Abstract
Activated carbon (AC), carbon xerogel (XG), and carbon nanotubes (CNT), with and without N-functionalities, were prepared. Catalysts were obtained after impregnation of these materials with 2 wt.% of iron. The materials were characterized in terms of N2 adsorption at −196 °C, elemental analysis (EA), and the pH at the point of zero charge (pHPZC). The p-nitrophenol (PNP) degradation and mineralization (assessed in terms of total organic carbon–TOC–removal) were evaluated during adsorption, catalytic wet peroxidation (CWPO), and Fenton process. The textural and chemical properties of the carbon-based materials play an important role in such processes, as it was found that the support with the highest surface area -AC- presents the best performance in adsorption, whereas the materials with the highest mesopore surface area -XG or Fe/XG- lead to best removals by oxidation processes (for XG it was achieved 39.7 and 35.0% and for Fe/XG 45.4 and 41.7% for PNP and TOC, respectively). The presence of N-functionalities increases such removals. The materials were reused in consecutive cycles: the carbon-based materials were deactivated by hydrogen peroxide, while the catalysts showed high stability and no Fe leaching. For the support with superior performances -XG-, the effect of nitrogen content was also evaluated. The removals increase with the increase of the nitrogen content, the maximum removals (81% and 65% for PNP and TOC, respectively) being reached when iron supported on a carbon xerogel doped with melamine was used as catalyst.
Highlights
Nowadays, the research and development of efficient wastewater treatment technologies have received huge attention from the scientific community, especially the treatment methods called advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) [1,2]
Among the innumerous AOPs, the Fenton reaction stands out, which has been widely studied in the treatment of effluents because it is recognized as a “green technology”, implies low capital cost, is able to operate at atmospheric pressure and room temperature with a simple technology, is non selective, improves the biodegradability and reduces the toxicity of the effluents, and is an efficient process [3,4,5]
The textural properties of the carbon-based materials play an important role in the adsorption and/or catalytic activity
Summary
The research and development of efficient wastewater treatment technologies have received huge attention from the scientific community, especially the treatment methods called advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) [1,2].
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