An iron tertiary amido macrocyclic ligand complex (Fe-TAML) was immobilized on graphite and its ability to degrade rhodamine B (RhB) when activated by H2O2 was examined. The effect of pH, Fe-TAML loading, H2O2 dosage and initial RhB concentration was explored. The activity of the attached Fe-TAML showed an obvious positive correlation with pH in the range of 8.0 to 9.5, with higher loading of Fe-TAML and H2O2 dosage also leading to better RhB removal. It was found that graphite supported Fe-TAML could efficiently degrade RhB, although the average efficiency was lower than that for the equivalent homogeneous, dissolved Fe-TAML system, presumably related to both the lower mobility and accessibility of the Fe-TAML when attached to graphite. Despite this lower activity, graphite as a heterogeneous support could not only enable Fe-TAML recycling, but was also found to somewhat prevent de-activation of Fe-TAML through self-reaction of the activated species. Strong partitioning of RhB to the graphite surface also resulted in high localised concentrations of RhB and thus an immediate “burst” of degradation, altering the observed kinetics of the process.

Efficient contaminant degradation by hydrogen peroxide activated graphite-supported Fe-TAML catalyst

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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