Degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol by immobilized iron catalysts

The degradation of 2,4-Dichlorophenol (from now on 2,4-DCP) has been carried out on Nafion–Fe (1.78%) in the presence of H2O2 under visible light irradiation. A solution containing 2,4-DCP (TOC 72 mg C/L)) is seen to be mineralized in 1 h in the presence of H2O2 (10 mM) under solar simulated visible light (80 mW cm−2) at pH values between 2.8 and 11. Homogeneous photo-assisted Fenton reactions were capable of mediating 2,4-DCP degradation only up to pH 5.4. The degradation kinetics of 2,4-DCP on Nafion–Fe membranes was more favorable than the one observed during Fenton photo-assisted processes at pH 2.8. The degradation of 2,4-DCP was investigated as a function of the substrate, oxidant concentration and applied light intensity. The Nafion–Fe was seen to be effective over many cycles during the photo-catalytic degradation of 2,4-DCP showing an efficient and stable performance during 2,4-DCP degradation without leaching out Fe3+-ions into the solution. Evidence is presented that the degradation at the surface of the Nafion–Fe membrane seems to be controlled by mass transfer and not by chemical reaction of the species in solution. The approach used to degrade 2,4-DCP is shown to be valid for other chloro-carbons like 4-chlorophenol, 2,3-chlorophenol and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol.