Kinetics investigation of environmental pollutants degradation using Fenton process in the presence of iron oxide nanoparticles

In this study, magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) and magnetic supported on functionalized activated carbon (Fe3O4/AC NPs) were synthesized by co-precipitation method under N2 gas. These nanocatalysts were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FT-IR), X-Ray Diffusion (XRD), adsorption and desorption isotherms of N2 (BET) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). The catalytic activity of these nanocatalysts in Fenton heterogeneous process was evaluated by the degradation of reactive red ME4BL (RR ME4BL) textile dye as a model of organic pollutant. The effect of parameters such as H2O2 concentration, RR ME4BL concentration, the amount of catalyst, pH and temperature in the degradation of dye for Fenton process. At the optimum conditions, H2O2 (4mmolL-1), Fe3O4 NPs (4mg), RR ME4BL (100mgL-1) and pH=3 at room temperature, the dye was degraded 93%. The kinetics of degradation of RR ME4BL by Fenton processes was also studied and the results showed that the oxidation of RR ME4BL follows the pseudo-first order.