Degradation of 2,4-Dichlorophenol Through Fenton Process Catalyzed by Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron Supported by Biochar

The abuse of chemicals containing 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) has caused serious pollution to the ecological environment. The chemical properties of 2,4-DCP are stable and difficult to be degraded. 2,4-DCP also have carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic effects on creatures. Recently, the use of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) activated by nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) for the degradation of 2,4-DCP has aroused much more attraction. However, the agglomeration and oxidation of nZVI limited its performance. To improve the above defects and enhance nZVI’s catalytic performance, nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI@BC) was synthesized using ferrous sulfate, sodium borohydride and biochar, and it was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and other technological means. The effects of catalyst dosage, pH value, and H 2 O 2 concentration on degradation efficiency of 2,4-DCP were investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). The catalytic mechanism of the catalyst in the reaction process was studied. The results of RSM showed that when the catalyst dosage was 0.69 g/L, pH value was 3.34 and H 2 O 2 concentration was 4.56 mM, the predicted degradation rate of 50 mg/L 2,4-DCP was 99.38%. The results of free radical quenching experiments show that nZVI@BC can produce ·OH, O 2 ∙ - , and 1 O 2 simultaneously, accelerating the degradation of 2,4-DCP. Overall, nZVI@BC is an effective catalyst for the degradation of 2,4-DCP.