Photocatalytic Degradation of Reactive Red 195 Using Wool-Supported Fe(III) Complex as a Highly Active Heterogeneous Catalyst

Abstract

In order to obtain a practical Fenton catalyst with low cost, the wool-Fe complex was prepared by a reaction between a wool fiber and ferric chloride at room temperature and characterized using FTIR. This material was then used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the degradation of Reactive Red 195 widely used for the coloration of textiles. Some factors affecting the degradation of Reactive Red 195 such as concentration of Fe3+ions and pH value were investigated. Additionally, the UV-Vis spectra techniques were used to elucidate the catalytic activity of wool-Fe complex under visible light irradiation. The results indicated that wool fibers were able to coordinate with ferric ions in aqueous solution. The higher catalytic activity was obtained at higher concentration of Fe3+in the solution with pH≤6.0.