Sustainable Fe-BTC catalyst for efficient removal of mehylene blue by advanced fenton oxidation

Abstract Fe-based metal organic framework (MOF) materials −such as Fe-BTC and MIL-100(Fe)- have been explored as catalyst for advanced Fenton oxidation processes. Unlike the analogous commercial forms of these materials (Basolite F300 and KRICT F100, respectively), Fe-BTC and MIL-100(Fe) were prepared under environmentally and economically sustainable conditions (water as synthesis solvent and room temperature). These materials were tested for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) as model pollutant through Fenton oxidation. The Fe-BTC material prepared under sustainable conditions (SUST/Fe-BTC) evidenced the best catalytic performance, even at circumneutral pH, with a remarkable structural stability compared to the commercial Basolite F300 and MIL-100(Fe) samples. The influence of the reaction temperature, initial pH and hydrogen peroxide concentration was studied for the SUST/Fe-BTC material, achieving a MB removal close to 100% and a TOC reduction about 55% in 60 min for several reaction cycles using a low dosage of hydrogen peroxide, 40 °C and initial pH of 4.