Abstract
Zerovalent silicon was a promising material that can be used as a reductant to dechlorinate chlorinated hydrocarbons and heavy metal ions. It has been proven that the addition of Pd and Ni ion can enhance the dechlorination rate of PCE in the zerovalent metal system. However, the addition of Cu ion cannot enhance the PCE dechlorination in Si(0) system, because Cu ion will precipitate at pH 8.3, the optimal pH value for the activation of Si(0). In this study, 0.06 wt % loading of Cu ion was used in Si(0) system. The pseudo-first order kinetic constant for PCE by Si-Cu system was 0.0283 h -1 which is 2-5.1 times higher than those with Si(0) alone, and with a 3 wt % loading of Cu in Si system. TCE and ethane were found to be the major products, showing that hydrogenolysis is the major pathway for PCE dechlorination.