Photocatalytic decoloration of Alizarin S Red employing iron nanocatalysts

Abstract

Dyes are an important organic compounds that find numerous applications in our daily lives. The dyeing produces effluents that contain between 10 and 15% of the dye that are finally deposited in the bodies of water. Alumina nanotubes impregnated with 2, 6 and 10% of iron (Fe-NT) were synthesized and characterized to be used in the photocatalytic degradation of Alizarine Red S (ARS). By XRD, the characteristic signals of γ-Al₂O₃ were verified. Surface area varying from 87 to 116 m²/g. The presence of iron was confirmed by Atomic Adsorption. In addition, the nanotube structure of the support was confirmed by TEM. The materials were evaluated catalytically in the degradation of the ARS obtaining percentages of degradation of 50% for the Fe-NT 2% and 85-90% for the nanotubes with 6 and 10% of iron, respectively.