having the formula R-phosphonate, where

R is a substituted alkyl having a quaternary ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methyltrimethylammonium, ethyltrimethylammonium, vinyltrimethylammonium, propyltrimethylammonium, butyltrimethylammonium, hexyltrimethylammonium, octyltrimethylammonium, decyltrimethylammonium, dodecyltrimethylammonium, and octadecyltrimethylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

50. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a phosphonate coupling film thereon, the phosphonate coupling film having the formula R-phosphonate, where

R is an aryl having a sulfonate group selected from the group consisting of phenylsulfonate, benzylsulfonate,

xylylsulfonate, biphenylsulfonate, and naphthylsulfonate, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

51. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a phosphonate coupling film thereon, the phosphonate coupling film having the formula R-phosphonate, where

R is an aryl having an ammonium group selected from the group consisting of phenylammonium, benzylammonium,

xylylammonium, biphenylammonium, and naphthylammonium, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

52. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a phosphonate coupling film thereon, the phosphonate coupling film having the formula R-phosphonate, where

R is an aryl having a charged ammonium group selected from the group consisting of phenyltrimethylammonium, benzyltrimethylammonium, xylyltrimethylammonium, biphenyltrimethylammonium, and naphthyltrimethylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

53. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a phosphonate coupling film thereon, the phosphonate coupling film having the formula R-phosphonate, where

R is a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of poly(ethyleneoxide), polyamide, polyester and polysaccharide, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

54. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a phosphonate coupling film thereon, the phosphonate coupling film having the formula R-phosphonate, where

R is selected from the group consisting of decyl, dodecyl, octadecyl, dodecylsulfonate, octadecylsulfonate, phenylsulfonate, ethylammonium, hexylammonium, butyltrimethylammonium, and hexyltrimethylammonium, the coupling film having a thickness of

about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

55. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a carboxylate coupling film thereon, the carboxylate coupling film having the formula R-carboxylate, where

R is selected from the group consisting of organic polymers, alkyl having a charged group selected from the group consisting of sulfonate, ammonium and quaternary ammonium, aryl having a charged group selected from the group consisting of sulfonate, ammonium, quaternary ammonium, and substituted alkyl having a charged group selected from the group consisting of sulfonate, ammonium, quaternary ammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

56. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a carboxylate coupling film thereon, the carboxylate coupling film having the formula R-carboxylate, where

R is an alkyl having a sulfonate group selected from the group consisting of methylsulfonate, ethylsulfonate, vinylsulfonate, propylsulfonate, isopropylsulfonate, butylsulfonate, hexylsulfonate, octylsulfonate, decylsulfonate, dodecylsulfonate, and octadecylsulfonate,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

57. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a carboxylate coupling film thereon, the carboxylate coupling film having the formula R-carboxylate, where

R is an alkyl having an ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methylammonium, ethylammonium, vinylammonium, propylammonium, butylammonium, hexylammonium, octylammonium, decylammonium, dodecylammonium, and octadecylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

58. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a carboxylate coupling film thereon, the carboxylate coupling film having the formula R-carboxylate, where

R is an alkyl having a quaternary ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methyltrimethylammonium, ethyltrimethylammonium, vinyltrimethylammonium, propyltrimethylammonium, butyltrimethylammonium, hexyltrimethylammonium, octyltrimethylammonium, decyltrimethylammonium, dodecyltrimethylammonium, and octadecyltrimethylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

59. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a carboxylate coupling film thereon, the carboxylate coupling film having the formula R-carboxylate, where

R is a substituted alkyl having a sulfonate group selected from the group consisting of isopropylsulfonate and isobutylsulfonate,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

60. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a carboxylate coupling film thereon, the carboxylate coupling film having the formula R-carboxylate, where

R is a substituted alkyl having an ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methylammonium, ethylammonium, vinylammonium, propylammonium, butylammonium, hexylammonium, octylammonium, decylammonium, dodecylammonium, and octadecylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

61. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a carboxylate coupling film thereon, the carboxylate coupling film having the formula R-carboxylate, where

R is a substituted alkyl having a quaternary ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methyltrimethylammonium, ethyltrimethylammonium, vinyltrimethylammonium, propyltrimethylammonium, butyltrimethylammonium, hexyltrimethylammonium, octyltrimethylammonium, decyltrimethylammonium, dodecyltrimethylammonium, and octadecyltrimethylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

62. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a carboxylate coupling film thereon, the carboxylate coupling film having the formula R-carboxylate, where

R is an aryl having a sulfonate group selected from the group consisting of phenylsulfonate, benzylsulfonate, xylylsulfonate, biphenylsulfonate, and naphthylsulfonate,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

63. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a carboxylate coupling film thereon, the carboxylate coupling film having the formula R-carboxylate, where

R is an aryl having an ammonium group selected from the group consisting of phenylammonium, benzylammonium, xylylammonium, biphenylammonium, and naphthylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

64. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a carboxylate coupling film thereon, the carboxylate coupling film having the formula R-carboxylate, where

R is an aryl having a charged ammonium group selected from the group consisting of phenyltrimethylammonium, benzyltrimethylammonium, xylyltrimethylammonium,

biphenyltrimethylammonium, and naphthyltrimethylammonium, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

65. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a carboxylate coupling film thereon, the carboxylate coupling film having the formula R-carboxylate, where

R is a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of poly(ethyleneoxide), polyamide, polyester and polysaccharide, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

66. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a carboxylate coupling film thereon, the carboxylate coupling film having the formula R-carboxylate, where

