Decolourization of Methyl Orange using Fenton-like mesoporous Fe2O3-SiO2 composite

Rapid decolourization of Methyl Orange by Fenton-like mesoporous Fe2O3-SiO2 catalyst has been reported. The effect of various parameters such as initial pH, initial H2O2 concentration, Fe content in the catalyst and initial dye concentration on decolourization process were studied. The results show that 20 mg of mesoporous Fe2O3/SiO2 composite (with Si/Fe = 10) was sufficient to decolourize 0.6 mg/ml of Methyl Orange in presence of 2 ml of H2O2 at an initial pH of 2.93 within 20 min. The pH range for effective decolourization (>= 90%) was found to be 1-3. Leaching tests indicated that the activity of the catalyst was almost unaffected up to three consecutive cycles although <= 0.2 ppm of Fe ion was leached into treated water in each run. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.