Ce3+ triggers fenton-like processes in neutral solutions for effective catechol degradation

Chen, Xing; Liu, Xu; Wang, Hai-Bo; Cui, Kang-Ping; Weerasooriya, Rohan; He, Shi-Long; Li, Guang-Hong; Pan, Jun; Zhou, Kai

doi:.0..

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2020.519

Ce3+ triggers fenton-like processes in neutral solutions for effective catechol degradation

Xing Chen^1,2, Xu Liu^1,2, Hai-Bo Wang^1,3, Kang-Ping Cui², Rohan Weerasooriya¹, Shi-Long He³^†, Guang-Hong Li⁴, Jun Pan⁴, and Kai Zhou⁴

¹Key Lab of Aerospace Structural Parts Forming Technology and Equipment of Anhui Province, Institute of Industry and Equipment Technology, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, P. R. China
²School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, P. R. China
³School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu Province, PR China
⁴Anhui Shunyu Water Co.,ltd., Hefei, 231131, P. R. China

Corresponding Author: Shi-Long He ,Tel: +86-551-62902634; +86-516-83591328, Fax: +86-551-62902634; +86-516-83591328, Email: xingchen@hfut.edu.cn; hslongrcees@163.com

Received: September 18, 2020; Accepted: December 22, 2020.

ABSTRACT

Classical Fenton and Fenton-like processes destruct organic pollutants in water non-selectively to complete mineralization. However, the usage of classical Fenton or Fenton-like processes is often limited due to the narrow operational pH window, sludge accumulation, inefficient H2O2 and efficiency decline. To overcome these constraints, in this study, we used a homogeneous Fe3+-Ce3+-H2O2 Fenton-like process to degrade catechol at different experimental conditions. At pH 7, almost 97 % of 10 mM catechol can be destructed within 60 min while the degradation by Classical Fenton or Fe3+-H2O2 Fenton-like process only 36.2 % and 23.7 %. The resultant solution after the degradation contains only traces of cerium ions. The sludge created by the process was extensively characterized by FTIR and XPS spectroscopy to elucidate the fate of cerium ions. Electron spin resonance (ESR) data confirmed •OH as the major free radical in Fe3+-Ce3+-H2O2 process. Our Fenton-like process widens the optimal pH values to neutral condition.

Keywords: Catechol | Cerium ion | Degradation | Fenton-like process | Precipitation