Photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol a with α-Fe2O3 fibers and particles

Two-step synthesis of Fe2O3 particles, performed by precipitation from iron(III) chloride (FeCl3?6H2O) using ammonium hydroxide in first step and calcination at 400 and 700?C during 4 h, provided Fe2O3 400?C and Fe2O3 700?C photocatalysts, respectively. The electrospinning process was used to prepare iron oxide fibers, named Fe2O3 fiber. Morphological and structural properties of samples were determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) and BET/BJH analysis. It was found that the ?-Fe2O3 phase (hematite) has shown the compaction of the structure at 700?C, i.e. lower textural properties. Hematite particles and fibers are used for bisphenol A (BPA) removal by photocatalytic decomposition and the enhanced catalytic performance was found with the use of Fe2O3 400?C particles.