Efficient heterogeneous Fenton-like degradation of methylene blue using green synthesized yeast supported iron nanoparticles

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 263; p. 115240
• Main Authors: Shi, Guorong, Zeng, Shuangqing, Liu, Yefeng, Xiang, Jun, Deng, Dale, Wu, Chenmeng, Teng, Qian, Yang, Hua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 15.09.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Iron-based catalyst; Methylene blue; Oxidative degradation; Tobacco leaf; Yeast; Iron-based catalyst; Tobacco leaf; Yeast; Oxidative degradation; Methylene blue
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115240

To reduce the consumption of oxidant and catalyst in Fenton-like reaction and to realize the reuse of catalyst, yeast supported iron nanoparticles (nZVI@SCM) was synthesized by tobacco leaf extract and applied in the heterogeneous Fenton-like degradation of aqueous methylene blue (MB) at ambient conditions. The performance of the composite was exploited in terms of catalytic activity and factors influencing MB degradation. The surface changes of nZVI@SCM before and after reaction were characterized by XPS, SEM, FT-IR and XRD. Iron leaching, primary reactive oxidizing species, and the storage stability and reusability of catalyst were also investigated. Typically, 99.7% removal of 50 mg/L MB, with a TOC removal of 97.2%, could be achieved within 10 h by 0.1 g/L nZVI@SCM coupled with 1.0 mM H2O2. The MB degradation is in good agreement with the pseudo-first-order model, and hydroxyl radicals in the bulk solution is the main reactive oxidizing species responsible for MB degradation. Based on the identified intermediates by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, the possible MB degradation mechanism in the nZVI@SCM/H2O2 system is discussed. The developed high-performance nZVI@SCM catalyst strategy can provide a new route in enhancing the Fenton-like degradation of organic contaminants with less consumption of catalyst and oxidant. [Display omitted] •Yeast supported iron nanoparticles was green synthesized by tobacco leaf extracts.•Methylene blue was well degraded with 0.1 g/L catalyst and 1 mM H2O2 at pH 3–6.•·OH in bulk solution is responsible for methylene blue degradation.•Iron nanoparticles exhibits excellent storage stability and reusability.•Degradation intermediates of MB were identified by LC-MS.