Revolutionary ZVI-Entrapped Sol–Gel Silica Matrices: Efficient Catalytic Reduction of High-Concentration Halo-Organic Compounds—Addressing Bromoacetic Acid Contamination in Industrial Wastewaters

The de-halogenation of highly concentrated halo-organic compounds using Zero Valent Iron entrapped in silica matrices as a catalyst was investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Zero Valent Iron-entrapped organically modified silica matrices in transforming highly concentrated hazardous halogenated compounds into environmentally benign materials in the presence of BH₄⁻. The Zero Valent Iron-entrapped silica gel matrices were synthesized using the sol–gel method. The de-halogenation products were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The results suggest that the Zero Valent Iron-entrapped silica matrices are effective catalysts in the de-halogenation reaction of halo-organics by BH₄⁻ with 100% efficiency. The current work also highlights the complete de-bromination of harmful wastewater generated by the bromoacetic acid manufacturing industry using Zero Valent Iron-entrapped silica matrices. Therefore, Zero Valent Iron-entrapped silica matrices can be considered potential candidates for the catalytic removal of highly concentrated halo-organic compounds from contaminated water. This technology can play a crucial role in reducing the environmental impact of hazardous substances.