Dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol by zero-valent iron nanoparticles impregnated MCM-48

The zero-valent iron (ZVI) impregnated MCM- 48 (Fe-MCM-48) as a new reagent was used to dechloronation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) pollutant. The Fe- MCM-48 was prepared by a grinding method as a solventfree procedure. The X-ray diffraction patterns, SEM images and EDX spectra were applied to characterize the Fe- MCM-48 regent. The impregnation of ZVI nanoparticles occurred in the channels of mesoprous MCM-48. The zerovalent iron amount was 23 ± 2 % in Fe-MCM-48 that was confirmed by EDX analysis. The dechloronation of 2,4- dichlorophenol ([95 %) was optimized at pH 4 and 150 mg/L of Fe-MCM-48. The dechloronation reaction showed the pseudo first-order kinetic based on the initial concentration of 2,4-DCP in range of 100–400 mg/L. The increasing of available sites of Fe-MCM-48 versus dispersed zero-valent iron particles showed an advantage for new reagent in dechloronation reaction. The reusability of proposed reagent showed an efficiency of 95–55 % for a four-cycle of dechloronation reaction.