Iron oxide nanotube layer fabricated with electrostatic anodization for heterogeneous Fenton like reaction

Abstract

Iron oxide nanotubes (INT) were fabricated with potentiostatic anodization of zero valent iron foil in 1 M Na2SO4 containing 0.5 wt% NH4F electrolyte, holding the potential at 20, 40, and 60V for 20 min, respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry were used to evaluate the morphology and crystalline structure of the INT film. The potential of 40V for 20 min was observed to be optimal to produce an optimal catalytic film. Cyanide dissolved in water was degraded through the Fenton-like reaction using the INT film with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In case of INT-40V in the presence of H2O2 3%, the first-order rate constant was found to be 1.7 x 10(-2) min(-1), and 1.2 x 10(-2) min(-1) with commercial hematite powder. Degradation of cyanide was much less with only H2O2. Therefore, this process proposed in this work can be an excellent alternative to traditional catalysts for Fenton-like reaction.