Preparation of the photo-Fenton agent MIL-100 (Fe) with high performance in the degradation of nitro explosives

Aromatic nitro compounds are the main components of explosives. They are not only explosive and dangerous but also have high toxicity and high stability in the human body, soil, and water resources, destroying the ecological environment. Herein, a simple hydrothermal method is used to successfully prepare layered MIL-100 (Fe). A series of aromatic nitro compounds including p-nitrophenol (PNP), nitrobenzene (NB), dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (2,4,6-TNP) were degraded by the photo-Fenton method. The MIL-100 (Fe) photo-Fenton agent can almost completely degrade PNP within 2 min. Similarly, it has a good degradation effect on other pollutants. Finally, the mechanism of the photo-Fenton reaction was discussed by product analysis and free radical capture experiments after the photochemical reaction. This study demonstrates the potential application value of MIL-100 (Fe) as a photo-Fenton reagent to degrade nitroaromatic explosives.