Insight into efficient degradation of 3,5-dichlorosalicylic acid by Fe-Si-B amorphous ribbon under neutral condition

[Display omitted] •Fe-Si-B amorphous ribbons showed excellent performance in degradation of 3,5-DiClSA.•The faster surface mobility of amorphous ribbons facilitated the degradation process.•Fe-Si-B amorphous ribbons showed increasing degradation rate in 10 reuse cycles.•The overall toxicity level of 3,5-DiClSA was lowered by 88.1 % after degradation.•Fe(IV) was generated in the degradation system under neutral condition. Water disinfection would result in unintended formation of halogenated disinfection by-products (DBPs) which pose potential harm to human health. In present work, Fe78Si9B13 amorphous ribbons (Fe-Si-BAR) showed excellent catalytic degradation performance towards an aromatic DBP, 3,5-dichlorosalicylic acid (3,5-DiClSA) by Fenton-like reaction. The catalytic degradation performances of Fe-Si-BAR, Fe78Si9B13 crystalline ribbons (Fe-Si-BCR) and iron powders towards 3,5-DiClSA were compared, and Fe-Si-BAR (0.0166 min−1) showed the fastest degradation rate. The faster surface mobility of Fe-Si-BAR, which made it easy for Fe2+ to be oxidized by H2O2, facilitated the degradation process. High-valent iron of FeIV could be generated which accounted for degradation of 3,5-DiClSA. The Fe-Si-BAR also showed better and better catalytic performance in 10 reuse cycles. Besides, the cytotoxicity tests indicated that the overall toxicity level of 3,5-DiClSA was declined by 88.1 % after degradation by Fe-Si-BAR. Our results showed that Fe-Si-BAR is a promising catalyst for the degradation of aromatic DBPs.