The generation of hydroxyl radicals by hydrogen peroxide decomposition on FeOCl/SBA-15 catalysts for phenol degradation

Iron oxychloride (FeOCl) supported on mesoporous silica (SBA‐15), as a Fenton‐like solid catalyst for phenol degradation, showed supreme activity for production of hydroxyl radical (HO·) by H2O2 decomposition, and the generation capacity was comparable to the conventional Fenton reagent (Fe2++H2O2). The structure of FeOCl was characterized with spectroscopies. The generation of HO· species during the reaction was detected using 5,5‐dimethyl‐1‐pyrroline N‐oxide trapped electron paramagnetic resonance. Furthermore, the kinetics in detail was driven for the creation and diffusion of HO· by H2O2 decomposition over FeOCl, which follows a first‐order rate through a two‐step reaction. With the combination of the catalyst structure and kinetic parameters, the plausible mechanism for H2O2 decomposition during the oxidative degradation of phenol was rationalized. As a Fenton‐like solid catalyst, FeOCl/SBA‐15 is a promising alternative for the removal of low‐level organic contaminates from water. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 166–176, 2015