Ethylene glycol assisted synthesis of hierarchical Fe-ZSM-5 nanorods assembled microsphere for adsorption Fenton degradation of chlorobenzene

A unique zeolite catalyst, Fe doped ZSM-5 microsphere assembled by uniform nanorod-like crystals with hierarchical pore structure, was successfully synthesized and applied for the adsorption and degradation of trace chlorobenzene (CB) in the presence of H2O2. The organic ferric salts as the precursors, ethylene glycol as a chelating/reducing agent and the dynamic two-stage temperature-varied hydrothermal technique, together made the synthesized hierarchical Fe-ZSM-5 nanorods assembled microspheres (FZ-CA-5EG) to be characterized by abundant highly dispersed and valency-controlled framework Fe3+/2+ species. As a result of these features, the FZ-CA-5EG showed excellent ability of adsorption and degradation efficiency of CB, and enhanced durability due to negligible leaching of framework Fe species. Moreover, the hydroxyl radicals were determined as the main the reactive oxygen species of CB oxidation degradation, and a possible adsorption-oxidation degradation pathway was proposed.