The Pd/FeFe(3)O(4) nanocomposites showed higher dechlorination efficiency of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) rather than bare Pd/Fe nanoparticles in the batch dechlorination experiments. nFe(3)O(4) provided a convenient way to recycle the nanocomposites with an external magnetic field and significantly enhanced 2,4-DCP dechlorination. 2.0 g L(-1) nFe(3)O(4) was the optimal dosage in the presence of 3 g L(-1) Pd/Fe nanoparticles in our system, removing 76.4% 2,4-DCP within 5h in the aqueous environment. This was much higher than bare Pd/Fe nanoparticles (35.8%), 1.0 g L(-1) nFe(3)O(4) (58.0%) and 2.5 g L(-1) nFe(3)O(4) (66.3%) employed under the same conditions. However, excessive nFe(3)O(4) (3.0 g L(-1)) partially overlapped on Pd/Fe nanoparticles to obstruct their contact with 2,4-DCP, and then 2,4-DCP removal efficiency was dropped to 7.4%. Efficiencies of dechlorination and phenol formations were increased significantly when the amount of Pd increased, whereas the highest 2,4-DCP removal efficiency was observed 98.2% at 0.20 wt% Pd loading. Moreover, SO(4)(2-) would also inhibit the dechlorination while Cu(2+), Ni(2+) and Fe(2+) enhanced the dechlorination of 2,4-DCP by Pd/FeFe(3)O(4) nanocomposites. The nanocomposites showed stable catalytic activity, fairly good mechanic stability, and promising to recycle during the process.
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