In-situ dual effect of novel Fe-TiO2 composite for the degradation of phenazone

Study presents the applications of innovative, inexpensive composite made up of Fuller's Earth (FE) and Foundry Sand (FS) for incorporating in-situ dual effect (photocatalysis and photo-Fenton). FE and FE + FS beads have been contrived for the degradation of pharmaceutical drug Phenazone (PHZ) which persists even in drinking and groundwater. The composite material possesses the inherent property of presence of iron content which leaches in the acidic medium (leading to photo-Fenton) along with surface coated TiO2 (leading to photocatalysis) thus exhibiting the dual effect. 60% of synergy was observed with dual effect over photocatalysis and photo-Fenton. Box Behnken Design (BBD) was used to optimize the parameters and % degradation, nitrate ions concentration and nitrite ions concentration were used as responses. Kinetics studies revealed the increase in the reaction rate to 5 folds, thus envisages degradation to be achieved at a faster pace. The beads were durable enough to be recycled up to 35 recycles while maintaining their catalytic activity. The retention of iron and TiO2 in recycled beads was further confirmed through various characterizations of XRD, SEM-EDS, and UV-DRS. Further mineralization studies were conducted and reduction in COD and TOC was carried out. Various intermediates were analyzed through GC-MS and reaction mechanism was suggested for the mineralization of PHZ.