Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2012, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (10): 1736-1741.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1088.2012.20756

• Research papers • Previous Articles    

Photo-Fenton Degradation of RhB over Nano-fibre Iron Oxides Interacted Montmorillonite under Visible Light Irradiation

ZHANG Shilong1,2, HU Xiaoming2, WANG Xiaowei1, LIANG Shijing1, WU Ling1,?   

  1. 1State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Photocatalysis, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China; 2Western Geological Exploration Brigade of Jiangxi Geology & Mineral Resources Development Bureau, Nanchang 330201, Jiangxi, China
  • Received:2012-07-28 Revised:2012-08-14 Online:2012-09-28 Published:2012-09-28

Abstract: Trinuclear Fe(III) acetate complex intercalated montmorillonite Fenton catalysts were successfully prepared by a facile ion exchange process. The obtained catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray absorption fine structure, and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The results showed that the montmorillonite’s surface area was greatly increased after the trinuclear iron cluster intercalated. A few amorphous nano-fibre iron oxides were anchored on the surface of the catalyst. The prepared catalyst exhibited high efficiencies for the degradation and mineralization of rhodamine B in the presence of H2O2 under visible light irradiation. Furthermore, the main active species in catalytic reaction process have been investigated. Based on the experimental results, a possible mechanism was discussed and proposed.

Key words: montmorillonite, nano-fibre, photo-Fenton, degradation, visible light, iron oxide, rhodamine B