FeO-Clinoptilolite nanoparticles: Brief characterization and its photocatalytic kinetics towards 2,4-dichloroaniline

Abstract

The coupled FeO onto the clinoptilolite nanoparticles (CNP) was prepared and characterized briefly by XRD, FTIR, and DRS techniques. The average crystallite size of the CNP and FeO-CNP samples was estimated at 56 and 59 nm by the Scherrer equation, respectively. The pHpzc of the catalyst was also determined at 3.7. The supported catalyst showed a boosted photocatalytic effect in the photodegradation of 2,4-dichloroaniline (DCA) in an aqueous solution concerning the bulk FeO. The kinetics of the photodegradation process obeyed the Hinshelwood model, and thus, the rate of the process was followed by the change in the experimental variables. When the loaded FeO reached 13%, the highest degradation rate was obtained. The highest photodegradation rate was received at the optimal conditions of the catalyst dose: 0.5 g/L, CDCA: 15 ppm, and the initial pH: 5. HPLC chromatograms showed appearance new peaks for the photodegraded DCA solutions. The decrease in the main peak at the retention time of 2.87 min confirmed that 69 and 82% DCA molecules degraded after 180 and 300 min. The stability of FeO-CNP catalyst was studied, and the results showed good photocatalytic activity retained at drying temperatures of 25, 150, and 270 °C after three reusing runs, especially at higher drying temperatures.