Highly dispersed iron xerogel catalysts for p-nitrophenol degradation by photo-Fenton effects

Several iron xerogel catalysts were synthesized by hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyltrimethoxysilane (EDAS) which is able to form a chelate with iron ions. The EDAS/TEOS ratio strongly influences the texture of xerogel catalysts. The specific surface area and the micro- and mesoporous volume increase with this ratio. It seems that EDAS plays a nucleating agent role for silica particles and allows to anchor Fe-based moieties inside the silica network. Iron oxide nanoparticles of diameter 1-1.5 nm and Fe3+ ions result, encapsulated in silica particles with sizes of about 10-30 nm in diameter. The iron species was determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetometry measurements and only Fe3+ species were observed in xerogel catalysts. The Fenton and photo-Fenton effect of these catalysts were evaluated on the degradation of p-nitrophenol in aqueous media under different conditions. Results show that in the presence of H2O2, iron xerogel catalysts present a photo-Fenton effect, reaching 99 % of degradation after 24 h.