Physico-Chemical nanomaterials science

Comparison of Ultrasonic Assisted Heterogeneous Fenton Process of Azo Dye Removal of Different Amounts of Iron-Containing Geo-material 
Ekrem Kalkan1, Özkan Açışlı2

1Department of Geological Engineering, Oltu Earth Sciences Faculty, Atatürk University, 25240, Oltu - Erzurum, Turkey
E-mail: ekalkan@atauni.edu.tr

2Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Oltu Earth Sciences Faculty, Atatürk University, 25240, Oltu - Erzurum, Turkey
 
Natural geo-materials such as magnetite (Fe3O4), hematite (Fe2O3) and siderite (FeCO3) are ferrous minerals. These minerals are more specific to the sedimentary type of iron deposits and are the main minerals of the most important type of banded iron deposits [1]. These geo-materials were powdered to obtained nanomaterials by using high-energy planetary ball milling process. The nanomaterials obtained from magnetite, hematite and siderite were used to remove azo dye from aqueous solutions by way of heterogeneous Sono-Fenton process extensively studied and well-described as a remarkable alternative for the management of industrial wastewater bearing non-biodegradable organic contaminants [2].
The geo-material samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The catalytic activity of prepared samples was evaluated towards degradation of azo dye in ultrasonic assisted heterogeneous Fenton reaction. In the study, initial dye concentration, pH, time and peroxide concentrations were evaluated. Results showed that the adsorbents to be usable, cheap, biocompatible, easy to prepare, non-toxic, and capable of generating Fenton reaction conditions. Consequently, it is concluded that the nano-particles of magnetite, hematite and siderite can be successfully used for degradation of azo dye from aqueous solutions.

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2. Deng, J., Jiang, J., Zhang, Y., Lin, X., Du, C., Xiong, Y., FeVO4 as a highly active heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst towards the degradation of Orange II. Appl. Catal., B Environ. -2008.-84.-P. 468-473.