Degradation of phenol by heterogeneous Fenton reaction using multi-walled carbon nanotube supported Fe2O3 catalysts

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) supported Fe2O3 catalysts were prepared by impregnating acid treated MWCNTs in Fe(NO3)3 solutions and calcined at 200 °C. The catalysts were used to degrade phenol and phenolic contaminants (resorcinol and ortho-chlorophenol) with H2O2 by Fenton reaction. The experimental conditions such as reaction temperature, catalyst load and H2O2 dosage on the degradation of phenol have been investigated. More than 70% phenol has been degraded with Fe2O3/MWCNT catalysts after 200 min, 20% higher than with bare Fe2O3, suggesting that the reaction performance could be enhanced by the presence of MWCNTs. This demonstrates that MWCNTs are good and promising supporting materials and catalysts for advanced oxidant process and other catalytic reactions as well.