Highly dispersed iron xerogel catalysts for p-nitrophenol degradation by photo-Fenton effects

• DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2014.06.009
• Publication Date: 2014-06-17T12:03:14Z
• Authors: Julien G. Mahy; Ludivine Tasseroul; Anthony Zubiaur; Jérémy Geens; Magali Brisbois; Marcus Herlitschke; Raphaël Hermann; Benoît Heinrichs; Stéphanie D. Lambert
• Keywords: Degradation; 4-Nitrophenol

Abstract Several iron xerogel catalysts were synthesized by hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3 -( 2 -aminoethylamino)propyltrimethoxysilane (EDAS) which is able to form a chelate with iron ions. The EDAS/TEOS ratio strongly influences the texture of xerogel catalysts. The specific surface area and the micro- and mesoporous volume increase with this ratio. It seems that EDAS plays a nucleating agent role for silica particles and allows to anchor Fe-based moieties inside the silica network. Iron oxide nanoparticles of diameter 1–1.5 nm and Fe 3+ ions result, encapsulated in silica particles with sizes of about 10–30 nm in diameter. The iron species was determined by Mossbauer spectroscopy and magnetometry measurements and only Fe 3+ species were observed in xerogel catalysts. The Fenton and photo-Fenton effect of these catalysts were evaluated on the degradation of p -nitrophenol in aqueous media under different conditions. Results show that in the presence of H 2 O 2 , iron xerogel catalysts present a photo-Fenton effect, reaching 99% of degradation after 24 h.