Degradation of furfural in contaminated water by titanium and iron oxide nanophotocatalysts based on the natural zeolite (clinoptilolite)

Abstract

In this study, the performance of advanced oxidation process using titanium and iron oxides based on the natural clinoptilolite zeolite (TiO2/Fe2O3/Clinoptilolite) as a nanophotocatalyst was studied, and the effects of various factors on the furfural degradation, such as pH, dosage of catalyst, initial concentration of furfural, and contact time, were examined. The co-precipitation method was applied for the synthesis of the nanophotocatalyst. The SEM and XRD analyses showed a uniform distribution of titanium dioxide and iron nanoparticles on the zeolite. The furfural degradation could successfully happen at neutral to alkaline solutions. Moreover, increasing the amount of catalyst from 0.5 to 1.5 g/L does not have significant effects on the degradation efficiency. By enhancing the initial concentration of furfural from 75 to 300 mg/L, the rate of degradation decreases. The maximum efficiency of 98% could be achieved for 75 mg/L solution by using 1.5 g/L catalyst in pH equal to 8 within 120 minutes.