COD removal from phenol solution by heterogeneous Fenton reaction using Fe2O3/SiO2 catalysts: Effects of calcination temperature on the catalyst properties

Abstract

The Fe₂O₃/SiO₂ catalysts have been prepared by an impregnation method and calcined at different temperatures (350, 400, and 450°C). The three obtained catalysts are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and BET. The results showed that the increase of the calcination temperature promoted the dispersion of Fe particles on the surface of the SiO₂ support, which results in the change of the BET surface area, the average pore size, and the pore volume of the Fe₂O₃/SiO₂ catalysts. According to the catalytic reaction results, the Fe₂O₃/SiO₂ catalyst calcined at 400°C show the higher catalytic activities than others, and the COD removal is found to be about 64.6% within 60 min, pH 3, 100 μL of H₂O₂ in a 50 mL phenol solution.