Nanoscale Fe0/Cu0 bimetallic catalysts for Fenton-like oxidation of the mixture of nuclear-grade cationic and anionic exchange resins

Abstract

Spent resins generated from the nuclear industrial processes are still difficult to be treated and disposed. Fenton-like processes have great application potential in the treatment of spent resins, but the Fenton reaction mechanisms and resin degradation pathways remain challenging. In this study, nanoscale Fe0/Cu0 bimetallic catalysts were prepared and characterized for the Fenton-like degradation of the mixture of cationic and anionic resins. High catalytic property of Fe0/Cu0 bimetallic nanoparticles activated by H2O2 was evaluated, according to the effects of various nanoparticles, temperature, catalyst amount, H2O2 concentration and the mixing ratio of cationic and anionic resins. Combined the shape and color changes of mixed resins with the experimental and calculated characterization results, different degradation difficulty of cationic and anionic resins and their degradation mechanisms were studied. According to the density functional theory calculations of the optimized resin molecules with the Fe0/Cu0 catalyst, the mechanisms of Fenton-like reactions and the degradation of mixed resins through the synergistic effect of Fe and Cu species were proposed. The comprehensive Fenton-like reactions and degradation mechanisms provide new insights to advance the treatment of spent resins and organic polymers by Fenton-like processes.