Comparative studies of the Fe3+/2+–UV, H2O2–UV, TiO2–UV/vis systems for the decolorization of a textile dye X-3B in water

The degradation of a common textile dye, Reactive-brilliant red X-3B, by several advanced oxidation technologies was studied in an air-saturated aqueous solution. The dye was resistant to the UV illumination (wavelength λ greater-or-equal, slanted 320 nm), but was decolorized when one of Fe3+, H2O2 and TiO2 components was present. The decolorization rate was observed to be quite different for each system, and the relative order evaluated under comparable conditions followed the order of Fe2+–H2O2–UV greater-or-equal, slanted Fe2+–H2O2 > Fe3+–H2O2–UV > Fe3+–H2O2 > Fe3+–TiO2–UV > TiO2–UV > Fe3+–UV > TiO2–visible light (λ greater-or-equal, slanted 450 nm) > H2O2–UV > Fe2+–UV. The mechanism for each process is discussed, and linked together for understanding the observed differences in reactivity.