Study of the Synthesis of Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles through Life Cycle Assessment
Zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) are highly effective in removing numerous contaminants from water, as they combine the reducing action of metallic iron with adsorption and coprecipitation mechanisms. The traditional synthesis method for nZVI involves the reduction of Fe(II) and Fe(III) salts with sodium borohydride. Given the need to optimize the synthesis protocol for scalability, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) emerges as a useful tool with the potential to identify critical stages, enabling the minimization of environmental impacts from both production and remediation processes.