Characterization and catalytic activity of CuFeZSM-5 catalysts for oxidative degradation of Rhodamine 6G in aqueous solutions

This study presents an evaluation of the catalytic performances of Fe and Cu containing ZSM-5 zeolites for oxidation of Rhodamine 6G. Fe and Cu were loaded by ion exchange or through hydrothermal synthesis. The catalytic process was carried out in an aqueous solution using H2O2 as an oxidant. The catalyst prepared by hydrothermal synthesis showed the highest activity (100% decolorization, 59.1% aromatic degradation and 51.8% TOC removal at initial pH of 3.5). This catalyst was stable against leaching even at low pH. The change in activity of the catalysts prepared was attributed to incorporation of the Fe and Cu species with ZSM-5. Fe and Cu were in structural locations – in the framework – in the catalyst prepared by hydrothermal synthesis while there were extraframework cations or species in catalysts prepared by ion exchange. Incoporation of Cu into FeZSM-5 increased its catalytic activity.