Comprehensive Effect of P-Nitrophenol Degradation in the Iron Oxide/Oxalate Suspension

Abstract

The degradation and transformation of p-nitrophenol (PNP) was evaluated with as-prepared iron oxides (γ-FeOOH, Fe₃O₄, and α-Fe₂O₃) as catalyst. Results showed that α-Fe₂O₃ exhibited higher catalytic activity than the other two samples for reduction transformation and oxidative degradation of PNP. α-Fe₂O₃ showed higher surface-bound Fe(II) contents in the presence of oxalic acid and stronger affinity to PNP, leading to an increase in PNP reductive transformation. And α-Fe₂O₃ could effectively adsorb visible light and hinder the recombination of charge carriers, resulting in higher oxidative degradation activity. p-Aminophenol (PAP), as the main reduction transformation product of PNP, could be removed further by oxidative degradation in the reaction system itself. A possible mechanism was suggested for the comprehensive effect of PNP degradation during the reaction process.

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