Decolourization of Methyl Orange using Fenton-like mesoporous Fe_2O_3-SiO_2 composite

摘要

Rapid decolourization of Methyl Orange by Fenton-like mesoporous Fe_2O_3-SiO_2 catalyst has been reported. The effect of various parameters such as initial pH, initial H_2O_2 concentration, Fe content in the catalyst and initial dye concentration on decolourization process were studied. The results show that 20mg of mesoporous Fe_2O_3/SiO_2 composite (with Si/Fe = 10) was sufficient to decolourize 0.6 mg/ml of Methyl Orange in presence of 2 ml of H_2O_2 at an initial pH of 2.93 within 20 min. The pH range for effective decolourization (≥90%) was found to be 1 -3. Leaching tests indicated that the activity of the catalyst was almost unaffected up to three consecutive cycles although ≤0.2 ppm of Fe ion was leached into treated water in each run.