Catalytic oxidation of 4-acetamidophenol with Fe3+-enhanced Cu0 particles: In-site generation and activation of hydrogen peroxide

Cu0 coupled with O2 was used to degrade contaminant due to in-site generation and catalysis of H2O2, while the low reactivity and active dismutation reaction of Cu+ refrained the performance at acidic condition. In this study, the removal rate of 4-acetamidophenol increased from 27 % to 83.4 % with Fe3+ spiked into the Cu0 system within 60 min •OH was the primary reactive species in the Fe3+/Cu0 system. In the Fe3+/Cu0 system, Cu0 was corroded to form Cu+ by H+ and O2, and then Cu+ interacted with O2 generating H2O2, and meanwhile Fe3+ was reduced to Fe2+ by Cu+ and Cu0; Consequently, Cu+ and Fe2+ induced H2O2 to produce •OH, but Fe2+ was easier to catalyze H2O2 than Cu+ at acidic pH. Except for fulvic acid, common water matrix including sulfate ion, phosphate ion, chloride ion and nitrate ion had no inhibition effect on the degradation of 4-acetamidophenol in the Fe3+/Cu0 system. over 62 % of 4-acetamidophenol in tap water, Hou-lake water and well water was greatly oxidized by the Fe3+/Cu0 system. Furthermore, the amount of total dissolved copper decreased to 0.895 mg/L by the method of alkali precipitation in the Fe3+/Cu0 system. The study provided a theoretical direction to the Fe3+-enhanced Cu0 system for purifying wastewater.