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Heterogeneous Fenton degradation of persistent organic pollutants using natural chalcopyrite: effect of water matrix and catalytic mechanism

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Abstract

Natural chalcopyrite was evaluated as heterogeneous Fenton catalyst. Catalytic performance was evaluated considering different systems, catalyst dosage, H2O2 concentration, and reaction temperature, and increasing the parameters favors rhodamine B degradation. Effect of aqueous matrix was systematically examined, involving solution pH, anions, cations, dissolved organic matter, and initial pollutant concentration. The degradation performance is slightly influenced by these parameters. Rhodamine B removal is 96.5% within 120 min, the rate constant ranges from 0.0086 min−1 to 0.0415 min−1 depending on temperature, and the activation energy is 79 kJ/mol. Effective degradation of different persistent organic pollutants including methylene blue, malachite green, sodium butyl xanthate, tetracycline, and p-nitrophenol is verified by UV–vis spectra. Natural chalcopyrite was characterized by advanced techniques including scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Reactions between chalcopyrite and H2O2 cause copper leaching and iron oxidation. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance reveal the dominant role of hydroxyl radical in catalytic process. The catalytic mechanism induced by surface iron and leached copper derived from chalcopyrite is proposed.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Project (2020YFC1908802); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1704252 and 51804276); and the Young Elite Scientist Sponsorship Program by CAST (YESS20200212).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China

    Jiapeng Yang, Rong Huang, Yijun Cao & Chongqing Wang

  2. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Hui Wang

  3. Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 220072, Minsk, Belarus

    Andrei Ivanets

Authors
  1. Jiapeng Yang
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  2. Rong Huang
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  3. Yijun Cao
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  4. Hui Wang
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  5. Andrei Ivanets
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  6. Chongqing Wang
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Contributions

Chongqing Wang led the research design, writing of the manuscript, and analysis of results; Jiapeng Yang led the experimental studies and contributed to analysis of results and writing of the manuscript; Rong Huang contributed to experimental studies and writing of the manuscript; Yijun Cao, Hui Wang, and Andrei Ivanets contributed to analysis of results, writing, and revision of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Chongqing Wang.

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Responsible Editor: Ricardo A. Torres-Palma

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Highlights

• Natural chalcopyrite was evaluated as heterogeneous Fenton catalyst.

• Effective degradation of different persistent organic pollutants was obtained.

• Catalytic performance was minorly affected by aqueous matrix in catalytic system.

• The catalytic mechanism induced by surface iron and leached copper is proposed

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Yang, J., Huang, R., Cao, Y. et al. Heterogeneous Fenton degradation of persistent organic pollutants using natural chalcopyrite: effect of water matrix and catalytic mechanism. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 75651–75663 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21105-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21105-0

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