Using Zero‐Valent Scrap Iron to Replace Dissolved Iron in the Fenton Process for Degradation of Phenol in Coke‐Oven Wastewater

ABSTRACT The present study explores the use of scrap iron—a waste by‐product from steel manufacturing—as a heterogeneous catalyst in Fenton and photo‐Fenton processes for treating coke‐oven wastewater (COW). The concept of exploiting waste (scrap iron) to treat liquid waste in the context of more sustainable procedures within a circular economy is the main idea for this study. Elementary composition and morphological analysis of scrap iron have been mapped using scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX). Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) was used to determine the absorption characteristics of scrap iron. The impact of catalyst loading, solution pH, and H 2 O 2 on phenol degradation in COW wastewater was elucidated. Under ideal circumstances, kinetic studies have been conducted for phenol's degradation. Scrap iron effectively eliminates 73.39% and 81.97% of phenol in the Fenton and photo‐Fenton processes, respectively, under optimum conditions. This study revealed that scrap iron is a potential material for treating highly polluted wastewater streams. Given the massive production of scrap iron debris and its possible use as a catalyst in a highly polluted liquid waste treatment process, these discoveries appear extremely important from the standpoint of the circular economy.