HYDROGEN PEROXIDE TREATED IRON OXIDE IMPREGNATED CARBON MATERIALS FOR IMPROVED ADSORPTION AND PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF CATIONIC DYES

In order to increase surface functional groups and to leach out unbound metal oxide particles from an iron oxide impregnated carbon matrix prepared from the roots of Chrysopogon zizanioides, treatment with 30% hydrogen peroxide was attempted in the present work. Surface chemical properties of the new peroxide treated magnetic carbon were evaluated along with FTIR, SEM, EDAX, VSM, DLS, X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis. Ability of this oxidized carbon to remove cationic methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RB) dyes from water is assessed by studying the adsorption isotherms and kinetics. In addition, the carbon was also able to activate persulphate in the sun light assisted degradation of these dyes with high velocities. The matrix was able to retain its ability after three cycles of degradations.