Hydrothermal and Co-Precipitated Synthesis of Chalcopyrite for Fenton-like Degradation toward Rhodamine B

In this study, Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) was prepared by a hydrothermal and co-precipitation method, being represented as H-CuFeS2 and C-CuFeS2, respectively. The prepared CuFeS2 samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping (EDS-mapping), powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), and Raman microscope. Rhodamine B (RhB, 20 ppm) was used as the target pollutant to evaluate the degradation performance by the prepared CuFeS2 samples. The H-CuFeS2 samples (20 mg) in the presence of Na2S2O8 (4 mM) exhibited excellent degradation efficiency (98.8% within 10 min). Through free radical trapping experiment, the major active species were center dot SO4- radicals and center dot OH radicals involved the RhB degradation. Furthermore, center dot SO4- radicals produced from the prepared samples were evaluated by iodometric titration. In addition, one possible degradation mechanism was proposed. Finally, the prepared H-CuFeS2 samples were used to degrade different dyestuff (rhodamine 6G, methylene blue, and methyl orange) and organic pollutant (bisphenol A) in the different environmental water samples (pond water and seawater) with 10.1% mineral efficiency improvement comparing to traditional Fenton reaction.

Automated summary

In this study, H-CuFeS2 samples were successfully prepared and characterized. The results showed that H-CuFeS2 samples exhibited excellent degradation performance towards RhB in the presence of Na2S2O8. Through free radical trapping experiment and iodometric titration, the major active species involved in RhB degradation and the amount of SO4·- radicals produced from the prepared samples were determined. Furthermore, a possible degradation mechanism was proposed. Finally, H-CuFeS2 samples demonstrated outstanding degradation performance in different environmental water samples.