Carbon supported “core-shell structure” of Fe nanoparticles for enhanced Fenton reaction activity and magnetic separation

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2023, Vol.30 (3), p.7207-7217
• Main Authors: Zhu, Jiahao, Ma, Jianqing, Liu, Liang, Zhang, Shali, Zhao, Liaoyuan, Jin, Huixia, Zhang, Kefeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Carbon - chemistry; Catalysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Ferric Compounds - chemistry; Hydrogen Peroxide - chemistry; Iron - chemistry; Magnetic Phenomena; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Oxidation-Reduction; Research Article; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22754-x

Effectively facilitating Fe 3+ /Fe 2+ cycles and expanding its operating pH range are keys to optimizing the traditional Fenton reaction. In this exploration, we used chitosan and ferrous sulfate as precursors to prepare a multicomponent magnetic Fe/C Fenton-like catalyst, which exhibited extraordinary catalytic properties and excellent stability performance in a pH range of 4~8. Besides, it could be easily separated from the solution by a magnet. The characterization showed that the supported Fe species include troilite-2H (FeS), lepidocrocite (FeOOH), and pyrrhotite-6T (Fe 1 − x S) with a unique “core-shell structure.” The presence of reductive iron sulfide core in the system can accelerate the reduction of Fe(III). Meanwhile, the graphite-like structure formed after calcination can adsorb and enrich priority pollutants near the active site through π–π coupling and strengthen electron transfer, which endows its high catalytic performance and enables it invulnerable to dissolved organic compounds.