Dark-degradation of reactive brilliant blue X-BR in aqueous solution using α-Fe2O3

The precursor of Fe2O3 was prepared by chemical precipitation method with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and iron chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3 · 6H2O). The samples annealed at different temperature were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared absorption spectroscopy (IR). Degradation of reactive dye in aqueous solution was used to evaluate the catalytic performance of the Fe2O3. The experiments of degradation had been done in dark place. The experimental results indicated that the catalytic property of the precursor of α-Fe2O3 was excellent. The mechanism of the degradation of reactive dye in aqueous solution was investigated by comparing the data in the absence and presence of oxygen. The precursor of α-Fe2O3 annealed at 300 °C was the best. The degradation rate of reactive brilliant blue X-BR could exceed 95% in 8 min at 25 °C when the concentration of the precursor of α-Fe2O3 was 0.1 g/L. The mechanism of the catalytic oxidation reaction was investigated by comparing the X-BR catalytic oxidation data in the absence and presence of oxygen.