Pillared montmorillonite supported ferric oxalate as heterogeneous photo-Fenton catalyst for degradation of amoxicillin

Degradation of amoxicillin (AMX) was achieved using pillared montmorillonite ferric oxalate (PMFeOx) catalyst in photo-Fenton process. The catalyst was prepared by aluminum pillaring of mild acid treated montmorillonite (MATM) clay followed by incorporation of ferric oxalate. The PMFeOx catalyst produced was characterized. XRD results revealed the intercalation of aluminum with an increase in basal spacing from 1.24 to ∼1.69 nm, the specific surface area also increased from 164.94 to 211.61 m2 g−1. SEM images of PMFeOx showed the formation of irregular flaky morphology with random orientation. The FTIR profile at relevant wavenumbers detected intercalation of aluminum and incorporation of iron. The optimum condition that achieved 99.65% and 84.26% initial concentration reduction and COD removal respectively, for 40 ppm AMX solution was 15% excess H2O2 and 2.0 g PMFeOx catalyst loading at 40 °C in 10 min. The catalyst displayed good efficiency in degrading amoxicillin.

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► Intercalation of Al and inclusion of Fe into acid treated montmorillonite clay.
► Formation of highly porous inorganic pillared and lipophilic organo-clay catalyst.
► The catalyst compete favorably well with the homogeneous processes in literature.
► High stability and reusability was observed for the developed catalyst.