Stable Fe3O4 submicrospheres with SiO2 coating for heterogeneous Fenton-like reaction at alkaline condition

Construction of magnetic azo-linked porous polymer for highly-efficient enrichment and separation of phenolic endocrine disruptors from environmental water and fish

Developing effective methods for highly sensitive detection of phenolic endocrine disruptors (EDCs) is especially urgent. Herein, a magnetic hydroxyl-functional porous organic polymer (M-FH-POP) was facilely synthesized by green diazo-couple reaction using basic fuchsin and hesperetin as monomer for the first time. M-FH-POP delivered superior adsorption performance for phenolic EDCs. The adsorption mechanism was hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interaction and π-π interplay. With M-FH-POP as adsorbent, a magnetic solid phase extraction method was established for extracting trace phenolic EDCs (bisphenol A, 4-tert-butylphenol, bisphenol F and bisphenol B) in water and fish before ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The method displayed low detection limit (S/N = 3) of 0.05-0.15 ng mL-1 for water and 0.08-0.3 ng g-1 for fish. The spiked recoveries were 88.3 %-109.8 % with the relative standard deviations of 2.4 %-6.4 %. The method offers a new strategy for sensitive determination of phenolic EDCs in water and fish samples.

The Use of Iron-Doped Anatase TiO2 Nanofibers for Enhanced Photocatalytic Fenton-like Reaction to Degrade Tylosin

The removal of antibiotics from wastewater to prevent their environmental accumulation is significant for human health and ecosystems. Herein, iron (Fe)-atom-doped anatase TiO2 nanofibers (Fe-TNs) were manufactured for the photocatalytic Fenton-like decomposition of tylosin (TYL) under LED illumination. Compared with the pristine TiO2 nanofibers (TNs), the optimized Fe-TNs exhibited improved visible-light-driven photocatalytic Fenton-like activity with a TYL degradation efficiency of 98.5% within 4 h. The effective TYL degradation could be attributed to the expanded optical light absorption and accelerated separation and migration of photogenerated electrons and holes after the introduction of Fe. The photogenerated electrons were highly conducive to the generation of active SO4•- radicals as they facilitated Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycles, and to oxidizing TYL. Moreover, the holes could be involved in TYL degradation. Thus, a significant enhancement in TYL degradation could be achieved. This research verifies the use of iron-doped anatase nanofibers as an effective method to synthesize novel photocatalytic Fenton-like catalysts through surface engineering for wastewater remediation.

A review of advanced oxidation process towards organic pollutants and its potential application in fracturing flowback fluid

Fracturing flowback fluid (FFF) including various kinds of organic pollutants that do harms to people and new treatments are urgently needed. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are suitable methods in consideration with molecular weight, removal cost and efficiency. Here, we summarize the recent studies about AOP treatments towards organic pollutants and discuss the application prospects in treatment of FFF. Immobilization and loading methods of catalysts, evaluation method of degradation of FFF, and continuous treatment process flow are discussed in this review. In conclusion, further studies are urgently needed in aspects of catalyst loading methods, macromolecule organic evaluation methods, industrial process, and pathways of macromolecule organics' decomposition.

Catalytic Wet Peroxide Oxidation of Anionic Pollutants over Fluorinated Fe3O4 Microspheres at Circumneutral pH Values

Fluorinated Fe3O4 microspheres with 7.1 ± 1.4 wt% of fluoride (F-Fe3O4-1) were prepared via glycothermal synthesis. Fluorination significantly enhanced the activity of F-Fe3O4-1 in catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of anionic dyes (including orange G (OG) and congo red) at pH ~7. However, the promotional effect of fluorination became less obvious for amphoteric rhodamine B and was not observed for cationic methylene blue. After reacting with H2O2 (40 mM) for 2 h at pH 6.5 and 40 °C, the decolorization rates of OG (0.1 mM) and the pseudo-first-order rate constant were 96.8% and 0.0284 min−1 over F-Fe3O4-1 versus 17.6% and 0.0011 min−1 over unmodified Fe3O4. The effects of reaction parameters (initial H2O2 concentration and pH value and reaction temperature) on OG decolorization with H2O2 over F-Fe3O4-1 were investigated. The reusability of F-Fe3O4-1 was demonstrated by OG decolorization in eight consecutive runs. Fluorination increased the isoelectric point of F-Fe3O4-1 to 8.7 and facilitated the adsorption and degradation of anionic dyes on the surface of F-Fe3O4-1 at pH ~7. Scavenging tests and EPR spectra supported that hydroxyl radicals were the main reactive species for the OG decolorization over F-Fe3O4-1.

