Photo degradation of methyl orange an azo dye by advanced Fenton process using zero valent metallic iron: influence of various reaction parameters and its degradation mechanism

Advanced Fenton process (AFP) using zero valent metallic iron (ZVMI) is studied as a potential technique to degrade the azo dye in the aqueous medium. The influence of various reaction parameters like effect of iron dosage, concentration of H(2)O(2)/ammonium per sulfate (APS), initial dye concentration, effect of pH and the influence of radical scavenger are studied and optimum conditions are reported. The degradation rate decreased at higher iron dosages and also at higher oxidant concentrations due to the surface precipitation which deactivates the iron surface. The rate constant for the processes Fe(0)/UV and Fe(0)/APS/UV is twice compared to their respective Fe(0)/dark and Fe(0)/APS/dark processes. The rate constant for Fe(0)/H(2)O(2)/UV process is four times higher than Fe(0)/H(2)O(2)/dark process. The increase in the efficiency of Fe(0)/UV process is attributed to the cleavage of stable iron complexes which produces Fe(2+) ions that participates in cyclic Fenton mechanism for the generation of hydroxyl radicals. The increase in the efficiency of Fe(0)/APS/UV or H(2)O(2) compared to dark process is due to continuous generation of hydroxyl radicals and also due to the frequent photo reduction of Fe(3+) ions to Fe(2+) ions. Though H(2)O(2) is a better oxidant than APS in all respects, but it is more susceptible to deactivation by hydroxyl radical scavengers. The decrease in the rate constant in the presence of hydroxyl radical scavenger is more for H(2)O(2) than APS. Iron powder retains its recycling efficiency better in the presence of H(2)O(2) than APS. The decrease in the degradation rate in the presence of APS as an oxidant is due to the fact that generation of free radicals on iron surface is slower compared to H(2)O(2). Also, the excess acidity provided by APS retards the degradation rate as excess H(+) ions acts as hydroxyl radical scavenger. The degradation of Methyl Orange (MO) using Fe(0) is an acid driven process shows higher efficiency at pH 3. The efficiency of various processes for the de colorization of MO dye is of the following order: Fe(0)/H(2)O(2)/UV>Fe(0)/H(2)O(2)/dark>Fe(0)/APS/UV>Fe(0)/UV>Fe(0)/APS/dark>H(2)O(2)/UV approximately Fe(0)/dark>APS/UV. Dye resisted to degradation in the presence of oxidizing agent in dark. The degradation process was followed by UV-vis and GC-MS spectroscopic techniques. Based on the intermediates obtained probable degradation mechanism has been proposed. The result suggests that complete degradation of the dye was achieved in the presence of oxidizing agent when the system was amended with iron powder under UV light illumination. The concentration of Fe(2+) ions leached at the end of the optimized degradation experiment is found to be 2.78 x 10(-3)M. With optimization, the degradation using Fe(0) can be effective way to treat azo dyes in aqueous solution.