Transition metal ions exchanged into zeolites provide active sites for catalyzing a variety of important reactions, particularly redox catalysis.  We harnessed such property of transition metal ions by exchanging Cu2+ and Fe3+ into the cages and channels of dealuminated Y zeolites.  With the ability to complex with atrazine, the introduction of Cu2+ greatly increased the sorption of atrazine on the Y zeolites.  Atrazine sorption on the Fe3+ exchanged zeolites was also significantly enhanced, which was attributed to hydrolysis of Fe3+ in mineral micropores and subsequent protonation of atrazine molecules.  As expected, the introduction of transition metal ions, Cu2+ and Fe3+, into the micropores of Y zeolites drastically increased the degradation rates of the sored atrazine (and its degradation intermediates) under microwave irradiation.  The surface species of transition metal ions exchanged into the mineral micropores are hypothesized to be thermally activated under microwave irradiation, and subsequently form highly reactive sites catalyzing degradation of atrazine (and its degradation intermediates).  These findings offer valuable insights on designing of a treatment system for uptaking atrazine from aqueous solution onto microporous mineral sorbents, followed by destruction with microwave irradiation.

Catalytic effect of Cu<sup>2+</sup> and Fe<sup>3+</sup> in microwave-induced degration of atrazine in mineral micropores

247th National Meeting (2014)

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Catalytic effect of Cu2+ and Fe3+ in microwave-induced degration of atrazine in mineral micropores

Catalytic effect of Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ in microwave-induced degration of atrazine in mineral micropores