Influence of generated intermediates' interaction on heterogeneous Fenton's degradation of an azo dye 1-diazo-2-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid by using sludge based carbon as catalyst.

Sewage sludge based carbons have recently been used as novel catalyst in heterogeneous Fenton's reactions to degrade azo dye molecules. The carbons, functioning as both catalyst and adsorbent, play an important role in pollutants elimination, especially for those simultaneously generated organic intermediates. Different factors, i.e., H2O2 concentration, may influence the type and properties of those intermediates and may have great impacts on their elimination through the interactions with catalysts' surface. Thus, techniques including Temperature Programmed Desorption-Mass Spectrometer (TPD-MS), N2 adsorption isotherm and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were used to probe the ways of the interaction between oxidation products and catalyst by using different initial H2O2 concentrations (10 and 20mM). The higher Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal with 20mM H2O2 was found to be related not only to the higher hydroxyl radicals but also the specific interactions between the intermediates and catalyst' surface. The deep oxidation occurred in the conditions with higher oxidant amount enhances the intermediates' adsorption on catalyst, thus increasing the COD removal by large margin. Simulated adsorption experiments by using six primarily formed intermediates and three deeply mineralized products on three different catalysts also confirmed the assumption. Results suggested close relations between adsorption capacities and intermediates' properties such as polar surface area and octanol-water partition coefficient.