Comparison of a new immobilized Fe3+ catalyst with homogeneous Fe3+–H2O2 system for degradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol

✍ Scribed by Prabir Ghosh; Chandra Kumar; Amar Nath Samanta; Subhabrata Ray

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2012
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 314 KB
• Volume: 87
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0268-2575
• DOI: 10.1002/jctb.3699

✦ Synopsis

BACKGROUND: Heterogeneous Fenton catalysts have been used to treat various organic pollutants in an aqueous environment. The present study has investigated the degradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), a priority pollutant generated by such industries as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, pigments and dyes. Degradation of 2,4-DNP (100 mg L -1 ) was studied using Fe 3+ loaded on Al 2 O 3 as a heterogeneous catalyst in the presence of H 2 O 2 , and the efficiency compared with the homogeneous Fe 3+ /H 2 O 2 based Fenton-like process. The effect of different parameters for both processes, such as catalyst loading, H 2 O 2 concentration, initial solution pH, initial substrate concentration and temperature were investigated and the optimum operating conditions determined. RESULTS: Under optimal operating conditions of the homogeneous system ([Fe 3+ ] 125 mg L -1 ; [H 2 O 2 ] 250 mg L -1 ; pH 3; room temperature), 92.5% degradation was achieved in 35 min for an initial 2,4-DNP concentration of 100 mg L -1 . In the case of immobilized Fe (Fe 3+ -Al 2 O 3 catalyst), degradation improved to 98.7% under the condition 10 wt% [Fe 3+ -Al 2 O 3 ] 1 g L -1 catalyst loading; [H 2 O 2 ] 250 mg L -1 ; pH 3; at room temperature for the same duration.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the stability and reusability of the prepared heterogeneous catalyst. This process is a viable technique for treatment of aqueous solutions containing contaminants.