Heterogeneous Fenton’s oxidation using Fe/ZSM-5 as catalyst in a continuous stirred tank reactor

[Display omitted] •Dye-containing wastewater is degraded by heterogeneous Fenton’s oxidation.•The Fe-ZSM5 zeolite is a stable and active catalyst.•A continuous catalytic stirred tank reactor configuration is implemented.•Final effluent is biodegradable and non-toxic (0.0% of Vibrio fischeri inhibition). This work is the first known report dealing with the heterogeneous Fenton-like process in a continuous stirred tank reactor. A Fe/ZSM-5 zeolite was used as catalyst for degradation of an azo dye (Orange II, OII)-containing solution. A parametric study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the main operating conditions in the basket reactor performance, namely temperature (in the range 10–70°C), pH (1.5–4.0), feed hydrogen peroxide concentration – [H2O2]feed (1.75–20.0mM), contact time – W/Q (10–200mgmin/mL), residence time – tresid (30–180min) and the size of the catalyst particles (0.25