Spinel Ferrite Mediated Photo‐Fenton Degradation of Phenolic Analogues: A Detailed Study Employing Two Distinct Inorganic Oxidants |
| |
| Authors: | Rimi Sharma Sonal Singhal |
| |
| Affiliation: | Department of Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160 014, India |
| |
| Abstract: | The present work demonstrates the applicability of ferrites as photo‐Fenton catalysts for deterioration of different phenolic derivatives. To analyze optimal reaction conditions, experiments are performed with four magnetic spinel ferrites MFe2O4 (M = Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn) and two inorganic oxidants, i.e., hydrogen peroxide (HP) and potassium peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The reactions are performed using p‐nitrophenol as phenolic probe. CuFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 possessed excellent ability to activate HP and PMS, respectively, among all four synthesized catalysts. A noteworthy aspect of two oxidizing agents is that the concentration of PMS used during the reaction is four times less than HP. Further, the broad pH activity of PMS provides a significant advantage over HP. The optimal reaction conditions, when HP is the oxidant in the photo‐Fenton degradation, are 0.50 g L?1 MFe2O4, pH 2.5, and 8.8 mM HP. Although PMS is active in a wide pH range (2–10), adequate reaction conditions are 0.50 g L?1 MFe2O4, natural pH, and 2.2 mM PMS. The photo‐Fenton activity of ferrites is extended to the degradation of different nitro‐ and chloro‐analogs of phenol (2‐nitrophenol, 3‐nitrophenol, 4‐nitrophenol, 2,4‐dinitrophenol, 2,4,6‐trinitrophenol, 2‐chlorophenol, 3‐chlorophenol, 4‐chlorophenol, 2,4‐dichlorophenol) with only two ferrites (CuFe2O4 and CoFe2O4). A comparative study is performed with the two oxidants (HP and PMS) with positive results. Finally, stability and reusability of magnetic ferrites as catalysts are also studied to prove their use in phenolic solution treatment. |
| |
| Keywords: | chemistry Fenton reaction materials science nanoparticles wastewater |
|
|
