Synergistic Effect of Iron and Copper Oxides in the Removal of Organic Dyes Through Thermal Induced Catalytic Degradation Process
Eman F. Aboelfetoh, Abdelmeguid E. Aboubaraka, El‐Zeiny M. Ebeid
Abstract
Abstract This study proposes a new method for producing α-Fe 2 O 3 –CuO nanocatalyst that is both cost-effective and ecologically benign. The α-Fe 2 O 3 –CuO nanocomposite was prepared via moderate thermal oxidative decomposition of copper hexacyanoferrate. Its structure and surface morphology are affirmed via XRD, SEM, FTIR, EDX, TEM, XPS, and VSM. In the presence of H 2 O 2 , α-Fe 2 O 3 –CuO is employed as a heterogeneous catalyst to stimulate thermally induced degradation of dyes such as direct violet 4, rhodamine b, and methylene blue. The synergistic effect of Fe 2 O 3 and CuO enhanced the catalytic activity of the nanocomposite compared to Fe 2 O 3 and CuO separately. The effectiveness of DV4 degradation is optimized by evaluating multiple reaction parameters. The reaction rate increased substantially with the temperature, revealing its key role in the degradation process. Higher H 2 O 2 levels and the inclusion of inorganic anions like chloride or nitrate also sped up the degradation process. While sulfate and humic acid, particularly at high doses, slowed it. The mechanism of H 2 O 2 activation on α-Fe 2 O 3 –CuO is studied. The measurements of chemical oxygen demand and total organic carbon indicate that all dyes are highly mineralized. The remarkable performance and stability of this nanocomposite in removing diverse dyes render it a promising option for wastewater remedy.