Catalytic oxidation of 4-acetamidophenol with Fe3+-enhanced Cu0 particles: In-site generation and activation of hydrogen peroxide

Cu 0 coupled with O 2 was used to degrade contaminant due to in-site generation and catalysis of H 2 O 2 , while the low reactivity and active dismutation reaction of Cu + refrained the performance at acidic condition. In this study, the removal rate of 4-acetamidophenol increased from 27 % to 83.4 % with Fe 3+ spiked into the Cu 0 system within 60 min •OH was the primary reactive species in the Fe 3+ /Cu 0 system. In the Fe 3+ /Cu 0 system, Cu 0 was corroded to form Cu + by H + and O 2 , and then Cu + interacted with O 2 generating H 2 O 2 , and meanwhile Fe 3+ was reduced to Fe 2+ by Cu + and Cu 0 ; Consequently, Cu + and Fe 2+ induced H 2 O 2 to produce •OH, but Fe 2+ was easier to catalyze H 2 O 2 than Cu + at acidic pH. Except for fulvic acid , common water matrix including sulfate ion, phosphate ion, chloride ion and nitrate ion had no inhibition effect on the degradation of 4-acetamidophenol in the Fe 3+ /Cu 0 system. over 62 % of 4-acetamidophenol in tap water , Hou-lake water and well water was greatly oxidized by the Fe 3+ /Cu 0 system. Furthermore, the amount of total dissolved copper decreased to 0.895 mg/L by the method of alkali precipitation in the Fe 3+ /Cu 0 system. The study provided a theoretical direction to the Fe 3+ -enhanced Cu 0 system for purifying wastewater.