R is selected from the group consisting of decyl, dodecyl, octadecyl, dodecylsulfonate, octadecylsulfonate, phenylsulfonate, ethylammonium, hexylammonium, butyltrimethylammonium, and hexyltrimethylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

67. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a silane coupling film thereon, the silane coupling film having the formula R-silane, where

R is selected from the group consisting of organic polymers, alkyl having a charged group selected from the group consisting of sulfonate, ammonium and quaternary ammonium, aryl having a charged groups selected from sulfonate, ammonium, quaternary ammonium, and substituted alkyl having a charged group selected from the group consisting of sulfonate, ammonium, quaternary ammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

68. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a silane coupling film thereon, the silane coupling film having the formula R-silane, where

R is an alkyl having a sulfonate group selected from the group consisting of methylsulfonate, ethylsulfonate, vinylsulfonate, propylsulfonate, isopropylsulfonate, butylsulfonate, hexylsulfonate, octylsulfonate, decylsulfonate, dodecylsulfonate, and octadecylsulfonate, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

69. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a silane coupling film thereon, the silane coupling film having the formula R-silane, where

R is an alkyl having an ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methylammonium, ethylammonium, vinylammonium, propylammonium, butylammonium, hexylammonium, octylammonium, decylammonium, dodecylammonium, and octadecylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

70. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a silane coupling film thereon, the silane coupling film having the formula R-silane, where

R is an alkyl having a quaternary ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methyltrimethylammonium, ethyltrimethylammonium, vinyltrimethylammonium, propyltrimethylammonium, butyltrimethylammonium, hexyltrimethylammonium, octyltrimethylammonium, decyltrimethylammonium, dodecyltrimethylammonium, and octadecyltrimethylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

71. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a silane coupling film thereon, the silane coupling film having the formula R-silane, where

R is a substituted alkyl having a sulfonate group selected from the group consisting of isopropylsulfonate and isobutylsulfonate,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

72. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a silane coupling film thereon, the silane coupling film having the formula R-silane, where

R is a substituted alkyl having an ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methylammonium, ethylammonium, vinylammonium, propylammonium, butylammonium, hexylammonium, octylammonium, decylammonium, dodecylammonium, and octadecylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

73. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a silane coupling film thereon, the silane coupling film having the formula R-silane, where

R is a substituted alkyl having a quaternary ammonium group selected from the group consisting of methyltrimethylammonium, ethyltrimethylammonium, vinyltrimethylammonium, propyltrimethylammonium, butyltrimethylammonium, hexyltrimethylammonium, octyltrimethylammonium, decyltrimethylammonium, dodecyltrimethylammonium, and octadecyltrimethylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

74. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a silane coupling film thereon, the silane coupling film having the formula R-silane, where

R is an aryl having a sulfonate group selected from the group consisting of phenylsulfonate, benzylsulfonate,

xylylsulfonate, biphenylsulfonate, and naphthylsulfonate, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

75. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a silane coupling film thereon, the silane coupling film having the formula R-silane, where

R is an aryl having an ammonium group selected from the group consisting of phenylammonium, benzylammonium,

xylylammonium, biphenylammonium, and naphthylammonium, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

76. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a silane coupling film thereon, the silane coupling film having the formula R-silane, where

R is an aryl having a charged ammonium group selected from the group consisting of phenyltrimethylammonium, benzyltrimethylammonium, xylyltrimethylammonium,

biphenyltrimethylammonium, and naphthyltrimethylammonium, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

77. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a silane coupling film thereon, the silane coupling film having the formula R-silane, where

R is a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of poly(ethyleneoxide), polyamide, polyester and polysaccharide, the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

78. An Fe particle having a size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm, the Fe particle having a silane coupling film thereon, the silane coupling film having the formula R-silane, where

R is selected from the group consisting of decyl, dodecyl, octadecyl, dodecylsulfonate, octadecylsulfonate, phenylsulfonate, ethylammonium, hexylammonium, butyltrimethylammonium, and hexyltrimethylammonium,

the coupling film having a thickness of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

79. A method for remediation of heavy metals and halogenated hydrocarbon contaminates from aqueous media comprising,

forming a solution of a water soluble salt of Fe in water in the presence of a support material,

adding an alkali borohydride to the solution to form a precipitate of zero valent Fe onto the support material wherein the precipitate has an average particle size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm,

depositing hexadecyl siloxane onto the zero valent Fe particles to form a siloxane film on the zero valent Fe particles, and

exposing the support material having the zero valent Fe having the siloxane film thereon to an aqueous media having a pH of 5.5 or above and having a contaminate selected from the group consisting of heavy metals and halogenated hydrocarbons to cause any one of the heavy metals and halogenated hydrocarbons to deposit onto the precipitate.

80. A method for remediation of any of heavy metals and halogenated hydrocarbon contaminates from aqueous media comprising,

forming a solution of a water soluble salt of Fe in water in the presence of a support material,

adding an alkali borohydride to the solution to form a precipitate of zero valent Fe which has an average particle size of about 5 nm to about 50 nm,

depositing any of R-hydoxamates, R-phosphonates, R-carboxylates and R-silanes onto the zero valent Fe particles to form a coupling film of any of R-hydoxamates, R-phosphonates, R-carboxylates, and R-silanes on the zero valent Fe particles, and

exposing the support material having the zero valent Fe having the coupling film thereon to an aqueous waste stream having a contaminate selected from the group consisting of heavy metals, halogenated hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof to cause any one of the heavy metals and halogenated hydrocarbons to deposit onto the zero valent Fe particles having the coupling film of R-hydoxamates, R-phosphonates, R-carboxylates, and R-silanes.