Fe-Cu@γ-Al2O3 microspheres as a heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst for degrading polyvinyl alcohol, Rhodamine-B, and Reactive Red X-3B

Abstract

In this study, to prepare a copper-iron bimetallic Fenton catalyst with low metal leaching and good recyclability, a heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst, Fe-Cu@γ-Al2O3 microspheres-modified γ-Al2O3, was fabricated by a spray drying-calcination method. At a calcination temperature of 450 °C, a molar ratio of γ-Al2O3: Cu(NO3)2·3H2O: Fe3O4 of 0.98: 6.2: 8.6, pH 7, a catalyst dosage of 2.2 g/L, a reaction temperature of 70 °C, and a H2O2 dosage of 10.5 g/L, the Fe-Cu@γ-Al2O3 microspheres degraded 99.61 %, 99.91 %, and 99.94 % polyvinyl alcohol (PVA, 2.5 g/L), Rhodamine-B (200 μg/mL), and Reactive Red X-3B (200 μg/mL) within 210 s, respectively. The experimental results showed that an interactive effect between Cu and Fe atoms was responsible for the high catalytic activity. Furthermore, the Fe-Cu@γ-Al2O3 microspheres showed good reusability and stability after ten degradation cycles. This study demonstrates the potential of using Fe-Cu@γ-Al2O3 microspheres for the Fenton-like degradation of industrial wastewater.