Potential use of Foundry Sand as Heterogeneous Catalyst in Solar Photo- Fenton Degradation ofHerbicide Isoproturon

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

School ofEnergy and Environment, Thapar University, Patiala, India

Abstract

This study deals with employing foundry sand (FS) as new low cost iron source in heterogeneous
photo-Fenton process for the degradation of herbicide isoproturon (IPU) in aqueous solution. The
characterization of the FS by EDS confirmed presence of iron (23%) required for photo-Fenton and
simultaneously confirmed absence of any heavy metals which may be susceptible to leaching. The photo-
Fenton effects of different reaction parameters like H2O2 concentration [H2O2]0, operating pH, initial
concentration of IPU [C0], FS dose, recycling of FS, effect of area/volume ratio were investigated. Results
showed that the maximal removal efficiency were achieved when reaction parameters were [H2O2]0= 2.2 mM,
pH 3, FS dose=0.5 g/L, [C0] =25 mg/L. Under optimum condition, 97% degradation efficiency of IPU was
achieved within 150 min of reaction. The catalyst recycling test was performed and FS was effectively
recycled for 4 times with 20% reduction in degradation efficiency. SEM-EDS analysis of recycled FS confirmed
morphology of FS unchanged. Solar baffled batch reactor (SBBR) with recirculation confirmed 70% degradation
of IPU after 6 h. IPU mineralization was confirmed with TOC reduction, NH4
+ generation along with formation
of intermediates as confirmed through LC-MS.

Keywords

International Journal of Environmental Research
Volume 9, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
January 2015
Pages 85-92

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