Iron(II) phenanthroline-resin hybrid as a visible light-driven heterogeneous catalyst for green oxidative degradation of organic dye

•A novel resin-iron(II) phenanthroline [FePR] hybrid is prepared for photocatalysis.•Visible light photocatalytic ability of the hybrid is tested using Rhodamine B dye.•The FePR has good stability and recyclability and utilizes molecular oxygen.•LC–MS analysis shows benzoic acid as a main degradation product of Rhodamine B.•A plausible photocatalytic mechanism involving FePR system is proposed.

A novel resin immobilized iron(II) phenanthroline [FePR] is prepared, characterized and exploited to understand C–C/C–O cleavage in Rhodamine B dye under visible light (λ ≥ 420 nm). Studies infer that both molecular oxygen and visible light are playing essential roles in photocatalysis, and pH is influencing the degradation. Photocatalysis by FePR involves oxo-iron ([FeIV(phen)3 = O]) species as reactive intermediate. LC–MS studies on the aliquots of partially photodegraded RhB reveal benzoic acid as a main degradation product; however, complete degradation was achieved under optimum condition. Overall, the FePR is a stable heterogeneous photocatalyst, which can be used for advanced oxidative process in greener route.

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