Heterogeneous Fenton water purification catalyzed by iron phosphide (FeP)

Heterogeneous Fenton reaction has a great application potential in water purification, but efficient catalysts are still lacking. Iron phosphide (FeP) has a higher activity than the conventional Fe-based catalysts for Fenton reactions, but its ability as a Fenton catalyst to directly activate H2O2 remains unreported. Herein, we demonstrate that the fabricated FeP has a lower electron transfer resistance than the typical conventional Fe-based catalysts, i.e., Fe2O3, Fe3O4, and FeOOH, and thus could active H2O2 to produce hydroxyl radicals more efficiently. In the heterogeneous Fenton reactions for sodium benzoate degradation, the FeP catalyst presents a superior activity with a reaction rate constant more than 20 times those of the other catalysts (i.e., Fe2O3, Fe3O4, and FeOOH). Moreover, it also exhibits a great catalytic activity in the treatment of real water samples and has a good stability in the cycling tests. Furthermore, the FeP could be loaded onto a centimeter-sized porous carbon support and the prepared macro-sized catalyst exhibits an excellent water treatment performance and can be well recycled. This work reveals a great potential of FeP as a catalyst for heterogeneous Fenton reactions and may inspire further development and practical application of highly efficient catalysts for water purification.