Abstract
The present study refers to the use of an environmental pollutant generated during the removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous media. This pollutant is a material with catalytic properties suitable for application in the oxidative degradation of problematic organic compounds. The material, initially used as an adsorbent, is a composite prepared by modifying the crystalline phases of iron oxides together with the chitosan (CT-FeCr). Chemical and morphological characterizations of the materials were performed using SEM analysis coupled with EDS, XRD and DSC. The CT-FeCr beads were used in the degradation of methylene blue dye (MB) and showed excellent degradation potential (93.6%). The presence of Cr on the surface of the catalyst was responsible for the increase in catalytic activity compared to the CT-Fe and pure magnetite materials. The product of the effluent treatment and the presence of the catalyst itself in the environment do not pose toxic effects. In addition, the CT-FeCr beads showed catalytic stability for several consecutive reaction cycles with possible technical and economic viability. The concept of “industrial symbiosis” may be applied to this technology, with that term relating to the reuse of a byproduct generated in one particular industrial sector by another as a raw material.
Highlights
Based on this scenario, the present study coherently and cyclically organizes the recovery of trace elements or heavy metals, initially considered contaminating agents in an aqueous medium
The composite material composed of CT-Fe, with chromium immobilized by irreversible adsorption in its structure (CT-FeCr) is used in Fenton processes for the degradation of organic compounds
All assays performed in this study used the CT-FeCr derived from a simulated effluent treatment process containing hexavalent chromium in aqueous solution
Summary
The present study coherently and cyclically organizes the recovery of trace elements or heavy metals, initially considered contaminating agents in an aqueous medium. The removal of hexavalent chromium by a strong and irreversible adsorption process on the CT-Fe material surface allows this material to be used a second time as a catalyst in the Fenton degradation In this context, the chromium that once acted as an antagonist to the environment has a fundamental role as a promoter for the activation of iron in the formation of hydroxyl radicals and oxidation of organic contaminants. The composite material composed of CT-Fe, with chromium immobilized by irreversible adsorption in its structure (CT-FeCr) is used in Fenton processes for the degradation of organic compounds We optimized parameters such as temperature and the amount of H2O2 and assessed a study on the reuse of beads and regeneration as materials with catalytic properties. A hemolysis assay was performed to assess the safety of the catalyst supernatant
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