Ferroxane derived ceramic composite material as catalysts for heterogenous Fenton reactions for dyes and pharmaceutical removal in water

Abstract

The goal of this project is to fabricate iron oxide (ferroxane) ceramics as catalysts for heterogeneous Fenton reactions, which will ultimately be used in the degradation of nonbiodegradable organic compounds, such as pharmaceuticals, in water. Iron oxide ceramics were fabricated from carboxylate-FeOOH nanoparticles (Ferroxane). Their synthesis took place in two steps: (i) synthesis of ?-FeO(OH) (lepidocrocite) from ferrous chloride; and (ii) ferroxane production from the mineral by reacting it with acetic acid. Hematite was obtained by sintering ferroxane nanoparticles at 500 Co. Next, ferroxane nanoparticles were reacted with salts of cobalt and manganese, due to their high reduction potential, to obtain mixed metal oxide nanoparticles at 10:1, 4:1, and 2:1 Fe:metal ratio.