I wonder what the chemistry here is. He writes that the iron gets oxidized in the process, so some sort of reducing reaction with the pollutant, where the iron grabs the oxygen?

Doesn't make sense though, because the water is full of much easier to react free oxygen. Doesn't make sense in many other ways as well.

Maybe when he says the iron gets oxidized he means it reacts with the pollutant? But that doesn't make sense either because I don't think iron really reacts much with phosphorous or nitrogen.

So, is this fake or am I missing something large?

Edit: This seems relevant for some reason: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reduction_of_nitro_compounds

Anyone have more info?