Fixed Bed Reactor for Removal of Methylene Blue Dye Using Heterogeneous Fenton Catalyst

Abstract

In this work, the modified catalysts of different loadings of iron (2.5, 5, 10, and 15 wt%) on activated carbon were prepared by an incipient wet impregnation method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for suitability to wastewater treatment. For analyzing the performance of catalyst, methylene blue dye was used as a model pollutant with an initial concentration of 100 mg/L and its removal was carried out with an up-flow fixed bed reactor made of Borosil glass of volume 10.25 mL. The catalyst bed height was maintained as 2 cm. The effect of different experimental parameters such as iron loading, solution pH, initial H2O2 concentration, and temperature on percentage removal of dye was also investigated. The maximum performance was obtained with 10 wt% of Fe/AC catalyst at pH 3.5, concentration of 0.1633 M H2O2, and at a temperature of 30°C. At these optimal conditions, 70% dye removal was obtained.