Key Considerations When Assessing Novel Fenton Catalysts: Iron Oxychloride (FeOCl) as a Case Study
Open Access
- 20 September 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Chemical Society (ACS) in Environmental Science & Technology
- Vol. 55 (19), 13317-13325
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c04370
Abstract
Iron oxychloride (FeOCl) has been reported to be a highly efficient heterogeneous Fenton catalyst over a wide pH range. In order to determine the true catalytic performance of FeOCl, we simultaneously quantified the adsorptive and oxidative removal of formate, oxalate, and rhodamine-B (RhB) and the formation of RhB oxidation products at both pH 4.0 and 7.0. FeOCl was found to be a poor Fenton catalyst at either pH, as gauged by the oxidation of formate, oxalate, and rhodamine B and the decomposition of H2O2, in comparison with ferrihydrite (Fhy), one of the most common Fe-containing Fenton catalysts. The adsorption of target contaminants to FeOCl and homogeneous Fenton processes, induced by dissolved iron, resulted in overevaluation of the catalytic performance of FeOCl, especially for (i) the use of strongly adsorbing target compounds, without consideration of the role of adsorption in their removal and (ii) exceedingly high concentrations of H2O2 to remove trace quantities of target contaminants. Overall, this study highlights that the systematic quantification of H2O2 decomposition, target compound adsorption, and oxidation as well as the concentrations of oxidized products formed are prerequisites for unequivocal elucidation of the catalytic nature and reaction mechanism of solid Fenton catalysts.Keywords
This publication has 31 references indexed in Scilit:
- Degradation of rhodamine B during visible light photocatalysis employing Ag@AgCl embedded on reduced graphene oxideColloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2013
- The effect of silica and natural organic matter on the Fe(II)-catalysed transformation and reactivity of Fe(III) mineralsGeochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2009
- Advanced Oxidation Processes for Organic Contaminant Destruction Based on the Fenton Reaction and Related ChemistryCritical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2006
- Steady-state dissolution kinetics of goethite in the presence of desferrioxamine B and oxalate ligands: implications for the microbial acquisition of ironChemical Geology, 2003
- Abatement of an Azo Dye on Structured C-Nafion/Fe-Ion Surfaces by Photo-Fenton Reactions Leading to Carboxylate Intermediates with a Remarkable Biodegradability Increase of the Treated SolutionThe Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2003
- Spiral magnetic structure of Fe in Van der Waals gapped FeOCl and polyaniline-intercalated FeOClPhysical Review B, 2000
- Catalytic Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide by Fe(III) in Homogeneous Aqueous Solution: Mechanism and Kinetic ModelingEnvironmental Science & Technology, 1999
- Interaction of formate and oxalate ions with radiation-generated radicals in aqueous solution. Methylviologen as a mechanistic probeThe Journal of Physical Chemistry, 1986
- Spectrophotometric determination of hydrogen peroxide using potassium titanium(IV) oxalateThe Analyst, 1980
- 338. The stability of iron complexes. Part IV. Ferric complexes with aliphatic acidsJournal of the Chemical Society, 1959