Phenol oxidation kinetics in water solution using iron(3)-oxide-based nano-catalysts

The influence of inorganic ions (HCO3, PO4/HPO4/H2PO4, Cl, SO4, Ca, Na and Mg) on the advanced chemical oxidation process of organic compounds dissolved in water is reported here. The catalytic behavior of iron(3)-oxide-based nano-particles was investigated together with inorganic ions and hydrogen peroxide concentrations, and pH level. Phenol was chosen as a typical organic contaminant for this study as a simulating pollutant. The limiting concentrations of radical scavengers making the oxidation process inefficient were identified. The strong effect of concentration of radical scavengers HCO3, PO4/HPO4/H2PO4, the nano-catalyst and hydrogen peroxide concentrations, and pH on the phenol oxidation rate and lag time period before reaction starts was determined. It was shown that Cl, SO4, Ca, Na and Mg ions had no significant effect on the kinetics of phenol oxidation.