Fe-Cu binary oxide loaded zeolite as heterogeneous Fenton catalyst for degradation of carbamazepine at near-neutral pH

In this study, Fe-Cu binary oxide was loaded on zeolite (Fe/Cu/zeolite) to be used as heterogeneous Fenton catalyst, and the catalytic degradation of carbamazepine (CBZ) were optimized at near-neutral pH. The results showed that the Fe and Cu oxide, mainly Fe₂O₃, Fe₃O₄, and CuO nanoparticles, were uniformly distributed on the surface of zeolite particles. Under the optimized conditions, Fe/Cu/zeolite could completely degrade CBZ when initial pH ranged from 3 to 7, and the removal efficiency of CBZ still remained above 74% even though the initial pH increased to near 10. After 8 times' repeated use, the Fe/Cu/zeolite exhibited an over 95% removal efficiency of CBZ. The hydroxyl radicals (•OH) were verified to be the main active oxidants by quenching experiments and ESR testing. The XPS of the materials revealed that the high catalytic efficiency was attributed to the synergistic effect of Fe(III)/Fe(II) and Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox cycles. This catalyst can be used for the efficient degradation of organic pollutants in heterogeneous Fenton systems.

Preparation, characterization, and applications of Fe-based catalysts in advanced oxidation processes for organics removal: A review

Fe-based catalysts as low-cost, high-efficiency, and non-toxic materials display superior catalytic performances in activating hydrogen peroxide, persulfate (PS), peracetic acid (PAA), percarbonate (PC), and ozone to degrade organic contaminants in aqueous solutions. They mainly include ferrous salts, zero-valent iron, iron-metal composites, iron sulfides, iron oxyhydroxides, iron oxides, and supported iron-based catalysts, which have been widely applied in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). However, there is lack of a comprehensive review systematically reporting their synthesis, characterization, and applications. It is imperative to evaluate the catalytic performances of various Fe-based catalysts in diverse AOPs systems and reveal the activation mechanisms of different oxidants by Fe-based catalysts. This work detailedly summarizes the synthesis methods and characterization technologies of Fe-based catalysts. This paper critically evaluates the catalytic performances of Fe-based catalysts in diverse AOPs systems. The effects of solution pH, reaction temperature, coexisting ions, oxidant concentration, catalyst dosage, and external energy on the degradation of organic contaminants in the Fe-based catalyst/oxidant systems and the stability of Fe-based catalysts are also discussed. The activation mechanisms of various oxidants and the degradation pathways of organic contaminants in the Fe-based catalyst/oxidant systems are revealed by a series of novel detection methods and characterization technologies. Future research prospects on the potential preparation means of Fe-based catalysts, practical applications, assistive technologies, and impact in AOPs are proposed.

Poly(catechol) modified Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposites with continuous high Fenton activity for organic degradation at neutral pH

Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely used as a recyclable catalyst in Fenton reaction for organic degradation. However, the pristine MNPs suffer from the drawbacks of iron leaching in acidic conditions as well as the decreasing catalytic activity of organic degradation at a pH higher than 3.0. To solve the problems, Fe3O4 MNPs were modified by poly(catechol) (Fe3O4/PCC MNPs) using a facile chemical co-precipitation method. The poly(catechol) modification improved both the dispersity and the surface negative charges of Fe3O4/PCC MNPs, which are beneficial to the catalytic activity of MNPs for organic degradation. Moreover, the poly(catechol) modification enhanced the efficiency of Fe(II) regeneration during Fenton reaction due to the acceleration of Fe(III) reduction by the phenolic/quinonoid redox pair. As a result, the Fenton reaction with Fe3O4/PCC MNPs could efficiently degrade organic molecules, exampled by methylene blue (MB), in an expanded pH range between 3.0 and 10.0. In addition, Fe3O4/PCC MNPs could be reused up to 8 cycles for the MB degradation with negligible iron leaching of lower than 1.5 mg L-1. This study demonstrated Fe3O4/PCC MNPs are a promising heterogeneous Fenton catalysts for organic degradation.