Application of Nanotechnology in Water Research

Chapter 16

Iron Oxide Materials for Photo-Fenton Conversion of Water Pollutants

S.A.C. Carabineiro*^{, 1}, A.M.T. Silva¹, C.G. Silva¹, R.A. Segundo¹, P.B. Tavares², N. Bogdanchikova³, J.L. Figueiredo¹ and J.L. Faria¹

¹LCM - Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials - Associate Laboratory LSRE/LCM, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

²University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, CQVR Chemistry Center-Vila Real, Department of Chemistry, Vila Real, Portugal

³National Autonomous University of Mexico, Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

*Corresponding author: [e-mail]

Abstract

The Fenton process, based on the Fenton reaction discovered in 1894, is used to treat a large variety of water pollutants. Iron and hydrogen peroxide are used to generate hydroxyl radicals that react with the pollutants, oxidizing them into carbon dioxide and water. One of the drawbacks of the typical homogeneous Fenton process is the presence of large quantities of dissolved iron in the effluent after treatment. The resulting ferric hydroxide sludge requires further separation and disposal, which makes the process relatively expensive. In order to overcome this problem, recent research has focused on the development of iron oxide catalysts, like the heterogeneous photo-Fenton process under UV-Vis irradiation. In this chapter, we will describe the preparation and characterization of nanostructured iron oxide materials and their use for the treatment ...